Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: August 2011

Lisa K. Bachanas

February 2, 1957 - August 15, 2011

COOPERSTOWN - Lisa Kim Bachanas, a well-loved resident of Cooperstown, died unexpectedly early Monday morning, August 15, 2011. She was 54.

Born February 2, 1957 in Herkimer, Lisa was a daughter of Carl and Patricia (McGee) Gaylord. Raised in Richfield Springs, she was a graduate of Richfield Springs High School.

Throughout her life, Lisa held several positions in the food service industry. She worked for many years at The Otesaga as well as at The Dining Room, which was on Main Street in Cooperstown. She also tended bar in The Tap Room ("The Pit") at The Tunnicliff Inn and the Cooperstown Vet's Club. For the past nine years she was employed by Cooperstown Central School in the cafeteria department. It was largely through her jobs in the Village that many people in Cooperstown came to know her. Whether it was tending bar or waiting tables, she always made people feel welcome.

A woman with a great heart and spirit, she will be remembered as a wonderful and caring mom, who will be greatly missed by her family and many, many friends.

Lisa is survived by her three daughters, Whitney Bachanas and her companion, Dustin Freeman of Norwich, Kelsey Bachanas of Cooperstown and Lillian Bachanas of Massachusetts; one grandson, Connor, who she lovingly called her little munchkin; her father, Carl Gaylord, of Lantana, Florida; her brother, Casey Gaylord and his wife, Vassiliki Nakrogianis, of Lantana, Florida; her sister, Patricia Bloomfield and her husband, Thomas, of Ilion; her Aunt Jan of Rome; her extended family of loving nieces, nephews and cousins; and her close friend, George Carrella.

Lisa was preceded in death by her mother, Patricia Gaylord, whose memory she always held dear to her heart.

Family and friends are invited to call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

A graveside service will be offered at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, at Lakeview Cemetery in Richfield Springs, with the Rev'd Mark A. Michael, rector of Christ Church in Cooperstown, officiating.

As an alternative to flowers, please consider making a gift to benefit Lisa's daughters, in care of Patricia Bloomfield, P.O. Box 315, Ilion, NY 13357.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Frances Davis Randall

July 1, 1921 - August 15, 2011

COOPERSTOWN - Frances Davis Randall, formerly of Stony Brook, died Monday morning, August 15, 2011, at Otsego Manor in Cooperstown. She was 90.

Born July 1, 1921, at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Frances was a daughter of Stephen Augustus Fallon and Eslie Emily (née Davis) Fallon. She was raised on Long Island in Setauket.

On June 6, 1942, she married Joseph Austin Randall in the First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn. He died in 1971.

For many years Frances was employed as a secretary at Stony Brook University on Long Island.

Frances is survived by two daughters, Nancy Kelly of Cooperstown and Suzanne O'Pray of Midland Park, NJ; two grandchildren, Elizabeth O'Pray and Catherine O'Pray; two step-grandchildren, Kimberly Dolan and Brian J. Murphy; and one sister, Virginia Haigh of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

She was preceded in death by one granddaughter, Laurel Hayes Murphy, who died August 5, 2004.

The Office of the Burial of the Dead will be offered at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2011, at Caroline Church of Brookhaven (Episcopal), 1 Dyke Road, Setauket, with the Rev'd Richard D. Visconti, rector.

The Episcopal Service of Committal and Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Port Jefferson.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Gerald L. "Gary" Kitson

December 10, 1950 - August 15, 2011

HARTWICK - Gerald L. (Gary) Kitson, husband of Mary Ann Kitson, died Monday morning, August 15, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown following a courageous battle with liver cancer. He was 60.

Born December 10, 1950, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he was the only child of Lloyd D. and Lois M. (Ramsey) Kitson.

Throughout his life, he had a passion for photography and computers.

In 1986, he met Mary Ann Havrish of Stamford and the two were married on July 4, 1987. They later moved to Florida where they resided until moving to Hartwick three years ago.

Gary will be remembered, not only for his computer expertise, but also for his great sense of humor and for being a wonderful husband and father.

Gary is survived by his wife of 24 years, Mary Ann, and their two children, Cory and Sierra, all of Hartwick. He is further survived by his mother-in-law, Helen L. Havrish and his wife's siblings, Suzanne Johnson and her husband Mark, Richard Havrish, Joyce Ormsbee and her husband Brian, George Havrish, William Havrish and his wife Janice, and Joanne Smith and her husband Sam; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, and two brothers-in-law, Robert and Frank Havrish, predeceased him.

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, on Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Following the visitation, a Service of Remembrance will held at 6:30 PM in the funeral home with the Rev. Betsy Jay, chaplain at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, officiating.

Contributions may be made to his children at P.O. Box 72, Hartwick, NY 13348.

Arrangements are under the guidance of Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Alice L. Loomis

October 26, 1914 - August 15, 2011

COOPERSTOWN - Mrs. Alice Louise Loomis, a pioneer in special education in the 1950s and a long-time and well-respected part of the Springbrook community, died late Monday morning, August 15, 2011, at Otsego Manor. She was 96.

Alice was born October 26, 1914, in Eldredsville, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of J. Lyman Snyder and Sarah Rachel Molyneux Snyder.

A graduate of Mansfield Normal School in 1936, Mrs. Loomis taught both elementary and high school. Her further education expanded her training in many directions, including special education and guidance counseling. A career teacher of over 40 years, she held several master's degrees and was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma international honor society.

On June 22, 1940, Alice married Ralph M. Loomis in East Smithfield, Pennsylvania, and they raised their family in Sayre, Pennsylvania. Soon after her husband's death in 1968, she moved to Oneonta, where she was employed by the Upstate Home for Mentally Retarded Children, now known as Springbrook.

Alice worked and lived at this ever-expanding facility for well over 30 years until reaching the age of 90. She served as Assistant Administrator, Teacher and Receptionist. A veritable pillar of the institution, she was loved and respected by many, and it was in her honor that the Alice Loomis Vocational Training Building was named. For her long years of service, she was also the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award in Homes and Caring Ministries from the American Baptist Convention.

Mrs. Loomis is survived by one son, Jan Loomis of Clay, Alabama; one daughter, Ginger Swank of Zanesville, Ohio; four grandchildren; and some very close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of nearly 28 years, Ralph; her eldest son, Dale; her brother, sister and foster brother.

Burial will be private in Tioga Point Cemetery in Athens, Pennsylvania, where she will be laid to rest with her husband and son.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Harold L. Stults, Jr.

December 25, 1943 - August 14, 2011

COOPERSTOWN - Harold L. Stults, Jr., a highly esteemed New York attorney, died Sunday afternoon, August 14, 2011, at Otsego Manor in Cooperstown. He was 67.

Patricia Thorpe, his wife of 33 years, said the cause of death was Alzheimer's.

Harold's legal career started at Breed, Abbot & Morgan, a large Wall Street firm, in 1968, where he worked as a tax associate. After a transformative trip to India, he left Wall Street for the public sector and in 1970 joined the Health Services Administration of New York City, an umbrella agency created by the Lindsay administration to coordinate the work of the many city agencies involved in health care. Harold was recognized not just for his legal expertise but also for his outstanding judgment on policy questions. He eventually became General Counsel of HSA before leaving city government in 1973 to begin private practice.

Harold shared office space with the firm Butkowsky, Schwenke and Devine and worked with that firm on the SEC investigation into the complex securities frauds perpetrated by Robert Vesco, which called for his expertise in international tax law. Later he took part in a similar investigation of John DeLorean and his failed automobile company.

In 1978, Harold embarked in a partnership with litigator S. Pitkin Marshall. They set up offices on the 62nd floor of the Chrysler Building. Much of the early work of the firm came from the Health Systems Agency of New York City, an agency organized to help local consumers and providers of health care to develop long-term plans for medical facilities in the region, with a goal of reducing both redundancy in the system and health-care costs. Harold's ability to identify long-term problems and develop solutions, as well as his invaluable talent for writing brilliant, insightful and clear policy documents, were widely recognized throughout the healthcare field.

A very different area of legal work developed from the burgeoning art scene taking place in downtown Manhattan in the late 70s into the 80s. Stults & Marshall began consulting with artists living and working - often illegally - in former industrial buildings in SoHo and Tribeca. They advised clients on buying buildings, converting them into co-ops, and obtaining Certificates of Occupancy to make them legal residences. As the partners readily agreed, this was not financially rewarding work, but it involved interesting people - many of Harold's artist-clients became lifelong friends - and issues that could be resolved in a positive way. Stults & Marshall became Stults, Marshall & Gabler in 1980, gradually expanding and adding partners. The firm continues today as Balber, Pickard, Maldonado and Van Der Tuin.

Harold Stults was born December 25, 1943, in Milburn, New Jersey, to Harold L. and Ruth (Kaul) Stults, both now deceased. He attended Phillips Academy, Andover; Harvard University; and Harvard Law School. His love of literature ranged from the Greek and Latin classics to Golden Age Spanish poetry and drama to ancient and modern philosophy. He was an avid runner who completed the NYC Marathon twice. The garden he helped to create in East Worcester was featured in House & Garden. He was a superb cook who delighted in gathering friends for spontaneous, often chaotic and delicious dinners. He enjoyed mountain climbing and wilderness camping, particularly with his son, Sam. He was a man of prodigious energy, brilliant intellect, flawless integrity and unfailing good humor, abilities which made him widely admired and much loved.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his son, Sam Stults, of Hawthorne, California; his brother, Robert Stults, of Woodstock; his aunt, Dorothy Leslie of Maplewood, New Jersey; and three nieces and three nephews.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

A Memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2011, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, 31 Elm Street, Cooperstown.

Interment will take place privately in the Cooper Memorial Garden at Christ Church in Short Hills, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, or Rolling Hills Activities Fund at Otsego Manor, 128 Phoenix Mills Cross Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Elizabeth Hendricks

September 24, 1960 - August 10, 2011

FORT EDWARD - Elizabeth Hendricks, 50, joined her Father and her Creator in heaven on August 10, 2011. Liz passed peacefully in her cherished home with beloved sons Parker and Blake.

Liz was born September 24, 1960, in the elevator at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown. She was the third of four children of John and Gloria Hendricks of Milford.

After high school graduation in 1978, Liz graduated from Prospect Hall College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She was hired by Eastern Airlines and traveled throughout the country. She later moved to New Orleans with Southwest Airlines and then lived for many years in Frankfurt, Germany, traveling from Switzerland, Austria and Holland.

Liz enjoyed her career in aviation and travel and also enjoyed fine art, popular music, languages and fine cuisine. Liz also was a very gifted artist and craftsman and her home and family's homes were decorated with her beautiful creations.

Liz and her sons settled in Fort Edward in 2005 as they found it a wonderful place to root their lives. Parker, 18, just recently graduated from high school and Blake, 16, will be a senior this year.

In addition to her two boys, Liz is survived by her mother, Gloria Hendricks in Milford; brother John and his sons, Jonathan and Dane, in Coconut Creek, Florida; sister Carole and her children, Dustin and Liza and grandson, Luka, in Cooperstown; Tom and Polly and their children, TJ, Tatum and Dutch, in Fairport; Uncle Walter Gladstone of Andes; Aunt Carole and Eliot Loeb of Saratoga; and Uncle Paul Watson of Bennington, Vermont.

Contributions to her memory will graciously be accepted to the Parker & Blake Protzman Student Fund at Key Bank, 154 Quaker Road, Queensbury, NY 12804.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2011, at The Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4636 State Highway 28, Hartwick Seminary, with the Rev'd Paul R. Messner, pastor, officiating. A reception afterward will be held at the Hendricks Home in Milford for all friends and family.

As Liz leaves this world, she reminds us to "have a good ride!"

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Edward L. Kirn, Sr.

February 9, 1919 - August 2, 2011

To live one's life with honor and dignity
Like the fairways we walk
Our path to eternal happiness
will be forever green

COOPERSTOWN - Edward Louis Kirn, Sr., a longtime area resident who owned and operated Kirn's Body Shop in Cooperstown, died Tuesday morning, August 2, 2011, at Otsego Manor. He was 92.

Born February 9, 1919, in Red Lodge, Montana, he was a son of Albert and Rose (Ossinich) Kirn. His father was working as a coal miner in Montana when Ed was born, but in the 1920s the family moved to Michigan and his father went to work on the assembly lines for the Ford Motor Company. The family later moved to Pennsylvania and then in 1931 settled in Town of Middlefield where Ed attended a one room schoolhouse in Middlefield Center. In the late 1930s the Kirns purchased a dairy farm in Hartwick and settled there.

On November 22, 1941, Ed married the former Mollie Marie Oblak in a ceremony at the First Baptist Church of Hartwick.

From the 1940s until the 1960s Ed continued working on his family's farm. In the late 1950s he was also employed as a machinist in Clayville, as well as a body man for Al Welch and Ed Smith. In 1966 Ed went into business for himself and opened Kirn's Body Shop in the space formerly occupied by Cook's Garage. In 1978 he built the current facility just south of the village on State Highway 28.

Ed was a true outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. Trap and skeet shooting, turkey hunting, and ice and deep sea fishing, were all hobbies Ed enjoyed to the fullest. His ability with a gun was legendary and his friends and family called him "Hawkeye" for being such an incredible shot. Ed also enjoyed bowling, snowmobiling and, in the era of town baseball teams, was a talented baseball player. Later in life he took up golf, which became a passion for him, leading him all the way to Scotland where he played on St. Andrew's Links, the Home of Golf.

Proud of his Austrian and Slovenian heritage, he was a 50-year member of the Slovenska Narodna Podporna Jednota (SNPJ) and was a communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.

Ed is survived by two daughters, Rosemary Hoag and her husband, Donald, of Toddsville and Joan Cauley and her husband, Timothy, of Lake Wales, Florida and Altamar; two sons, Edward L. Kirn, Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Canton, Georgia and Robert G. Kirn and his wife, Charlene, of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; eight grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; one sister, Dorothy Hartman of Dearborn, Michigan; one brother, Rudy Kirn and his wife, "Giz", of Union Lake, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mollie, who died June 2, 2005.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 5, 2011, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding. The Rite of Committal and Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Index.

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown from 6 - 8 on Thursday evening, August 4, 2011 when Ed's family will be in attendance.

As an alternative to flowers, Ed's family suggests memorial contributions be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Margaret K. Jensen

May 16, 1922 - July 21, 2011

OAKSVILLE - Mrs. Margaret K. Jensen, a native of the Cooperstown area who lived for many years in Oaksville, died Thursday morning, July 21, 2011, at the home of her daughter, Ellen J. O'Connor, in Easton, Connecticut. She was 89.

Born May 16, 1922, at the Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, she was a daughter of Thomas Frances Kiley and Anna (Jones) Kiley.

When she was 5 weeks old, Margaret moved with her family to Detroit, Michigan. Tragically, her mother died when Margaret was only 5 years old, and one year later the family moved back to Cooperstown.

Margaret graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1940, and later graduated from Mildred Elley Secretarial School.

On May 16, 1948, she married Stanley Howard Jensen in Cooperstown, and they spent the next 25 years together until Stanley died April 17, 1975.

During her life, Margaret was employed at Remington Arms, the First National Bank of Cooperstown, and during World War II for the Rationing Board. She was also employed by Cooperstown Extension Service, Jensen Baldwin Oil Company, Herkimer Petroleum, and Agway Oil Company. What many people will fondly remember her doing was providing in-home child day-care for hundreds of children over the years.

Long active in local organizations, Margaret was a member of the Cooperstown Native Daughters, was a member, past president and director of the Criterion Club, was a member of the Otsego County Federation of Woman's Clubs, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Unit 7128 in Cooperstown, the Fly Creek Area Historical Society, and was a Life Member of the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary. Throughout the years she was also active in politics. For 12 years she served as chairman of the Town of Otsego Democratic Party, for five years as vice chairman of the Otsego County Democratic Party, and for four years was a committee member with the New York Democratic Party.

Margaret is survived by her brother, Thomas Frances Kiley, his wife, Arlene, and their daughter, Carole and her husband, Ren McCoy; one son, Robert S. Jensen, his wife, Lina, and their daughter, Melissa and son, Christopher; one daughter, Ellen Jensen O'Connor, her husband, Geoffrey, and their son, Brendan, and daughter, Kacey; and one son, Gregory N. Jensen, his wife, Deborah, and their sons, Gregory, Christian and Michael. She is further survived by her in-laws, Irving (Buster) Jensen and his wife, Caroline, Clara Jensen Clapp, and Charles Knapp, as well as all her beloved nieces and nephews whom she held dear to her heart.

In addition to her mother, father and husband, Margaret was preceded in death by her sister, Cornelia Kiley Knapp, and an infant daughter, Marjorie Ann Jensen.

Friends called at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown from 10 - 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, when Margaret's family was in attendance.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Noon on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with Fr. John P. Rosson, pastor, presiding.

The Service of Committal and Burial followed in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.

As an alternative to flowers, Margaret's family suggests memorial donations be made to Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, 99 Hawley Lane, Unit 1204, Stratford, CT 06614.

Arrangements were under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Gerald F. Jennings

December 3, 1926 - July 21, 2011

COOPERSTOWN - Gerald F. ("Jerry") Jennings, a native of Cooperstown, died Thursday morning, July 21, 2011, with his loving family beside him at Otsego Manor. He was 84.

Born December 3, 1926, at the family homestead in Phoenix Mills, he was one of seven children of Charles E. and Frances A. (Trask) Jennings.

Raised in Cooperstown, he attended local schools until he enlisted in the military in 1945. He proudly served his country in the United States Army with the Headquarters Squadron 4th Air Depot Group during World War II and was stationed in the Philippines when the peace treaty ending the war was signed. He received his Honorable Discharge from the military on December 19, 1946, having attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. Just recently he received a Certificate of Appreciation for his service in the United States Army on behalf of the partnership between Catskill Area Hospice and the Veterans Administration.

He returned to his native Cooperstown, and on August 27, 1950, he married the former Mildred L. ("Millie") Bridger in the parsonage of the Westville Baptist Church with the Rev. Walter Miller officiating. For the next 60 years, Jerry and Millie made their home and raised their family on Elm Street in the Village of Cooperstown.

His career as a master plumber started with McEwan Hardware in Cooperstown. He was first employed in retail sales, and then moved into their shop where he became the foreman. In 1969 Jerry and Merritt Harvey went into business together and formed Harvey and Jennings, Inc., which provided plumbing and heating services. In 1974 Jerry and Merritt both received opportunities to work for the State of New York and dissolved their business. Jerry was hired by the State of New York as a foreman on the restoration of Hyde Hall and was also in charge of the restoration of a broom factory in Schoharie County. In 1976 he was promoted to Building Restoration Specialist for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation in the Central New York Region and retired in 1984.

Of the Baptist faith, Jerry was also a member of the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579 and the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128.

When he wasn't working, Jerry was happiest at home, always fixing what needed to be fixed - a vacation would actually have been work to him. He will be greatly missed by his family and long-time friends.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Millie, of Cooperstown; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Susan Jennings of Hartwick and Charles ("Chip") and Carol Jennings of Cooperstown; one daughter and son-in-law, Susan and William McCormick of Catskill; five grandchildren, Jessica Bryan and her husband Mark, Bernadette Wellek and her husband Mike, Colleen Lanigan, Adam Jennings and Kerri Jennings; three step grandchildren, Angelina, Joey and Kyrie McCormick; two great grandchildren, Christopher and Mia Bryan; one sister, Alice Tomasi of Richfield Springs; one brother, Ronald Jennings and his wife Edith of Phoenix Mills; many nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Phyllis Newell and her husband Mike; and a special lifelong family friend, Tom Morrissey of New York City.

He was predeceased by four brothers, Robert C. Jennings, Richard A. Jennings, Arnold R. Jennings and Douglas L. Jennings.

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2011, when Jerry's family will be in attendance.

A memorial service will be offered at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 29, 2011, with the Rev. Douglas Deer, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Cooperstown, officiating. Burial will follow in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, where Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579, the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128, and a contingent from the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820, or Cooperstown Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 322, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

William L. Sheldon

COOPERSTOWN - William L. Sheldon, 89, passed away peacefully with his family at his side late Saturday afternoon, July 16, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

At the request of the family, services and interment will be private.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

James "Peter" Blackledge, Jr.

March 16, 1944 - July 15, 2011

SCHUYLER LAKE - James "Peter" Blackledge, Jr., a local contractor who was devoted to his family and community, died Friday afternoon, July 15, 2011, at his home that he built in the Town of Exeter, surrounded by his loving family. He was 67.

A native of New Jersey, Peter was born March 16, 1944, in Englewood, New Jersey, a son of James Peter Blackledge, Sr. and Lillian Phyllis (Bard) Blackledge.

In 1962 he graduated from Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, New Jersey.

On June 26, 1965, Peter married the former Maxine Miller in a ceremony at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Cresskill, NJ.

As a young man, Peter entered the field of construction. After he graduated from high school, he first worked for Bruce Gardner General Contractor. However the war in Vietnam was in full force, and Peter was inducted into the United States Army on April 19, 1968. He served a tour of duty in Vietnam as a part of the 9th Infantry Division, and earned three Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals. On November 21, 1969, he received his Honorable Discharge from the military, and returned to his wife and home in New Jersey.

He went back to work for Bruce Gardner as a foreman, but left in 1971 to work with K.B.C. Smith Construction, where he also served as a foreman.

It was during this time that he began visiting upstate New York, and eventually bought some land in the Town of Exeter and built a house.

Peter and his family moved permanently to their new home in 1974, and in 1977 he began working with Gus Pfeuffer and Hilltop Construction. He worked with Gus for the next 12 years and then started his own general contracting business, Blackledge Construction.

During his years in Otsego County, he served his community and fellow citizens well in several capacities. He was an active and dedicated member of the Schuyler Lake Volunteer Fire Department, and served as Fire Chief from 1989 until 1991, and later as Assistant Fire Chief. From 1989 until 2010 he was a councilman for the Town of Exeter and also served as a member of the Otsego County Republican Committee for almost 15 years.

Peter will be remembered by his family and friends as a wonderful contractor who
built many houses in the area. He taught his skills to his son, Brian, who continues the tradition of quality craftsmanship that Peter always put forth throughout his life.

Peter is survived by his wife of 46 years, Maxine, of Burlington Flats; a son, Brian Peter Blackledge, and his wife, Stacy, of Hartwick; two grandchildren, Riley and Lilly Blackledge; two sisters, Joann Boozer of Georgia and Joyce Hammel of Parkville, Maryland; one brother, Craig Blackledge of Richfield Springs; and many nieces and nephews.

He is further survived by his wife's brother, John Miller, and his wife, Pamela, of Cooperstown, and his wife's sister, Nancy Schedivy and her husband, Raymond, of Crystal River, FL.

In addition to his parents, Peter was preceded in death by one brother, Charles ("Chuck") Blackledge, and a brother-in-law, Jack Boozer.

Memorial Services will be offered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. The services will begin with a Firefighter Memorial Service conducted by members of the Schuyler Lake Volunteer Fire Department and the Otsego County Fireman's Association. This will be followed by a service of remembrance led by the Rev. John C. Young. At the conclusion of services, Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club and a contingent from the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.

Peter's family suggests memorial contributions be made to Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

Monroe John "Jack" Burch

January 16, 1953 - July 1, 2011

HARTWICK - Monroe John Burch, better known as "Jack", died unexpectedly Friday night, July 1, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 58.

Born January 16, 1953, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, Jack was a son of Marjorie (Conover) Burch and Orlo G. Burch.

A lifelong resident of this area, Jack first attended elementary school in Hartwick, then Bugbee Elementary School in Oneonta, and later graduated from Oneonta High School in 1972. He then attended Utica College of Syracuse University where he studied accounting, and graduated in 1976.

Jack was first employed for five years with ARC in Hartwick and then for the next four years with Crop Production in Oneonta. He was currently serving as a longstanding/20+year employee in the internet technology department as an IT Specialist at the Cooperstown headquarters of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway (NYSW).

Jack loved Hartwick and throughout the years served his family's community in several capacities. For 29 years he was a member of Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 1 and the Emergency Medical Squad. Since he became a resident of Oak River Trailer Park, Index, he was currently serving with Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 2. In 1978 Jack served as the Supervisor of the Town of Hartwick. For the next 19 years (1979-1997), he served as the Deputy Town Supervisor, during which time his sister, Carole Burch Donahue, served as Supervisor. In 1979, Jack ran for the office of Otsego County Representative. He also served at one time as a Trustee of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick.

In his leisure, Jack enjoyed vacationing with his sister, Carole, and nephew, Tim. Jack especially loved spending time in Daytona, Florida, and was an avid fan of NASCAR. He also liked to go to the movies, attend Buffalo Bills football games, photography, delving into Hartwick history, and spending time with his family and his cat, Mariah.

Jack is survived by his nephew, Timothy Donahue, and his wife, Meg Donahue, and their children, Kaylan, Andrea, M. Kelsea, Timothy "Devon", Aislinn and Brennan Donahue; niece Julie and Richard (Burr) Minckler, Malia and Maizie Minckler; nephew Orlo ("Bill") and Julie Burch, Orlo ("Nicholas") and Alyssa Burch; niece Shelley and Ed Jackson, Andrew, Anthony and Cooper; niece Kerry Burch and her husband , Jeremy Losaw; niece Amanda Burch; nephew Matt Burch; nephew David and Jessica Burch and Jacob Burch; niece Leah Burch; brothers Orlo C. Burch and wife, Cindy, and David G. Burch and wife, Sharon; his cat, Mariah; and his very good and devoted friend.

Jack was predeceased by his mother, Marjorie C. Burch, who died March 21, 1993; his father, Orlo G. Burch, who died February 9, 1994; and his sister, Carole Burch Donahue - with whom he was very close - who died August 26, 1998.

Friends are invited to pay their respects from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, when Jack's family will be in attendance.

A funeral service will be offered at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown, with Phillip Sell, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hartwick, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Burch and Conover family plot in Hartwick Cemetery.

As an alternative to flowers, those who so desire may make memorial gifts in memory of Jack to the Hartwick Fire Department Co. No. 2, 4877 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or to the American Stroke Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.

Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.

David H. Meffan

August 1, 1930 - July 1, 2011

WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS - David H. Meffan, a resident of Cooperstown, formerly of Dorchester, Massachusetts, passed away Friday, July 1, 2011 at the Colonial Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Weymouth, Massachusetts. He was 80.

A native of Massachusetts, he was born August 1, 1930 in Boston and resided in Dorchester.

He married Faye W. Meffan (née Robertson) November 30, 1974, in Boston. Faye died January 21, 1994.

On October 30, 1948, David enlisted in the United States Navy, and proudly served his country during the Korean War.

For many years, he was employed as a corrections officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A resident of Cooperstown since 1981, David was an active and longtime member of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128.

He is survived by a daughter, Deborah Meffan, of Charlestown, Massachusetts; two grandsons, Henry and Jonathan; a brother, Robert Meffan, of Middleboro, Massachusetts; three great grandchildren; and a niece and several nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Grafton.

Visiting hours will be Tuesday, July 5, 2011, from 2-5 p.m. at the McDonald Funeral Home, 809 Main Street, South Weymouth, Massachusetts.

A graveside service will be offered at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 18, 2011, at St. Mary's Cemetery, Index. Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128, Cooperstown, and a contingent from the United States Navy Funeral Honor Guard.

Donations in memory of David may be made to N.E. Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108.

Local arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

If you would like to send condolences to the family, CLICK HERE to send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family.