Donald C. Huntington

November 28, 1929 - August 17, 2012

COOPERSTOWN - Donald C. Huntington, a lifelong area resident and successful farmer and businessman, died early Friday morning, August 17, 2012, at his home on Trolley Line Road in Cooperstown. He was 82.

Born Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1929, at the Parshall Hospital in Oneonta, Don was one of six sons of Lowell S. and Meta Charlotte (Juergensen) Huntington.

Always a farm boy at heart, he was raised in Westford on the family dairy farm, Lomet Meadows, which was established by his father in 1924. Don attended the Andrew S. Draper Central School in Schenevus and graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1947. Upon graduating from high school, he attended Cornell University and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture.

On February 22, 1953, Don married Jean Cower in a ceremony at the Main Street Baptist Church in Oneonta. They settled in the Westford area where they raised their family.

A lifelong and faithful member of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Westford, he served the church in many capacities during his life and especially enjoyed being the organist.

A member of the Masonic Fraternity for 50 years, he was a Past Master of Schenevus Valley Lodge No. 592, Free and Accepted Masons. Right Worshipful Huntington also served as District Deputy Grand Master of the Otsego-Schoharie Masonic District in 1976, and for several years served on the Fellowship Committee of the Grand Lodge of New York.

Don was a member of the Westford Volunteer Fire Department and was a past Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners. He also served for seven years on the Board of Trustees of the A. O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta.

In 1979, he formed the Don Huntington Corporation. His business ventures included the development of property off Greenough Road in the Town of Hartwick that became Trolley Line Road.

In his leisure, Don enjoyed golfing and was a subscriber at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown. Throughout the years he also served as an umpire for baseball games and a referee for basketball games.

Don and Jean enjoyed travelling where he pursued his bird watching hobby -- his lifetime species count was approximately 530 birds.

In later years, he especially liked to gather with his golfing buddies for morning coffee at TJ's Place on Main Street in Cooperstown.

Don is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Jean C. Huntington, of Cooperstown; one daughter, Jill Huntington-Smith and her husband, Herbert, of Clermont, Florida; three sons, Donald C. Huntington, Jr. of Schenevus,  Christopher J. Huntington of Cooperstown, and Eric L. Huntington of San Diego, California; and three grandchildren, Lowell and Jaime Huntington and Eric C. Smith. He is also survived by one brother, Edward F. "Ted" Huntington and his wife, Elaine, of Glens Falls; four sisters-in-law, Evelyn Huntington of Cooperstown, Helen Huntington and Jane Huntington, both of Westford, and Mary Huntington of Alfred Station; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Peter L. Huntington, James R. Huntington, Robert L. Huntington, Sr., and David H. Huntington.

Friends may call and pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, when Don's family will be in attendance.

A Masonic Funeral Service will be offered by Brothers from Schenevus Valley Lodge No. 592, F. & A. M. at the funeral home at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Following cremation, The Office of the Burial of the Dead will be offered at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2012, at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Westford with the Rev'd Roy Vandermark, Deacon Vicar, officiating.

Don's ashes will be laid to rest at a later date in Westford Cemetery.

As an alternative to flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 74, Westford, NY  13488-0074, or 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, 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.

Charles William ("Bill") Murray

October 27, 1930 - August 13, 2012

COOPERSTOWN - Charles William ("Bill") Murray, formerly of Annandale, Virginia and a Cooperstown resident, died Monday morning, August 13, 2012, at Otsego Manor, with his family by his side. He was 81.

Bill was born October 27, 1930 in Amsterdam, a son of Charles William and Anna Sabina (Spahr) Murray, Sr.

Raised in Amsterdam, he graduated from high school there and then attended Oberlin College as a music major. However, he left college to enlist in the United States Navy on August 27, 1951. He was chosen for officers training, entered college again (NROTC) and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in mathematics from Duke University and a commission as an Ensign.

On August 7, 1954, he married the former Carolyn Ruby at the First Presbyterian Church in East Aurora. He was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia for three years on the USS Vesole DDR-878, a destroyer. He later received his Masters Degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. 

Following his naval career, the couple made their home in Annandale, VA. He worked for two research and development firms, Melpar Inc. and Aero Geo Astro Corp. In 1966 he was asked to join NASA at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD as an applied mathematician where he worked for 21 years. In his career at NASA/Goddard, he worked on the Apollo project, writing analyses of the Apollo spacecraft's "Go, No-Go" decision for leaving Earth orbit  to the Moon, and of the spacecraft's re-entry trajectory into Earth's atmosphere upon returning from the Moon.

He was a dedicated runner and hiker: he ran over 25 marathons, including three Boston Marathons, and backpacked over 1000 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, Bill was avid musician who played both the piano and trombone. He enjoyed playing with various bands including The Northern Virginia Community College Orchestra, The Kings Park Band, The Cooperstown Community Band and The Small Town Big Band. For many years he volunteered at Otsego Manor playing piano and conducting sing-a -longs. He passed on his passion for nature, science, poetry and music to all who were close to him - finding time to camp with his family, build a homemade telescope with his son, run , sing, and teach piano to his grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Murray of Cooperstown; one son, Douglas S. Murray and his wife Christine Prosch of Alexandria, Virginia; two daughters, Barbara Sullivan and her husband John of Cooperstown and Anne Woodring and her husband Michael of Annandale, Virginia; six grandchildren, Armaiti Prosch, Caroline Murray, Erin Sullivan, Matthew Sullivan, Joley Sullivan and Rosa Woodring; one great granddaughter, Dagny Prosch-Winberg; and one sister, Barbara Ann Young of Corning.

A memorial service will be offered at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 8, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown with Rev. Elsie Armstrong Rhodes, pastor, officiating.

Immediately following there will be a Service of Committal at the Columbarium in the Presbyterian Churchyard. Military honors will be accorded by the United States Navy Funeral Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD  21741 (www.parkinson.org), the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV, 25425 (www.appalachiantrail.org), or Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY  13820 (www.cahpc.org).

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.

Robert F. Ives

December 26, 1945 - August 11, 2012

RIDGE - Robert F. Ives, a life-long resident of the Oneonta and Cooperstown areas, and more recently a resident of Long Island, died unexpectedly Saturday night, August 11, 2012, at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead on Long Island. A beloved father, brother and friend, Bob was 66.

Born December 26, 1945, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital in Oneonta, he was the son of Frederick and Erma Mae (Georgia) Ives.

Raised in Oneonta, Bob graduated from Oneonta High School with the Class of 1964. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, and proudly served his country until receiving his honorable discharge October 18, 1968.

For many years, Bob served as the Animal Cruelty Investigator for the Susquehanna SPCA when their offices were located in Pierstown.

He was a member of the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579 in Cooperstown. Bob's pleasant disposition, and his ability to share stories and make people smile and laugh, were truly hallmarks of his character and personality. He could always be counted on to "take it, as well as, dish it out." A man who truly loved his family, he will be sorely missed by all whose lives he touched.

Bob is survived by his children, Chief Petty Officer Joshua Robert Ives, United States Navy, currently assigned to the Provincial Reconstruction Team, Farah, Afghanistan, and his wife, Nancy, April Kelly Ives and her companion, Donny J. Rulison, Jr., of Milford, Nicole Kathleen Ives of Milford, and Stacey Camp of Mount Upton; Bob's long-time companion, Virginia Rehm, of Ridge, Long Island; step children Hannah and Kyle Rehm; one sister, Linda Duffy and her husband, Michael, of New Hartford; nieces, nephews and cousins; and countless good friends who loved him.



Family and friends are welcome to gather for a casual time of friendship and remembrance on Friday, August 17, 2012, from 5-7 p.m. at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

As an alternative to flowers, Bob's family suggests that those who so desire make memorial donations in his name to the Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA  01923, or www.scleroderma.org.

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.

Harvey Richard Eckler

August 27, 1953 - August 11, 2012

Harvey Richard “Rick” Eckler, 58, died Saturday, August 11, 2012 in Ogden Utah. He was born in Cooperstown, New York on August 27, 1953, the son of Harvey and Alice (Race) Eckler. Rick graduated from Cooperstown Central School in 1971. Growing up he was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, Cooperstown.

Following high school Rick enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in which he served for 15 years. Following his service in the Air Force he continued to work, as a civilian in the field of electronics, at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah until his retirement in 2007. While working at the base, he also attended Weber State University from which he graduated in 1988.

Rick is survived by his two daughters, Angela and Kathleen, both of Ogden, UT, and six grandchildren; his parents, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek; one brother, Michael (Michelle) Eckler of East Greenbush, NY; four sisters, Gail Nagel of Selkirk, NY, Kay (Edwin) White of Salisbury, MD, Lorrie (Hector) Garcia of Henderson, NV, and Shelley (Michael) Sullivan of Troy, NY. He is also survived by two uncles, Walter (Dorothy) Eckler and Robert (Jane) Race, both of Cooperstown, as well as a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held in Ogden, UT on Friday, August 17. A memorial service will be held in Cooperstown at Christ Episcopal Church, 46 River Street, on Saturday, August 18 at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Mark Michael officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations in Rick’s memory be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.


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.

Walter "Jason" Bass

April 6, 1956 - August 1, 2012

COOPERSTOWN - Walter Jason Bass, son of Walter and Peggy Bass formerly of Cooperstown, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, August 1st. Jason was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on April 6, 1956. He is survived by Marcia & Rich Kemp of Long Island, Christopher & Sherry Bass and Jonathan & Lynn Bass of Cooperstown, along with his nieces and nephew and great-nephews. His family is deeply saddened by his passing.

Arrangements entrusted to 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.