Corinne Hillman

1921 - 2018

COOPERSTOWN – Corinne Hillman of Cooperstown passed away on Friday February 15, 2019, at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing at the age of 98.

She was born on January 1, 1921, and grew up in New York City. She attended Hunter College and New York University and earned her master’s degree and teaching certificate in elementary education.

Corinne married Harry Hillman in January 1941 in New York City. Later they moved to Great Neck on Long Island where they raised their family. She is survived by a daughter, Kathi Hillman McElroy (Hugh) of Port Jefferson and a son-in-law, Harlan D. Alpern, M.D. of Cooperstown. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Micah (Sarah) Alpern of Mountain View, California, and Rebeka Seelinger (Brian) of Erie, Pennsylvania, as well as her four great grandchildren, Bobby, Emma, Hazel and James. 

For many years Corinne taught third and fourth grades in the Manhasset Public School in Manhasset on Long Island. Following her retirement from teaching she moved to Cooperstown in 1988. While living in Cooperstown she worked in the education department at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as a museum guide for children visitors, was on the Board of Glimmerglass Opera, and taught ballroom dancing to Cooperstown Junior High School students. In her honor, the Corinne Hillman Award is given each year at Cotillion to the 8th grade young lady and gentleman who show an aptitude for the new dance steps.

Corinne was devoted to her family and had many friends in Cooperstown and across the country. She had a long, active, and successful life and will be missed by her family and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Harry Hillman, who died March 25, 1976, their daughter, Sandee Hillman Alpern, who died January 10, 2019, and both of her siblings. 

Burial will be in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Flushing, Queens. 

For those that wish to honor Corinne’s life and memory, a donation could be made to the Cooperstown Cotillion, c/o Cooperstown Central School, 39 Linden Avenue, Cooperstown, NY  13326.

Arrangements are with 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.

Gladys G. Howe

1921 - 2019

WESTVILLE - Gladys G. Howe, a native of Cooperstown, dedicated educator, and faithful follower of Jesus Christ, passed away peacefully Sunday night, February 10, 2019, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law in Westville. She was 97.

Born April 13, 1921, at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, she was a daughter of Edwin N. and Blanche O. (Palmer) Bowen of Lentsville in the Town of Middlefield.

Raised on the family farm in Lentsville with her older sister, Josephine and two younger brothers, Donald and George, Gladys first attended a one room schoolhouse a mile from home. She graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1937 at the age of 16. After spending another year at Cooperstown High School taking post graduate courses, she attended the State University College of Oneonta (now SUNY Oneonta).Upon graduation from college in 1942, she taught primary grades in the Bethlehem Center and Glenmont Elementary Schools in the Bethlehem Central School District in Delmar.

In 1961 she was initiated into the Alpha Kappa Chapter (Albany County) of the Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary women educators society, international. After her retirement in 1977 she transferred her membership to the Rho Chapter in Otsego County. She was also a member of the Otsego County Retired Teachers Association and the New York State Retired Teachers Association.   

Upon retirement in 1977, Gladys returned to the family homestead in the Town of Middlefield, and joined the Red Creek Valley Grange #1583 where her parents had been charter members. She was a member of Otsego County Pomona Grange, New York State Grange and National Grange. When Red Creek Valley Grange merged with Westville Grange #540 in January 1989, she continued active membership. In 1983 she was honored as Outstanding Granger of the Year in Otsego County. She was named New York State Grange Subordinate Lecturer of the Year in 1983 and 1993. She served as Chaplain of Otsego County Pomona Grange from 1980-1991. She also served on the New York State Grange Committee on Women's Activities from 1984 to 1987, and on the New York State Grange Lecturer's Committee from 1987-1991. She served terms as chairman of fair activities in the Grange building at the Otsego County Fair, as President of the Otsego County Lecturer's Association, and as chairman of the Pomona Grange Committee on Women's Activities. Gladys most enjoyed the office of Subordinate Lecturer, having served in that capacity a total of 34 years

Gladys had been a faithful member of the Cooperstown United Methodist Church since 1981, and served in numerous capacities in the United Methodist Women's group.   

From 1982 to 1985 she served as a member of the Home Economics Division Committee, Cornell Cooperative Extension in Cooperstown, and from 1981 to 1994 as a regular volunteer in the donor canteen of the Red Cross Bloodmobiles at St. Mary's Parish Hall, Cooperstown. 

In 1990 Gladys moved to Westville to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. She enjoyed gardening at her new home and in her leisure time she also enjoyed needlework, reading and Bible study, as well as outings with her Red Hat friends.

Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Donna-Gene and Hugh L Francis of Westville; her granddaughter Victoria M. Francis of  Sussex, New Jersey; and  nieces and nephews, including Melanie Collins of Ravena, Brian and Alicia Bowen of Hartwick, Susan and Randy Gelatt of Burlington Flats, Timothy Bowen of Mentor, Ohio, Jennifer and Richard Smith of Schenectady, Jeffrey and Jennifer Bowen of Cooperstown, and Donald E. Bowen, Robert E. Bowen and James E. Bowen, all of the Albany area; and many grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins.  

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Josephine and Peter Paulson; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald E. and Priscilla Bowen and  George E. and Katharyn Bowen; her nephews, David E. Paulson and Leonard W. Bowen; and her nieces, Pamela K. Wayman and Debora Liburdi. 

Family and friends paid their respects from 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown. 

A Funeral Service will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2019 at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church in Cooperstown, with the Rev. Thomas LeBeau, pastor, officiating. Assisting will be Pastor Rose Bellin of Westville United Methodist Church.

The Service of Committal and Burial will follow in the Bowen family plot in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.  

The family respectfully requests that flowers not be sent. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Gladys may be made to Cooperstown United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Oneonta, NY 13820.

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.

Mary Imogene Carter, R.N.

1925 - 2019

COOPERSTOWN – Mary Imogene Carter, R.N., a native of Cooperstown and retired nursing supervisor at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, passed away Thursday afternoon, January 31, 2019, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown with her family by her side. She was 93.

Born June 8, 1925, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, Imy was one of seven children of Charles A. Newell, Sr. and Mary Gavin Newell. Imy’s mother was raised by Dr. Mary Imogene Bassett, and it was in her honor that Imy was named. After graduating from Cooperstown Central School with the Class of 1941, Imy attended Hartwick College School of Nursing. Upon graduation she went to work as a nurse at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital. 

In 1953, Imy met Rodman Dana Carter, M.D. while he was a Columbia University medical student on a rotation to Bassett. They were married April 18, 1958, in a ceremony in Cromwell, Connecticut with Dr. Carter’s father officiating. The couple continued working at Bassett, he as a surgeon and urologist and she as a nurse.  During her tenure there, Imy taught many house officers on the fronts of surgical and emergency care until retiring as nursing supervisor in 1990. When Dr. Carter retired, he and Imy began spending winters in Palm Coast, Florida. Following a battle with cancer, Dr. Carter passed away December 28, 2018. 

Along with her husband she was an ardent supporter of the Friends of Bassett, and was a former member of the Lake & Valley Garden Club and the Cooperstown Country Club. 

Imy is survived by one daughter, Michelle “Micki” Weir of Cooperstown; two granddaughters, Dana Temp and fiancĂ© James Habernig of Esperance and Shawna Tierney and husband, Patrick of Bristol, Maine; four great grandchildren, Olivia Temp, and Fynnaghan, Liam and Angus Tierney; two sisters, Noreen Newell of Cooperstown, and Marion “Billie” Williams of Portland, Oregon; one sister-in-law, Caroline Wall of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband of 60 years who preceded her in death only 34 days prior to her own, Imy was predeceased by a sister, Marjorie N. Strait, and three brothers, Charles A. Newell, Jr., Donald Newell and Roger Gavin Newell. 

A private gathering will be held later this Spring.

Memorial donations may be made to Friends of Bassett, 1 Atwell Road, 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.