John J. Thorpe

1927 - 2017

HARTWICK - John J. Thorpe, age 90, died Sunday afternoon, November 26, 2017, at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego. 

Born July 17, 1927, in Union City, New Jersey, John was the son of John and Alice Thorpe. Raised in Washington Township, he graduated from Westwood Regional High School. He was then inducted into the United States Army and proudly served his country during World War II. He often recalled the great time he and many other servicemen had in New York City on V-J Day. 

After his military service, John attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated with a bachelor's degree. For many years he was employed as a chemist with American Cyanamid in Pearl River. 

On May 15, 1954, John married Jean Cary in Westwood, New Jersey. In 1956 they moved first to Pearl River and then Nanuet where they raised their family. In 1995 John and Jean moved to Hartwick and settled on West Hill. 

Throughout his life John enjoyed fishing, hunting and target shooting, as well as boating on Otsego Lake. 

John is survived by two daughters, Nancy Higgins and her husband, John, of Middletown, and Carol Stankard of Hartwick; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Jean Casey -- who he affectionately called Rascal -- and her husband, Thomas of Middletown. He is further survived by one sister, Lucille Jorgensen of Pearl River, and her children, Kathe Jorgensen and Peter Jorgensen and wife, Brenda. 

He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Jean Thorpe who died March 12, 2017; a son, John J. Thorpe, Jr. who died in 1976 and a son-in-law, Matt Stankard who died 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.

David Carl Lincoln, Sr.

1946 - 2017

ONEONTA - David Carl Lincoln, Sr., 71, of Oneonta, passed away peacefully with family by his side Saturday morning, November 25, 2017, at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego. 

He was born May 7, 1946, in Ithaca, a son of Carl and Evelyn (Millspaugh) Lincoln. 

After graduating from Interlaken High School he attended Empire State College where he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.

For many years he was employed in Schoharie, Seneca, Steuben and Otsego Counties as an officer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

David is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Evelina Fuller Lincoln; brother, John Lincoln (Ginny); sons, David (Laura), Chris, John and Mike (Victoria); grandchildren, Megan, Cassandra, Xanthian, Quinten, Tristen, Chris, Jeffery, Carter, Sadie, Emily, John Henry, Magnolia and Cooper; nieces and nephews, Matt (Brenda), Casey (Tina), and Carrie Wood (Jim); great nieces and nephews, Cody, Hunter, Zoey, Cameron, Jack, Rachel, Wyatt, Tanner and Lincoln. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2017, at SUNY Oneonta's Morris Conference Center beginning at 1 p.m., with a reception to follow. 

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the NHT Camps, c/o Director of Management and Budget Services, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-5010. Please write DEC Camps in memory of David Lincoln in the memo section of your check. 

The Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown is assisting the Lincoln family.


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.

Jacqueline Parshall

JAMESVILLE - Jacqueline Parshall passed away Thursday afternoon, November 23, 2017, at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center in Syracuse after a brief illness.

She was born in Cooperstown, a daughter of Chester O. and Rosalina M. (Pugliese) Bridger. 

Raised in the family home on Maple Street in Cooperstown, Jackie graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1964. She then attended Brockport State College and graduated in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in education.

Jackie was an avid sports fan and closely followed the New York Yankees and Syracuse University's teams. She was an enthusiastic amateur golfer and a member for more than 20 years at the Pompey Club, where she currently served as treasurer of the women's golf league.

She also enjoyed bowling, playing cards and taking trips to the Central New York casinos with her family members and close friends. 

She was a long-time supporter and volunteer for the Special Olympics in Upstate New York.

Surviving are her daughter, Leigh-Ann Parshall of Jamesville, and her siblings, Phyllis Newell of Hartwick and Chester T. "Tim" Bridger and wife, Lora of Tonawanda and their families.

She was predeceased by her husband of 44 years, Harry L. Parshall III, who died February 23, 2013; her father, Chet Bridger who died August 13, 1994; her mother, Rosie Bridger who died January 8, 2011; and a brother-in-law, Gary Michael "Mike" Newell, who died December 23, 2016. 

Per Jackie's wishes, there will be no services. Burial will be later in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate to Pathfinder Village Foundation, 3 Chenango Road, Edmeston, NY 13335-2314.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, 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.

Mary R. Wright

1924 - 2017

When the sun fades far away in the crimson of the west,
And the voices of the day murmur low and sink to rest.
Music with the twilight falls o'er the dreaming lake and dell; 
'Tis an echo from the walls of our own, our fair Cornell.

-- Henry Tyrrell, Cornell University Class of 1880

COOPERSTOWN - Mary R. Wright, who lit many new trails for women during her sixty years in hospitality as one of the first women hired to manage a hotel, chair a collegiate hospitality program, and start her own consulting practice, died on November 8, 2017, at her home in Cooperstown. She was 93.

Born July 1, 1924, in Syracuse, she was the only child of Roy Lafayette Wright, who was born in Siloam, and Syracuse-born Laura M. Newman Wright Barnard.

Raised in Herkimer, Miss Wright was introduced to Otsego County as a junior in high school when her father arranged a summer job for her as a carhop at Ye Olde Dutch Mill in Emmons.  Intrigued by the business, she took to waiting on tables the following summer and, on graduating from Herkimer High School, enrolled in Cornell University's hospitality management program. One of only five women among the one hundred students in her first year-class, she gave no thought to Cornell's male-dominated classes. In 1945 she graduated with honors and spent the next decade in New York City, first at Hilton's Plaza Hotel and then Horwath & Horwath, hotel accountants and consultants. A 1954 engagement took her to the Canadian Teachers' Federation, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. From there she went to McCormick & Co. in Baltimore, MD, then to two Boston-based hotel firms. In 1963 she was appointed Treadway Innkeeper in Batavia, where she was awarded the key to the city for community relations.  

She moved on to manage other properties until tapped in 1979 by Genesee Community College in Batavia to develop its hospitality-management program. Thereafter Miss Wright taught at Rochester Institute of Technology and Tiffin (Ohio) University, where she retired in 1990 and began consulting. Later she returned to Batavia as staff resident at the then "Victorian Manor." In 2001 she moved to Cooperstown and assisted at the Fly Creek Cider Mill until fully retiring in 2009 due to vision challenges. 

For many years she was an active Cornell and Hotel School alumna, holding offices in successive areas, raising scholarship funds, and writing class-news columns.  

In 1989 Mary joined Rotary in Tiffin and maintained her active membership until being designated an associate member in Cooperstown. A Paul Harris Fellow, she was curator of the Cooperstown Club's collection of over 720 banners. From her perspective, Rotary's motto, "Service Above Self" made membership a perfect fit for someone who was service-minded from the very beginning, and whose career was the service industry.  

Raised in the Episcopal faith, Mary found much comfort in later years as a devoted and faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown.

Wright always took great satisfaction in her multifaceted journey. She once stated, "I accepted that it was a man's world, and I always thought of myself as a business person in that world. I'm proud to have been the first woman or the first person in several of my jobs, and proud of the unexpected honors that I was privileged to receive."

Predeceased by her immediate family, she is survived by first-cousin families of Mikwanago, WI, and second cousins in central New York. She is further survived by her faith community at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, her fellow Rotarians, Cornell Alumni, those in the hospitality industry, and her former students and mentees. 

A Memorial Service to celebrate the life and legacy of Mary R. Wright will be offered at 11 a.m. Friday, December 8, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, with the Rev. Elsie A. Rhodes, pastor, officiating. A reception will follow in the adjoining Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, 25 Church Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326; or the Cooperstown Rotary Foundation, PO Box 1271, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Inquiries may be made of executor H. William Michaels of the Fly Creek Cider Mill, Fly Creek, NY 13337 (607-547-9692).

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.

Frederick J. Obermeyer, Sr.

1944 - 2017

COOPERSTOWN - Frederick John Obermeyer, Sr., 73, of Cooperstown, died November 6, 2017, surrounded by his family at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

He was born March 19, 1944, in St. Albans, Queens, son of Frederick and Gloria (Cook) Obermeyer. 

After graduating from high school, Fred enlisted in the United States Navy on August 29, 1963. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War, with his last assignment being aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). He received his Honorable Discharge August 25, 1965, and completed his reserve obligation November 27, 1967. 

On October 28, 1967, Fred married Camilla S. Gaynor in a ceremony at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Lake Ronkonkoma on Long Island.

After moving from Long Island to Cooperstown, he was employed as a custodian for the Oneonta City School District. 

Fred was a lifelong and devoted Mets fan. He loved spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren as well as his extended family of nieces and nephews. Some of his hobbies included fishing, playing cards and watching baseball.

Fred is survived by his wife of 50 years, Camilla S. Obermeyer of Cooperstown; three daughters and son, Melissa Obermeyer of Cooperstown, Kimberly Seigle and husband, David of Richfield Springs, and Robin Tabor and husband, Bud of Cooperstown, and Frederick J. Obermeyer, Jr. of Cooperstown; two grandchildren, Brian David Seigle and Camilla Hope Tabor; brother Frank Obermeyer and wife, Dawn; sister Robin Sippel and husband, Brian. Also his brother-in-law Jerome Gaynor, sister-in-law Margaret Pena-Gaynor and nieces and nephews Brian Sippel, Jr., Jaime Obermeyer, Ralph Pena, Sue Pena, Kathy Trinidad, Diane Longo, and Christopher Pena survive Fred. 

He is predeceased by his parents Frederick and Gloria Obermeyer and nephew Frank Obermeyer, Jr.

Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, on Friday morning, November 10, 2017, beginning at 10 a.m.

A Funeral Service will follow at 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick officiating. 

Burial with Military Honors will follow in Hartwick Seminary Cemetery. 

Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS,66675 and Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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.

Franklin D. Merrifield

1932 - 2017

HARTWICK - Frank Merrifield, 85, died November 1, 2017, at Focus Rehabilitation and Nursing Center at Otsego in Cooperstown. 

He was born September 20, 1932, in Girard, Ohio to Walter and Lida (Goist) Merrifield.

From infancy Frank was raised as a Jehovah's Witness and at the age of 12 was baptized, beginning his lifelong dedication to serving his God, Jehovah. As a youngster he enjoyed raising goats and playing tag.

His first job in high school was at Isley Dairy making Klondike Ice Cream Bars in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was one of their best customers. He graduated from Liberty High School in Girard, Ohio, in 1950. Leaving home at 18 he began eight years of service at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses in Brooklyn (now in Warwick). There he worked as a linotype operator in the printing factory. Later he transferred to Kingdom Farm in South Lansing to work as a beef feeder. It was there he met two lifelong friends, Dale Bostick and Wayne Rauscher.

In 1958 Frank met the love of his life, Millie Sterusky, from Edmeston. They married September 19, 1959, and had a beautiful union for 58 years. They made a home first in Schuyler Lake and then for 50 years in Hartwick.

For 35 years Frank worked as an insurance agent for Mutual of Omaha where his clients became his good friends. What Frank was most known for was the lead he took in the Schuyler Lake Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. He loved reading and studying the Bible and teaching people about the hope it holds out for everlasting life here on earth. In the door-to-door ministry, two of his favorite scriptures to share were Revelation 21:3&4 and Psalm 37:29. Frank could often be seen mowing his lawn on his John Deere tractor and took great pride in gardening and yard work. For a time he also enjoyed spending winters in Palm Springs, California, where enjoying the sunshine was a highlight of his life. He loved people and his outgoing personality and good sense of humor made him the life of many a party.

He is survived by many dear friends in both the Schuyler Lake and Oneonta Congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses; his wife, Mille; his two daughters, Ginger (Tim) Lucas of Bridgehampton and Melissa (Duane) Piatt of Soldotna, Alaska; and grandchildren Zoe Lucas, Zack Piatt and Eve Piatt.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 11, 2017, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 7396 State Highway 28, Schuyler Lake. 

The Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown is serving the family.


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.

Laura M. Gohde

1939 - 2017

MILFORD - Laura M. Gohde, 78, of Tansey Hill Road in Milford, passed away early Thursday morning, October 26, 2017, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

She was born at the home of a relative in Pleasant Brook on July 8, 1939, one of twelve children of Donald E. and Mabel E. (Crewell) Hitchcock. 

After Laura was born, she and her family lived in Oneonta and resided on Pony Farm Road. After graduating from Otego High School in 1957, she attended beautician school in Binghamton in the 1960s. After living in Middlefield, she moved to the Town of Maryland in 1998, and then settled in Milford in 2002. 

On August 19, 1999, she married Richard Earl Gohde in a ceremony at the Middlefield home of Justice of the Peace Raymond E. Burr, Sr.

Through the years she was employed in various places, including Astrocom Electronics and Corning in Oneonta. For 10 years, she also cleaned houses, and was last employed by Bassett Healthcare at their print shop in Cooperstown. 

She is survived by two children, Melissa Moore of Fly Creek and Gordon Sparaco of Milford; four grandchildren, Douglas Moore and Derek, Nicole and Justin Sparaco; two great grandchildren; her siblings, twin sister Harriet Smith of Colliersville, Stephen (Grace) Hitchcock of West Oneonta, Iva (John) Hurlburt of Otego, Gordon Hitchcock of Otego, Barbara (Michael) Thorsland of West Oneonta, Rosemary (Richard) Westcott of Davenport, Deborah Hitchcock of Florida, Mark (Deborah) Hitchcock of Norwich, and Regina Shaffer of Florida; and many, many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Richard, who died August 7, 2016; and two brothers, Gary Crewell in 1961 and David Hitchcock in 1992. 

A funeral service will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 4, 2017, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, with the Rev. Ronald Fralick, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cherry Valley, officiating. The service of committal and burial will follow in Middlefield Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Laura's family would greatly appreciate that donations in her memory be directed to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 97075, Washington, DC, 20090-7075.

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.