Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc.Funeral Home: January 2026

Ruth C. Stewart

COOPERSTOWN – Ruth C. Stewart, 96, passed away on January 19^th, 2026, a beautiful snowy night, in her home on Eagle Street in Cooperstown, surrounded by love. Coming home was as comforting to her as it was to all of us who love her well. We are blessed.

Born April 2^nd, 1929, in Buffalo, New York, the youngest daughter of Joseph and Winifred (Williams) Cousins, Ruth graduated from South Park High School in 1947. Married to Milo V. Stewart Sr., in 1951, the family of five moved to Cooperstown, NY in 1961 where the two youngest children were born.

Ruth was talented, tenacious, beautiful and fearless, and her smile is unforgettable. The garden was where you’d most often find her, digging and planting and standing back to assess and then to rearrange. Her garden is a secret oasis of year-round beauty where we all took refuge for intimate talks, play in the yard and large parties filled with laughter, great food and lively exchanges between professionals and students alike. Two family weddings took place in the delightful garden. The house on Eagle Street was Ruthie’s kingdom, the kitchen the expression of her love and the garden her masterpiece.

Ruth’s love for Milo and our family was deep, enduring and devoted. They were each other’s first and only love. 2025 marked their seventy fourth wedding anniversary and eighty-two years since they met. Five children with boundless energies and talents, seven grandsons with exponentially more energy and talents and one great grandson, made for a very lively household. Tragedies happened, but the strength and resilience of a girl child of the depression carried us through on the broadest of shoulders. Ruthie’s stature belied the tower of strength that she was.

Ruth’s talents were expressed in her artisanry. She was versed in many artistic expressions of the early American decorative arts guilds, cut and pierced lampshade design and fabrication and especially picture framing, which is an art and a technical skill. Ruthie was an accomplished seamstress and knitter, spinner and weaver. Her archival quality picture framing business was a thriving home business, with examples in local homes and museums. Ruthie was a perfectionist.

Ruth moved to the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home in 2021, a plan she had made many years prior, and where she made many deep connections with staff and residents alike. The Thanksgiving Home is a place she loved and where she was loved and we are grateful beyond measure for our collective experience there.

A sense of humor, boundless sense of adventure, mad dance moves, her memory for poetry, children’s games, and love of music, all music, fill our hearts and our memories. Ruth would love to be remembered for her dedication to her physical well-being, which came naturally and out of her restless spirit to keep busy and to accomplish a good day’s work. This served her well and is an inspiration to all who shared a spin class, a rock wall, a zip line ride or a swim across the lake. If you ever saw an older woman walking briskly around town in all weather, chances are it was Ruthie. Give a wave, tip your hat and bid that little lady a fond fair wish. She will most certainly return the sentiment.

Ruth is survived by daughter Elizabeth Stewart Solá of Lake Grove, Long Island; daughter Sarah A. Stewart (Robert Amore) of Cooperstown and New York City; son Milo Stewart Jr., of Cooperstown. Seven grandchildren, Kyle Sola (Isabell Gatzen Solá, and their son Gray Solá), Troy Solá (Mae Sussman), Hunter Solá (their father José Sola), Noble S. Mattson (his father Christopher Mattson), Henry Stewart (Bailey Stewart), John Stewart, (their mother Jennifer Stewart), and Weston Honicker (Marie DiLorenzo Honicker) (his father Russ Honicker).

Ruth was predeceased by her husband Milo Sr., who died September 12^th, 2011, and two daughters, Ann Stewart Honicker who died May 1^st, 2016, and Cynthia Ann Stewart who died September 1^st, 1971.

She is further predeceased by her siblings, Laurence H. Cousins, Winifred J. Hanny, Dorothy L. MacHose and Marion L. Wikoff Chambers.

A Memorial Service will be offered at 1 o’clock in the afternoon on April 11^th, 2026 at Christ Episcopal Church in Cooperstown, NY.

Burial will be private in Lakewood Cemetery in Cooperstown.

Contributions in Ruth’s memory may be made to either one of the following:

Ann Stewart Summer Internship Fund C/O Cooperstown Graduate Program PO BOX 4 Cooperstown, NY 13326. Checks made payable to SUNY Oneonta Foundation memo Anne Stewart Fund.

Thanksgiving Fund C/O Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home 48 Grove Street Cooperstown, NY 13326. Checks made payable to Thanksgiving Fund.

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 S. Vesely, Jr.

BURLINGTON – Frederick S. Vesely entered into eternal life Tuesday night, January 6, 2026, at UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City. He was 76.

Born July 20, 1949, in Cornwall, he was a son of the late Fred and Jeanne (Oles) Vesely.

A farmer, Rick had his first herd of cows at the age of 19 and also worked for Crowley’s Dairy Company.

For 27 years he worked for Kraft in South Edmeston and was a proud member of the Teamsters Union. After he retired (the first time) he worked for seven months at The Meadows and then Chobani for seven years. After he retired (the second time) he went to work at Milford Central School for six years. After he again retired (the third time) he went to work at ONC BOCES where he remained for six years until he retired for good!

Rick loved his family, his tractor, being outside, cutting wood, antique cars and trucks, having a beer and a shot, and listening to music.

He is survived by his three kids from his first marriage to Barbara Cleeves: Tom and wife, Denise of Cornwall, Vicki (who died just this past year on November 15, 2025) and Jeff and his sons, Daniel and Andy of Edmeston.

He is further survived by his brother, Mike Vesely and wife, Coleen of Springfield Center and their kids Mike (Ruth) and kids Silas and Ezra, Matt (Lisa) and Emily (Andrew).

After moving to Hartwick in 1973 as a farmer, Rick married Roberta Renwick on September 30, 1978. He is further survived by her children, Robin (Miller) and Wayne K. Bush, Jr. of Hartwick and their kids, Joshua Bush (Faith), Bentley and Jane of Rochester and Gabrielle (Juneau Xiao) Octavian of Maryland; Thomas Miller (Kristi) and their son, Cash of Texas; Frank Miller (Heather) of Burlington Flats and their kids Lucas and Lauren; and their only daughter together, Sheryl Vesely Joubert, husband, Mike, kids Ivan, Kayla, Jacob (Skylah) and their kids Octavian, Lucius and Artemis.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Creek Side Station in Hartwick.

C. William “Bill” Jacobson

MILFORD – Bill Jacobson, a devoted partner, father, Mason, and avid ham radio enthusiast, signed off for the last time early Thursday morning, January 8, 2026, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown due to a cardiac event. He was 83.

Born May 17, 1942, in Syracuse, Bill was a son of the late Melvin G. and Nelda (Rudiger) Jacobson.

A graduate of Laurens Central School, Bill attended Chadron College in Nebraska and graduated with a degree in science and math. After college he worked for local news channels before opening an antique store in Albany.

While living in Cohoes, he met Eileen Mary Clifford, a Registered Nurse, and they were married May 27, 1976, in a ceremony in the chapel at Cohoes Hospital.

In 1978 the Jacobsons moved to Milford and Bill worked for Astrocom Electronics.

As an electrical engineer, Bill served as a radio officer in the United States Merchant Marine and oversaw all the ship’s communications and radar systems.

In addition to being an avid ham radio enthusiast (call sign K2MMW), Bill was also a devoted member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was Raised April 2, 1976, in Laurens Lodge No. 548, F. & A.M., and through the years served the Lodge as Marshal and Tiler.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived by his devoted partner of 14 years, Donna I. Brown of Milford; his three children, Judith A. Smith Kessler and her husband Timothy of Milford, Ernest Smith and his wife Anne of Maryland and Mark Richard Smith of Oneonta; eight grandchildren, Sarah Eileen Helwig and husband, Matt, Renee Anne Sanders and husband, Aston, Timothy M. Kessler and wife, Marina, Kirsten Marie Russell and husband, Dakota, C. J. Smith, Courtney Taylor Smith, Kestra Mary Smith and Ian Daniel Smith; and six great grandchildren, Mia and Sylvia Helwig, Gabriel Russell, Wilder Kessler and Jordan and Luca Paul.

He is further survived by his sister, Judith Anderson of North Providence, Rhode Island, a brother, Arthur Jacobson of Greenville and their families, and Donna Brown’s children, Douglas Brown (Cassandra) of Tualatin, Oregon, Samuel Brown (Rebecca Lund) of Bedford, England, Sarah Stewart (Jamie) of Groton, Vermont, and Suzanne Kimani (Sam) of Windsor Locks, Connecticut and their families.

In addition to her parents, he was predeceased by his loving wife and friend of 36 years, Eileen Jacobson, who died May 1, 2012.

A Service of Remembrance will be offered at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4636 State Highway 28, Hartwick Seminary, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner, Pastor, as Presiding Minister.

At the beginning of the service, Bill’s Brothers from Laurens Lodge No. 548, F. & A.M. will conduct the Masonic Memorial Service.

Burial will be private and at a later date in the Milford Cemetery.

In grateful recognition of the service provided to the Milford community, Bill’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts be directed to the Milford Emergency Squad, PO Box 359, Milford, NY 13807, or Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4636 State Highway 28, Cooperstown, NY 13326.

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

Alvin M. Walker, Jr.

Pierstown – Alvin M. Walker, Jr. “Merk," 90, of Huff Road in Pierstown, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 9, 2026, when his hardworking heart finally wore out.

Merk was the son of the late Alvin M. and Mary Walker. He is survived by Carol, his wife and best friend of 63 years; daughter Amy and her husband Christopher; son Steven and his partner Sylvia; and son John and his husband Keith.

Born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, Merk did not grow up on a farm, but farming was in his blood from the start. As a boy, he worked on local farms, where he earned the nickname “Merk” from farmer Merkery — a name that stayed with him for life. He went on to attend the National Agricultural College (NAC), now Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA, and graduated with a BS in dairy science.

After graduating from college, he spent a summer working on a hay crew in the Sand Hills of Nebraska before returning home and volunteering for the draft. Merk was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of “Spec 4.” He did not serve overseas, which allowed him to meet Carol, the woman he would always lovingly call “Sonnies.” She would always lovingly refer to him as “Dearie.” Their first date was on December 6, 1958, while she lived next door to his parents in Trenton. Despite disliking his jacket and his decision to light a second cigarette, she agreed to another date—and from there, sixty-three years of marriage unfolded.

After the Army, Merk began his career as a dairy farmer. The path took him from hired man to renter to co-owner when Carol and Merk purchased their beloved farm on Huff Road in Pierstown on December 1, 1966. Merk was no stranger to hard work, determination, and perseverance—qualities that sometimes looked more like stubbornness but fueled his success. He started with 33 cows in Pierstown, and through several expansions, grew the herd to 52 before retiring from milking in 1995, when Steve (always “Junkman” to Merk) moved the cows to a larger farm.

Merk was actively involved in his community. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Cooperstown Presbyterian Church; acted as Treasurer of the Otsego County Farm Bureau; was a member of the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) Committee; and spent ten years on the Town of Otsego Planning Board. Merk was known for his work ethic, common-sense approach to problem-solving, and practical insight—qualities he instilled in his children.

Even after retiring from milking, he never stopped farming. He raised heifers for others and baled hay for almost three more decades. His high-quality, dust-free hay earned him a loyal following. For nearly sixty years on his Pierstown farm, Merk employed countless local teenagers, guiding them with patience and humor. He took pride in teaching them the value of hard work, leaving many with lessons that shaped their lives long after they left the hay wagons and the hay mow.

Merk finally retired from baling in 2022, much to the disappointment of his long-time customers. Throughout his farming career, Merk had a deep affection for his Allis-Chalmers tractors. In semi-retirement, he began collecting D‑15s, convinced he always needed “another tractor or two.”

Simply stated, Merk was a steadfast man who took pride in his land, his farm, and his family. Carol, Amy, Steven, and John extend their heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary staff at Helios Care, whose compassion and support made Merk’s final months/weeks comfortable and peaceful. The family is forever grateful that, even though he did not get his wish to die in the hayfield, he was able to remain at home on the farm he loved.

There will be calling hours and a brief religious service at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, New York, on January 24, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The religious service will start at 2:00 p.m., followed by an opportunity to share stories about Merk and to offer condolences to the family. Immediately following the visitation there will be a reception until 6:30 p.m. at Landmark Inn, 64 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown.

In accordance with Merk’s wishes, burial will be private at the convenience of his family at the cemetery bordering his beloved farm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820 (https://helioscare.org/donate).

Sheila M. Ross

FLY CREEK – Sheila M. Ross, a life-long area resident long active in Republican politics, peacefully entered into eternal life early Saturday morning, January 3, 2026, at Cooperstown Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing. She was 79.

Born Sheila Marie Skubitz on May 2, 1946, at the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, she was the only child of William Skubitz. After graduating from high school she attended the Utica School of Commerce where she earned an associate’s degree.

In 1966, Sheila married William L. Ross, Sr. and they raised their family on a subsistence farm on Christian Hill. In 1986 they moved to their home on Willow Avenue in Fly Creek.

For nearly 15 years, Sheila and Bill owned and operated the B&S Inn in Oaksville.

They enjoyed wintering in Port Orange, Florida, but especially enjoyed returning home to Fly Creek in the Spring.

Long active in government affairs and a faithful and dedicated Republican, Sheila served as the Republican County Elections Commissioner for the Otsego County Board of Elections and enjoyed serving as the Otsego County Republican Chairwoman for many years until stepping down in 2013.

Sheila never went anywhere without her dog, Maggie, who was her faithful companion until entering long term healthcare.

Sheila is survived by a son, William L. Ross, Jr. and wife, Tricia of Cobleskill and their two children, William and Madyson, and a daughter, Sherry L. Tesch and husband, Paul, of Walworth and their two children, Ross and Jake and his fiancé, Liz, and their daughter, Celeste Tesch.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bill, who died June 5, 2021, and her father, William, who died March 9, 1987.

Sheila’s family would like to thank all of her caring faithful friends that visited her week after week since she entered Cooperstown Center. Their commitment to friendship was a true testament of the many wonderful relationships she had made in her 79 years.

A celebration of Sheila’s life will be held from 1 – 4 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Cooley’s Stone House Tavern, 49 Pioneer Street, Cooperstown.

Later this Spring, Sheila (and Bill) will be laid to rest in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery in Fly Creek.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Sheila’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

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

Harmon V. Swart II

COOPERSTOWN – Harmon V. Swart II, 78, of Cooperstown, NY, formerly of Westfield, NJ, passed away January 1, 2026.

He was born August 5, 1947, in Orange, NJ, to John and Ruth Louise (Martini) Swart.

He graduated in 1966 from Westfield High School and received a degree in Computer Science from SUNY Cobleskill.

After proudly serving in the United States Army ‘67-’70, he worked as a business executive in New Jersey.

In 1967, he married his childhood sweetheart, Janice Ann Jungermann. Together they settled in Westfield, NJ and raised three boys.

In the early 90’s, they moved to Cooperstown, NY, a place he cherished having spent many summers with his brother and sister at Camps Chenango and Otsego along the shores of beautiful Lake Otsego.

He enjoyed horseback riding, golf, skiing, reading, and trips to Hilton Head Island.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle. He was proud to have been a cancer survivor.

Harmon is dearly missed by his loving wife of 58 years, Janice; sons Jonathan, Eric (Liz) and Harmon V. III “Tripp” (Melissa); grandchildren William, Ava, Allison, Alex and Lucy; his sister, Peggy Swart; many nieces and nephews; and his loyal dog, Molly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth, and his brother, Peter.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of his love for animals, please feel free to make donations to the Susquehanna SPCA.

A memorial service will be held on a future date at Fairview Cemetery, Westfield, NJ.

The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth, Inc. Funeral Home for their exceptional care, empathy and guidance during this difficult time.

Ralphine I. Risse

SCHENEVUS – Ralphine Isabelle Risse, age 87, passed away peacefully Sunday night, December 21, 2025. For over two decades she lived in Schenevus.

Ralphine was born June 11, 1938, and raised in Yonkers, a daughter of Philip and Isabelle (Lane) Steitz.

She later moved to Putnam Valley where she raised her three children and built a life centered on family, faith, and service. She worked as a bus driver for the Putnam Valley School District, a role that reflected her steady presence and care for others.

An Episcopalian, Ralphine was deeply devoted to her faith and lovingly taught Sunday School at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Schenevus and later in life taught Head Start, sharing her kindness and values with generations of children. Known for her warmth and welcoming spirit, she introduced herself simply as “Grandma” – a title she lived up to fully, extending her love far beyond her immediate family.

She was predeceased by her parents, Isabelle and Philip Steitz; her brother, Philip Steitz, and her first grandson, Skyler C. Levesque, who died August 30, 2016.

Ralphine is survived by her sons, Frank Risse and Robert Risse; her daughter, Kathleen; her granddaughter, Veronica Levesque; her grandson Lucas Risse; great grandchildren Hunter and Michaela Johnson; and many others who proudly and lovingly called her Grandma.

Her legacy of love, generosity, and faith will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

A memorial service was offered at 10 a.m. Saturday January 3, 2026, 2025 at The Church of the Holy Spirit, 5 Arch Street, Schenevus, with Mother Nancy Truscott, Priest-in-Charge, officiating.