Rose A. Thayer

October 5, 1923 - July 29, 2012

COOPERSTOWN - Rose A. Thayer, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away Sunday evening, July 29, 2012, at Otsego Manor. She was 88.

Rose was born October 5, 1923, in Cooperstown, a daughter of Joseph F. and Alfonsina (Benedetto) Russo, who emigrated from Italy in 1920.

Raised in Cooperstown, Rose graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1941. On December 27, 1942, she married Wendall M. Thayer, Sr. in a ceremony at St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown.

Following their marriage, Rose and Wendall settled in Cooperstown where they raised their family. For many years Rose served as the cafeteria manager at the Cooperstown Central School. Upon her retirement from the school she served until 2011 as a court attendant for the Otsego County Sheriff's Department at the Otsego County Court House.  A devoted fan of the Atlanta Braves, she was also employed by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as their first female "red coat".  For many years Rose served on the Board of Elections and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Unit 7128 in Cooperstown, as  well as the Criterion Club and Native Daughters of Cooperstown.

A communicant of St. Mary's "Our Lady of the Lake" Roman Catholic Church, Rose was active in the church's Bereavement Ministry, especially in providing food for funeral luncheons. A very loving and giving person, she will be fondly remembered for always having cookies and cupcakes at the ready to give to family and friends who often stopped by for a visit. Rose possessed a wonderful sense of humor and was a mother to all. She will be greatly missed.

Rose is survived by her children, Sarah M. (Sallie) Harrington of Cooperstown and Wendall M. (Toby) Thayer, Jr. and his wife, Margaret (Peggy), of Voorheesville; four grandchildren, Tracey Parker and her husband, Steven, of New Lisbon, Jeffrey Harrington and his wife, Shannon, of Oneonta, Robert J. Thayer and his wife, Michelle, of Rotterdam and Margaret Rose (Maggie) Thayer of Voorheesville; four great grandchildren, Caleb, Sheridan and Stephanie Parker and Emma Harrington; one brother, America Russo and his wife Johnny Jo of Paris, Texas; three sisters, Olympia Burns of Woodstock, Mary Hollister and her husband John of Rome and Antonetta Russo of Oneonta; and many nieces and nephews.

She is further survived by her late husband's family, Polly and Don Knapp of Elk Creek, Durward and Audrey Thayer of Oneonta and Richard Teachout of Richfield Springs.

In addition to her family, Rose leaves behind her extended family of loving and dedicated caregivers in the Winding Brook neighborhood, Oak's Creek household at Otsego Manor. The kindness, care and compassion given to Rose, especially near the end of her life, will be forever appreciated by her immediate family. 

She was predeceased by her husband, Wendall M. Thayer, Sr., who died April 6, 1977; twin brothers, Joseph and Raphael Russo; two sisters, Anna Pugliese and Vera R. Barnes; and a son-in-law, Ellis I. Harrington, who died September 21, 2007.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 6, 2012, 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 will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.

Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown from 2 - 6 PM on Sunday, August 5, 2012, when Rose's family will be in attendance.

As an alternative to flowers, Rose's family suggests memorial gifts be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta,  NY 13820 or the American Cancer Society, 13 Beech Street, Johnson, NY 13790.

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


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.

Margaret "Peggy" L. Bass

December 8, 1930 - July 11, 2012

COOPERSTOWN -Margaret Latto Bass, 81, a full-time Village and part-time Manhattan resident, village merchant and long-time supporter/volunteer for the Susquehanna SPCA, passed away on July 11, 2012.

The youngest of four children from Scottish immigrants, Margaret was born December 8, 1930, in Wallingford, Connecticut. Following high school and graduation from the Stone School of Business in Hamden, Connecticut, Margaret married Walter J. Bass and moved to Cooperstown in the early 1960s, raising four children on Susquehanna Avenue.

Margaret had a life-long concern for the care of abandoned animals, was instrumental in the establishment of the Susquehanna SPCA in Pierstown and continued her volunteer work at the Better Exchange Thrift Store on Chestnut Street and later in Hyde Park. She also owned and operated the Sears Catalog Store on Main Street throughout the 1970s and early 80s. She will be dearly missed by her family and  friends.

Margaret is survived by her children and their spouses, Jason Bass of Binghamton, Marcia and Richard Kemp of Long Island, Christopher and Sherry Bass of Cooperstown and Jonathan and Lynn Bass of Cooperstown. She is also survived locally by three grandchildren and four great grandchildren, as well as her sister, Kathleen Bruegel and numerous nieces and nephews from Connecticut. She was predeceased by her husband, Walter J. Bass; her parents, Katherine and Thomas Latto; her sister, Jessie Connelly; her brother, James Latto and her granddaughter, Jessica Bass.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Susquehanna SPCA, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Services 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, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.

John Edward Coughlin

July 10, 1969 - July 2, 2012

With life as short as a half taken breath
Don't plant anything but love.
-- Rumi 

COOPERSTOWN - Shaman John Edward Coughlin, a Native American spiritual counselor and healer, ended his life's journey Monday, July 2, 2012. He was 42.

John entered this life July 10, 1969. He was a 1989 graduate of Mount Markham High School. He was teacher, confidant, healer, writer, and brother to many.   

Martial Arts were an important element in John's life. A Chinese GoJu from 1986 to 1990, he achieved the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt under the instruction of Brooks Karate in West Winfield. From 1990 to the present, he was a North American GoJu Karate Jujitsu Tae and achieved the rank of 2nd Degree Black Belt under the instruction of KyoshiEfren Reyes of Utica Karate Studio. John founded Cooperstown Karate, and taught the mixed martial arts of GoJu, Aikijutsu, Tactical Fighting, Kung Fu and Karate.

John is survived  by his life-partner, Kristen Jastremski; his children, Christopher JM Coughlin, Tyler JR Coughlin, Sapphire DL Coughlin, Brandon NW Coughlin, Brenna LR Coughlin, Kae'leigh A Mundy, Samantha Mundy, and a step-daughter, Sofia RJ Jones; two sisters, Tanya Yaddow and Brenda Walker-Androved; two brothers, Andrew Walker and David Walker; and his aunts and uncles, Gert and Neal Force, Joan Totaro, Carolyn LaRock, Joanne and Bob Dalton, Eva and Rick Harvis, Elsie and Bob Howland, and Tom and Nancy Dalton.

He was preceded in death by one son, Matthew R Mundy; and his parents, Sharon Lee Coughlin and William Dalton.

Services 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, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers, or call them at (607) 547-8822.