Barbara Jane Brooks (Poe)

1950 - 2017

COOPERSTOWN - Barbara Jane Brooks (formerly Poe), a resident of Robynwood in Oneonta and a former resident of Vestal and Endicott, passed away from complications of breast cancer on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. She was 66.

A native of Pennsylvania, she was born Barbara Jane Brooks June 28, 1950, in Meshoppen, a daughter of the late Corey Robinson Brooks and Elizabeth Jane (Sheehan) Brooks.

Barbara is survived by her daughter, Emily Poe and son-in-law, Lewis Long of Austin, Texas; a sister, Beverly Brooks of Rochester; a brother, Ray Brooks of Johnson City; granddaughters Corey and Cameron; niece Elizabeth Handley and nephew-in-law Brian Handley of Rochester; and grandnieces Amelia and Samantha.

She will be most remembered for being a loving mother and proud grandmother. She had a love of music and enjoyed nothing more than laughing with her friends. The family thanks the scores of healthcare professionals and others who helped care for her and took the time to enrich her life over many years.

A funeral service will be offered at 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, April 2, 2017, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

Barbara will be laid to rest the following day near her parents in Vaughn's Cemetery, Mehoopany, Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness), P.O. Box 62596, Baltimore, MD 21264-2596. 

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Jean Thorpe

1929 - 2017

HARTWICK - Jean Thorpe, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died late Sunday evening, March 12, 2017, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. She was 87.

Born July 6, 1929, in New York City, Jean was the daughter of Richard E. and Helen E. (Wright) Cary. She was raised in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and while growing up she spent many happy times in Swartswood Lake, New Jersey, with her family. She was once named Miss Wildwood. 

Through the years she was employed in several occupations, but the job she liked most was being a switchboard operator at US Steel and National Tube in New York City.

On May 15, 1954, Jean married John J. Thorpe in Westwood, New Jersey. In 1956 they moved to Nanuet where they raised their family. In 1995 Jean and John moved to Hartwick and settled on West Hill where Jean was able to truly relish her love of nature. She also enjoyed gardening, baking, fishing, watching the hummingbirds, her daughter's dog, Scotty, and the beautiful views from their deck. Throughout her life, Jean always had a positive attitude, no matter the situation, and always looked on the bright side of life. 

Jean truly loved her family, and will be fondly remembered as a devoted and loving wife to her husband of 62 years, John J. Thorpe of Hartwick; was a wonderful mom to two daughters, Nancy Higgins and husband, John, of Middletown, and Carol Stankard of Hartwick; and a loving grandmother to Jennifer Jean Casey and husband, Thomas of Walden. 

She was predeceased by a son, John J. Thorpe, Jr. in 1976 and a son-in-law, Matt Stankard in 1999.

A private graveside service will be held in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, New Jersey.

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

George E. Vermilya

1926 - 2016

NEW HARTFORD - Mr. George Elmer Vermilya, 90, of New Hartford and formerly of Fly Creek, died Saturday morning, November 26, 2016, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica. 

A native of Delaware County, George was born at home in Grand Gorge on September 12, 1926, a son of Leo Eugene Vermilya and Inez Patterson Vermilya.

He attended South Kortright Central School and then entered into active service in the United States Army in January 1945. After proudly serving his country during World War II he returned home and earned his high school diploma from SKCS with the Class of 1948.

On October 2, 1953, George married Elsie A. Darling in a ceremony at the Hobart Methodist Church. In 1954, the couple moved to Cooperstown where George was employed as the manager of the Sealtest Milk Plant which was located at the corner of Chestnut and Walnut Streets.

During their years in the Cooperstown area, the Vermilyas resided in Fly Creek, during which time Elsie was employed on the news staff of The Freeman's Journal. George became a life member of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128 in Cooperstown, and often served with the Honor Guard for Military Honors for deceased Veterans. 

In 1971, George and Elsie moved to St. Lawrence County to reside in Madrid, where he was employed as a dairy farm inspector for the Kraft Cheese Plant in Canton. Upon his retirement in 1988, the couple moved to New Hartford.

George is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Anthony Covais of Massena; three granddaughters, Tammy Loz and husband, Richard, Teresa Cavanaugh and husband, Mark, and Candace O'Neill; 11 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Elsie A. Vermilya, who died January 18, 2009.

A graveside service will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017, in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery, Cemetery Road, Fly Creek, with James Atwell, Quaker Minister officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston VFW Post No. 7128 and the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard. 

As an alternative to flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.

Arrangements are under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.

Louis Hyman Fishman

1934 - 2017

COOPERSTOWN - Mr. Louis Hyman Fishman, 83, formerly of New York City, passed away Wednesday morning, March 1, 2017, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

A native New Yorker, he was born February 3, 1934, in New York City, a son of Alter Eliozor and Gussie née Gittel Fishman.

First employed in the field of commercial photography, he soon began purchasing taxi cab medallions and ran his own fleet of taxis in New York City. He later owned and operated a limousine service.

On July 6, 1977, Lenny-as he was affectionately known by his family and close friends-married Amelia Alves in New York City. Upon retirement they first lived in Florida and then moved to Cooperstown in 2012. 

In addition to his loving and devoted wife of almost 40 years, Amelia Fishman of Cooperstown, Lenny is survived by a sister, Eileen Frazer of Barnegat, New Jersey, and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was offered at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 2, 2017, at New Montefiore Cemetery on Long Island, with Rabbi Saul Korn officiating.

Arrangements were under the care and 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 at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.