Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: May 2023

Stephen L. Sheldon

1955 - 2023

HARTWICK – Stephen Lee Sheldon, a life-long area resident, passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 67.

Born July 1, 1955, in Cooperstown, Steve was one of four sons of William Lee and Grace Patricia (Davidson) Sheldon. He attended Cooperstown Central School and graduated with the Class of 1973.

On November 10, 1979, he was joined in marriage to Jane Marie Morris in a ceremony at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown. They moved to Hemlock Hill Farm in 1986 and raised four loving and strong-willed children in an idyllic country setting. Steve was a dedicated family man, always wanting to know how his children and the extended family were doing.

Steve was known for his wisdom, witty sense of humor, charm, and propensity for storytelling. He had a profound love and respect for nature and was a man of many interests throughout his life including drawing, architecture, landscaping, construction, auto racing, hiking, rock climbing, camping, skiing, and grilling. He was an active Assistant Scout Master in the Boy Scouts of America’s Troop 1254 throughout the 1990s, sharing his skills with the next generation. Many will remember Steve for his time in the truck division at Smith Ford in Cooperstown, where he was always working hard to help municipalities and members of the community.

Steve is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jane M. Sheldon of Hartwick; their four children and spouses, William and Lauren Sheldon of Rotterdam, Lindsey and John Havlik of Cooperstown, Stephanie and Randy Garrett of Charlotte, NC, and Erin and Robert Ives of Schuylerville; two grandsons, Henry Charles and Levon Scott Sheldon; his three brothers, David H. and Glenda Sheldon and Gregory W. and Elizabeth Sheldon of Norwich and Scott G. and Colleen Sheldon of Milford, PA and Cooperstown; and his many beloved nieces and nephews.

As an alternative to flowers, the Sheldon family would appreciate a memorial donation to Cooperstown’s Boy Scout Troop 1254, c/o Diana Nicols, 742 County Highway 59, Cooperstown, NY 13326, or the Hartwick Fire Department Company No. 1, PO Box 86, Hartwick, NY 13348.

Family and friends are invited to call and pay their respects from 10 a.m. until 12 Noon on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 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.

Jeffrey R. Smith

1963 - 2023

COOPERSTOWN – Jeffrey Richard Smith of Cooperstown and Venice, FL, son of Gayle and Jack Smith of Cooperstown, entered into eternal rest Wednesday night, March 1, 2023, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in North Venice, FL following an extended illness. He was 60.

Born February 26, 1963, in Little Falls, Jeff graduated from Cooperstown Central School where he was a proud “Redskin” participating in many sports. He then attended Fordham University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business.

For over 20 years, Jeff owned and operated Smitty’s Pit Bar & Grille and the Pig & Pickerel Pub on Washington Avenue in Albany. He ran his business as a family, lending a hand to employees and customers when they were down on their luck.

An ardent life-time fan of the New York Yankees, Jeff also loved golf, and was proud of once having a hole-in-one on the 9th hole at The Leatherstocking Golf Course. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm, for being quick-witted and for possessing a unique sense of humor. A good story, a good laugh and the Budweiser song were things he relished throughout his life. He drank tea, not coffee in the morning, and other things later in the day.

Throughout his life he reinvented himself several times over, at times defying medical and professional advice, and even likely outcomes. In the end Jeff faced death as he often faced life … without fear, and on his own terms.

Jeff is survived by his mother and father, Gayle and Jack Smith of Cooperstown; his three children of whom he was quite proud and cherished any contact, Whitney and Allyson of Albany and Zachary of Texas; four sisters, Abbie Ashford of Old Cottonwood, Arizona, Amy Smith of Stuart, Florida, Emily Smith of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Veronica Harris and husband, Jeffrey of Aspinwall, Pennsylvania; two brothers, Sean Smith of Lawton, Oklahoma and Norton Smith and wife, Kimberly of Malibu, California; two uncles, Gary L. Shults and wife, Helen of Canajoharie and Manly E. Shults and wife, Karen of Delhi; three aunts, Sondra Failing of Fort Plain, Mary Buckley of Little Silver, New Jersey and Vera Quigley and husband, Robert of Cooperstown; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, 2023, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with The Very Reverend Michael G. Cambi, pastor, presiding.

In honor of Jeff, pay a kindness forward.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.

Maria Tripp

1937 - 2023

COOPERSTOWN – With the love of her husband, Wendell, her family, and her many friends in her heart, Maria Tripp of Cooperstown passed away at Bassett Hospital on May 9, 2023, after a brief illness. She leaves a robust legacy of love, kindness and affection that will live on through all who knew her.

Maria was born to Hector and Popi Kontinou on February 15, 1937, in Athens, Greece. She endured German occupation and witnessed the Greek Civil War as a young Athenian. She attended an English-speaking school in Athens, where she excelled at her studies. Maria was awarded a full scholarship to Elmira College, crossed the Atlantic in a passenger liner to come to America alone, and earned a BA in English. She married Ansis Zamelis in 1957 and they moved from Ithaca to New York City. They first came to Cooperstown in 1967, then relocated to Old Greenwich, Connecticut. She came back to Cooperstown in 1971, where she enjoyed the remainder of her full and productive life. She was employed by Van Horne, Feury & Gozigian, the New York State Historical Association, and eventually retired from Bassett Research Institute.

Maria married the love of her life, Wendell E. Tripp, in 1987 and they shared over three and a half decades of love, family, mutual admiration, and respect. For more than 50 years, Maria loved to visit our local parks, especially Three Mile Point, and is known by many for her determined walks around the streets of her village and beyond. A talented artist, Maria enjoyed painting local landscapes in and around Otsego Lake. Maria made friends easily and enjoyed many groups of loving friends, including her painting buddies, SQPCA Thrift Shop friends, Pyramid Lake companions, Yellowstone traveling gang, and former colleagues, to name a few.

Maria is predeceased by her brother, Costas Kontinou, and is survived by her loving husband, Wendell, as well as her oldest son, Robert Zamelis, his wife Christan (Hood) and their daughter Madelyn; her son Douglas Zamelis, his wife Cheryl (Pratt), their daughter Ariadne and her husband Alex Wright, and their son Nicholas and his companion Lauren Perry. Maria is also survived by Wendell’s children, Dana Peeters, her husband Martin, her daughter Stefanie and her husband, Kyllan Brindle, and their children, Tolba, Carmella, and Aoife; MariaRosa Konopka, her companion Robert Verklas, and her daughter Giuliana, and her son Andrew Konopka and his daughter Vivianne; Nancy Morris and her husband Dan, and their children Olivia and Leland; and Robert Tripp, his wife Angela, and their children Samantha and John.

Maria will be remembered fondly for her boundless love for her family and friends, her keen sense for beauty in life, music, art, and nature, and her willingness to tell you exactly what she thought.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Maria’s memory may be made to the Cooperstown Art Association.

Anthony J. Knoerzer

1937 - 2023

COOPERSTOWN – Anthony J. Knoerzer, who, along with his wife, Anne, recently became a resident of The Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home in Cooperstown, entered into eternal rest early Tuesday morning, May 2, 2023, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 85.

Born August 11, 1937, in New York City, Tony was a son of John and Barbara (Brendall) Knoerzer.

Tony always loved working with electricity and was an avid collector, designer and builder of toy trains and layouts. For many years he was employed on Long Island by AT&T, which he always kiddingly referred to as a “small mom and pop business.”

In retirement he and Anne moved to Glen Allen, Virginia, where they became members of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Together with Anne, Tony enjoyed travel, friends and golf. But more than anything, they loved spending time with their six grandchildren and three children. Anne and Tony recently took great joy in welcoming their first great grandchild, Aurora, to the family.

Tony is survived by his wife of 61 years, Anne, a resident of The Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home in Cooperstown; two sons, Michael A. Knoerzer and his wife, Elizabeth of Lakeland Shores, Cooperstown and Anthony Knoerzer and his wife, Michelle, of Florissant, Colorado; and a daughter, Kellie Ann Lempner and her husband, Mike, of Glen Allen, Virginia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday, May 8, 2023, at St. Mary’s “Our Lady of the Lake” Roman Catholic Church in Cooperstown, with the Rev. James O’Rourke, Parochial Vicar at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oneonta, officiating.

Tony will be laid to rest in the St. Michael Columbarium at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Glen Allen, Virginia.

As an alternative to flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.