Richard F. Smith, Jr.

1943 - 2021

OAKSVILLE – Richard Frederick Smith, Jr., a life-long area resident and long-time employee of Remington Arms, passed away following a lengthy illness Monday afternoon, September 13, 2021, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 78.

Born August 21, 1943, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, he was one of four children of Richard Frederick Smith, Sr. and Dorothy Arlene Roseboom Smith. He attended Cooperstown schools and was a member of the Cooperstown High School Class of 1961.

On March 17, 1962, Dick married Patricia Ann Edwards in a ceremony at the Cooperstown Methodist Church, and they went on to enjoy a total of 60 wonderful years together. 

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Dick proudly served his country with the United States Army from 1962 until 1968. Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the military, he returned to the Cooperstown area, and was employed for 34 years with Remington Arms in Ilion, first as a forend sander and then as an inspector. 

Throughout his life, Dick enjoyed participating in and watching a variety of sports – he truly loved just about every kind of sport there is! He especially enjoyed playing softball, bowling and golfing, and was an avid fan of the New York Jets, having rooted for them since their beginning as the Titans of New York. Dick’s man cave at his home is a testament to his devotion to his beloved Jets. He also enjoyed his 1951 Ford coupe, and was a long-time active member of the Wanderer’s Car Club. He was also a former member of the Milford American Legion Post No. 1566 and at one time served with the Fly Creek Volunteer Fire Company. 

Most especially he will be remembered as being a devoted husband, great dad and a person who was loved by all. He had a wonderful way with everyone he met, and as his children grew, he treated their friends as if they were his own. He will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. 

Dick is survived by his wife of 60 years, Patty Smith, of Oaksville; their three children, Richard F. Smith III (Kathy) of Statesville, North Carolina, Pamela Wart (Percy) of Christian Hill and Raymond Smith (Deanna) of Milford; nine grandchildren, Craig, Cheryl, Brad, Chrissy, Sean, Kyle, Ray, Jr., Mason and Katelyn; and nine great grandchildren. He is further survived by two brothers, Ronald Smith (Debbie) of Oppenheim and Charles Smith (Jill) of Cedarville; a sister-in-law, Lois M. Smith of Toddsville; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was predeceased by a sister, Grace Snyder, who died March 14, 2018, and a brother, Eugene Raymond Smith, Sr., who died October 15, 2017. Sadly and tragically, Dick’s daughter-in-law, Kathy Smith, died just two days after him due to complications from COVID-19. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021, beginning at 2 p.m. at Wilber Park in Milford. It is requested by the family that those attending please wear a favorite jersey or t-shirt representing your favorite sports team. At 2:30 p.m., Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club. 

Eventually he will be laid to rest near his parents in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery. 

Arrangements are under the care 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.

Sandra Lou Stockdale

COOPERSTOWN – Sandra Lou Stockdale (Sandy) passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Thursday, August 26th, 2021. She was surrounded by her loving family who made certain she was comfortable. 

Sandy is survived by her loving husband of 30 years and one day, William Stockdale. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Greg and LisaMarie Morrison, Glenn and Michele Morrison, and Glenda and Matt Vatovec. She is also survived by her loving granddaughters, Emily and Abigail Vatovec and her grandsons Kane Morrison and Brett Morrison. She was predeceased by her daughter, Gretchen Miller, and her first husband, Walter Glen Morrison. 

Sandy was a hard-working woman who had her fair share of obstacles to overcome in life. After losing her first husband, Walter Morrison, she became the sole caregiver to her four children. With very little means and not having had a job to date, Sandra picked herself up and took charge of getting things in order. She got her first car, worked hard to find several jobs to make ends meet, and still managed to care for her four young children. There were many tough times. One of Sandra’s favorite stories to tell is finding her family low on funds, and needing to feed her family, she was able to find 5 dollars with the help of her eldest son, Greg, and she purchased hot dogs and macaroni and cheese with which she built a meal for her children. That was just the kind of person she was, she could make a full meal out of very little. 

Sandy met the love of her life, William Stockdale, in 1988. They were wed on August 25th of 1991 in a beautiful ceremony in Mount Vision. Sandy and Bill were inseparable. They met and worked together at the Clark Sports Center. They shared several hobbies including fishing, playing cards, and watching westerns. The best parts of her day were spent with her husband, in fact, when Bill worked the overnight hours, she would stay on his schedule, so that they could sleep during the same hours and be with each other as much as possible. They loved sitting for long hours, holding hands and talking. They had a love that was tender and patient. Bill was Sandy’s primary caregiver in the last years of her life, and he worked tirelessly to meet all her needs. 

Sandy had a deep love for her children. She always looked forward to receiving a phone call from them, even if they had nothing much to talk about. Many conversations would be spent reminiscing about the past, talking about the weather, and of course, a check-in to make sure everyone was okay. Sandy always called her children and left the same voicemail, “Hi honey, it’s mama, love you.” She also deeply loved her grandchildren and enjoyed hearing their stories about school and the books they were reading. 

Sandy will be deeply missed by all those who knew her and loved her. She expressed her wishes for flowers in the final hours of her life. Her services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 25th at the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery under the care of Connell, Dow and Deysenroth. Her services will be officiated by Pastor Matthew Marlow. A remembrance celebration will be held in Sandy’s honor at 318 Bice Road in Cooperstown after the services. In lieu of flowers, you may make donations in honor of Sandra Stockdale’s memory to the Cherry Valley Emergency Squad or Springfield First Responders. 



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.

Rev’d Dr Schuyler Brown

1930 - 2021

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA – The Rev’d Dr Schuyler Brown, whose grandfather was the Rev’d Philip Auld Harrison Brown, 7th Rector of Christ Church, Cooperstown, and whose family owned the Holt-Averell House, which was located where The Otesaga now stands, passed peacefully on Sunday, August 22, 2021, at Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 91. 

He was the beloved husband of Margaret (Maggie) Meredith for 37 years, and the devoted brother of the late William Averell Brown, Dr J. Warren Brown and Mary Alice Brown. 

Born August 21, 1930, in New York City, he was a son of William Averell Brown and Mary Alice  Brown (née Warren).  He earned his undergraduate degree in Classical Languages in 1952 at Harvard University, and in the same year entered the Jesuit order and was ordained to the priesthood in 1963. He earned his Doctorate in Theology in 1969 at the University of Muenster (Westphalia), and then studied at the Pontifical Institute in Rome. After several years teaching in the United States and England, in 1980 he joined the University of Toronto (St. Michael’s College) as Professor of New Testament. In 1982 Dr. Brown was admitted to the Anglican Diocese of Toronto and appointed Assistant Priest at the Church of St. Augustine of Canterbury. In 1997 he became the Priest in Charge at the Church of the Good Shepherd until he retired in 2015. Dr. Brown was appointed Honorary Assistant at St. Olave’s Anglican Church in Toronto, Ontario, in 2016. 

Visitation was held August 26, 2021, at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, Toronto, Ontario. A Funeral Service was held at St. Olave’s Anglican Church on August 27, 2021. For those who wish, donations may be made to St. Olave’s Anglican Church (stolaves.ca/giveonline/)

The Service of Committal and Burial will be privately held in the Brown Family Plot in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown.

Local arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 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.

Maia Leonardo

Maia Leonardo died unexpectedly on August 30, 2021 at age 28. Born in Philadelphia, PA, to Kathleen and James Leonardo, she grew up in Cooperstown, NY before relocating to New Haven.

A tireless activist, Maia devoted her life to improving the lives of marginalized communities, especially in her beloved New Haven. She was involved in countless organizing efforts and offered help wherever she saw a need. Maia was particularly proud of her work with Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit serving the transgender and gender-nonconforming community, where she most recently served as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors.

Maia was also an avid musician, creating and performing music under the name juno hawke. Interested in computer science and graphic design, Maia loved her work in Development at the New Haven Pride Center and in IT at Central Connecticut State University. She is survived by her parents, her sister Anne, her beloved cat Leon, and a host of family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Trans Lifeline at translifeline.org.

A virtual remembrance for Maia’s family and friends will be held on Sunday, September 5 at 4 pm. Please contact Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home at 607-547-8231 or peterdeysenroth@hotmail.com for information.  


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.