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Obituaries

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Marilyn Marelli 

Marilyn Marelli, of Port Jefferson, died July 1. She was 83. She was born Dec. 1, 1935, in Bay Ridge and was the daughter of Isabel and Edward Dearborn.

Marilyn was a homemaker and she enjoyed watching the Yankees and golf.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Robert; son, Lawrence; grandchildren, Brian, Jessica, Cody and Shane; great-grandchild, Riley, along with other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Charles; and daughter, Lisa Ann.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home July 5 and interment followed at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Pauline Pollard

Pauline Pollard, of Port Jefferson Station, died June 30. She was 81.

She was born Jan. 29, 1938, in New York and was the daughter of Concetta and Louis Nolfo.

Pollard was a retired seamstress.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Denise; son, Laurie Jr.; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, along with many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Laurie T. Sr.

Services were held at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Chapel in Coram July 8 with interment following.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book. 

Veronica Mellusi

Veronica Mellusi, of Port Jefferson Station, died July 20. She was 67.

She was born Oct. 10, 1951, in Brooklyn and was the daughter of Gloria and John Janso.

Mellusi was a chief operating officer for North Shore Hematology. She enjoyed the beach, Irish music, horror movies and being around people.

Left to cherish her memory is her son, Brandon, along with other family and friends.

Services were held at the Bryant Funeral Home July 25 with entombment following at Washington Memorial Park Cemetery in Mount Sinai.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

John O’Reilly

John C. O’Reilly, a longtime community resident, died July 17. He was 81.

He was born May 15, 1938, in New York and was the son of Mary and Charles O’Reilly.

John was a retired mechanical HVAC contractor. He enjoyed his job, traveling, being near the water and spending time with the family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Arlene; daughters, Susan, Alice and Karen; son, Kevin; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, along with many other family and friends.

Services were held at St. Charles Cemetery  in Farmingdale on July 27 with entombment following.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Ernest Reinke

Ernest Reinke, a longtime community resident, died Aug. 2. He was 91. He was born March 5, 1928, in Durham, Germany, and was the son of Elsie and Ernest Reinke

He was an Army veteran of World War II. After the war he worked as a businessman and entrepreneur throughout his life. Initially he started with a newspaper delivery service, soda and candy shop owner, co-owner of Renken’s Diner in Brooklyn, North Shore Telephone Answering Service in Port Jeff, Red Top Dairy in Setauket and Miller Place, Port Echo Awning, Port Taxi Service and ultimately flipping homes in this area and Tennessee.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Robin; daughter, Ada (Rich) Beresford; son, Carl (Linda); five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephew, Peter Reinke and wife Susan; nieces Betty Reinke, Linda Hudson and Tina Brazier, along with many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Ernest.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home Aug. 9. Reinke was afforded full military honors at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Elizabeth M. Dolci

Elizabeth M. Dolci of Northport died on Aug. 27 at 87 years of age. Beloved wife of the late Sonny; loving mother of Carolyn Dolci-LoCascio, Susan Dolci-Hertzberg and Steven Dolci; dear grandmother of Jessica, Jason and Jeffrey Hertzberg, also Julia and Nicole LoCascio; fond sister of Warren Millard and the late James Millard. Visitation was held Nolan Funeral Home Aug. 30. Funeral Mass was held Aug. 31 at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs R.C. Church, Centerport. Burial followed at St. Philip Neri Cemetery, East Northport. 

Kathleen Schmiedecke

Kathleen Ryan Schmiedecke of Northport died on Aug. 26. Loving mother of Meghan Schmiedecke, Christy Affrunti (Joe), and Jacqueline Miata (Matthew); cherished Gram of Logan; fond sister of Rosemary Ryan; also loved by her many friends. Kathy worked with the South Huntington school district for 41 years, where she endeared many colleagues and inspired many students. Visitation was held at Nolan Funeral Home on Aug. 28. Funeral Mass was held on Aug. 29 at St. Philip Neri Church, Northport. Burial followed at Northport Rural Cemetery.

Sharon L. Barton

Sharon L. Barton of East Northport died on Aug. 23 at 63 years of age. Loving mother of Melanie Trnka; beloved grandmother of Phillip Trnka, the late Nicholas Trnka, Theodore Trnka, Taylor Trnka and Tia Trnka; dear great grandmother of the late Grayson Trnka; fond sister of the late Richard Barton, the late Valerie Barton and Doreen (Robert) Dunn; cherished companion of David L. VanDyke and his daughter Shannon VanDyke. Visitation was held at the Nolan Funeral Home Aug. 29 followed by a prayer service
taking place. A private cremation followed.

Elizabeth M. Kutny

Elizabeth “Betty” M. Kutny of Huntington Station died suddenly on Aug. 28 at 89 years of age. Loving wife of the late Bron Kutny; beloved mother of Deborah (Bob) Splaine and Donna (James) Gurtowski; cherished grandmother of James, Elizabeth, Michael and Stephen; longtime teacher’s aide at Washington Primary School in Huntington Station. Visitation was held at Nolan Funeral Home in Northport Aug. 30. A funeral Mass was held Aug. 30 at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport. Interment followed at St. Patrick Cemetery in Huntington.

Alexander J. Memole

Alexander J. Memole of Northport, formerly of Kings Park and Baldwin, died on Sept. 3 at 100 years of age. Beloved husband of the late Jean; loving father of Marianne Inkelis and her husband Sidney, Robert Memole and his wife Kerry; cherished grandfather of Emily, Eric and Daniel Inkelis and Ross and Brenna Memole. Visitation was held Sept. 4 at Nolan Funeral Home in Northport. A funeral Mass was held Sept. 5 at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport. Burial followed at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

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Marie Anne Keane Van Wagner Peshenka, of Middle Island, died Aug. 16 in Riverhead. She was 85.

Born July 2, 1934 in New York City, Marie was the daughter of Francis Keane and Barbara Reidy Keane. Marie — often known by her childhood nickname Rianne — grew up in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan and graduated with a nursing degree from the Columbia University School of Nursing in 1955. While pursuing her degree, Marie met Paul Van Wagner and they were married in February 1956, shortly after her graduation. 

Marie and Paul raised four children in Port Jefferson and were active members of the Infant Jesus R.C. parish. Marie worked as a registered nurse for a number of local hospitals and schools, including the Nesaquake Middle School in Smithtown school district. 

After Marie and Paul retired, they moved to Green Valley, Arizona, in 1991. When Paul died in 1999, Marie moved to Prescott Valley, Arizona. There, Marie met and married Andrew Peshenka. Andrew died in 2013. 

Over the years, Marie was most in her element welcoming family and friends into her home, visiting others for social gatherings and traveling. Marie was always “a good sport,” and was willing to play any dice or card game, to join any chorus, and to get up and dance to any new song. While married to Peshenka, Marie even took on the role of navigator for his road rally races. 

In her later years, Marie also was an active parishioner and served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Germaine R.C. parish in Prescott Valley. 

Marie is survived by her daughters Elizabeth Gibson, Jane Whitelock (Craig) and Ellen Harrington (Kevin); her son David Van Wagner (Lisa); her grandchildren Daniel Kohlmeyer (Marissa), Andrew Kohlmeyer (April), Matthew Whitelock, Diana Van Wagner, Erika Whitelock, Claire Van Wagner, Colin Harrington, Christopher Whitelock, Stephen Whitelock, Brian Whitelock, Jarrod Odom and Thomas Harrington; her great-grandchildren Angelina Kohlmeyer, Cameron Garcia, Blake Garcia, Madison Kohlmeyer, Liam Kohlmeyer, Declan Whitelock and Evalina Kohlmeyer; her sister Joyce O’Loughlin (Kenneth); and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death, as stated, by her husbands Paul Van Wagner and Andrew Peshenka. 

A Mass of celebration will be held Sept. 21, 12:30 p.m. at the St. Charles Chapel, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson. A reception will follow at approximately 2 p.m. at Miller Place Inn, located at 195 North Country Road in Miller Place. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Germaine R.C. Church, Prescott Valley, Arizona, or a charity of one’s choice.

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Dr. Leonard D. Hamilton, of Crane Neck in Old Field, a medical researcher who played a key role in the discovery of the structure of DNA, died June 29 at the age of 98.

In the late 1940s and early ’50s, he developed techniques for extracting and purifying mammalian DNA, which he supplied to Maurice Wilkins and his associates to enable them to generate X-ray crystallography images from which the double helical structure of DNA was inferred — the discovery for which Maurice Wilkins, James Watson and Francis Crick shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1962.

Born in Manchester, England, Hamilton received medical degrees from Balliol College, Oxford University, and a doctorate in biochemistry from Trinity College, Cambridge. He married Oxford student Ann Twynam Blake in 1945. They came to The University of Utah in Salt Lake City in 1949 on a one-year grant and decided to stay. He worked at what is now Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City from 1950-64, primarily on DNA in collaboration with Wilkins at Kings College, London, and on cancer research and treatment. He also worked for the U.N. Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, contributing to its seminal report on that subject in 1962. He continued his biomedical research as head of the Division of Microbiology, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and became a professor of medicine at Stony Brook University in 1968. From 1973 until his 1994 retirement, he led a team at Brookhaven analyzing the health effects of different energy sources.

Hamilton’s wife Ann — a New Democratic Coalition and pro-choice activist, who worked as a psychiatric social worker at the Sunrise clinic in Amityville — died in 1997. He is survived by daughter Jane Dorwart; two sons, Stephen Hamilton and Dr. Robin Hamilton; seven grandchildren; and sister Elaine Wolfe of Great Neck. 

Donations to The Nature Conservancy in his name would be appreciated by the family.

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Joyce Bloom

Joyce Susan Bloom, of Coram, died Aug. 8. 

She was the beloved wife of Ronald Bloom; the loving mother of Michael (Jill) Forst, Jeffrey (Laura) Bloom and Faith (Christopher) Kit; the cherished grandmother of Christopher, Jessica, Josh, Jordan, Jamie, Kirsten, CJ, Katie, Justin and Sean; the adored sister of Wally (Judy) Siegel; and is survived by many other family members and friends.

Interment was held at New Montefiore Cemetery in Farmingdale. Arrangements were entrusted to Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place. An online guest book is available at www.branchfh.com.

Robyne McGough

Robyne McGough, a Port Jeff native and graduate of Port Jefferson high school, passed June 15. 

McGough had worked at the Port Jefferson to Bridgeport ferry company for several years and later worked as a paralegal in Port Jefferson Station.

She was the daughter of Maryanne and the late Thomas McGough; the loving sister of Richard, Sharon, Kelly, Timothy, Joseph and Joanne; the beloved aunt to Monica Treutle; the friend of Dorthy, Nikki and Colleen; loved niece to James and the late Helen Knox and Richard Knox.

Our love and prayers be with you always.

Doris M. LaTurno (Beaumont)

Doris M. LaTurno (Beaumont), 83, died in Naples, Florida, Feb. 20. She was predeceased by her
husband Joseph Peter LaTurno.

She grew up in a large family of 10 sisters and three brothers. She lived in Suffolk County until relocating with her husband to Florida in 2016. Doris is survived by her sons Walter Chad Beaumont and Gary Roy Beaumont; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Her and her husband’s remains will be put to rest at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Joseph Peter LaTurno

Joseph Peter LaTurno, 91, died in Naples, Florida, Dec. 27, 2017.

Born in Mineola, he attended Hempstead High School. In the spring of 1944, when he was 18 years old, he enlisted in the Navy and served on LST 537/755 in the South Pacific until the spring of 1946. Between 1946 and 1950, he worked at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp., in Bethpage. With the outbreak of the Korean War, he returned to active duty and was assigned to the USS LSMR-527 as a radio operator. Following a one-year tour he returned to Grumman where he retired after 40 years.

For the next 25 or so years, he and his wife Doris enjoyed traveling and their lovely home in Lake Grove. They relocated to Florida in July 2016. Their remains will be put to rest at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Frank Ohman

Frank Ohman, former New York City Ballet soloist, founder and artistic director of the New York Dance Theatre and the Ohman School of Ballet on Long Island and internationally known dance professional died suddenly on July 22 at home in Centerport. He was 80 years old. 

Ohman began his critically acclaimed dance career with the San Francisco Ballet in 1959, moving quickly through the ranks while also serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. He joined the New York City Ballet in 1962, where he was a soloist for 22 years. During his distinguished performing career, Ohman studied professionally with icons of the American ballet world including George Balanchine, Lew and Harold Christensen, Ernest Belcher, David Lichine, André Eglevsky and John Taras. He appeared in leading and soloist roles in ballets of Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Frederic Ashton, Antony Tudor and Jacques d’Amboise among others. He partnered many of the world’s leading ballerinas including Maria Tallchief, Suzanne Farrell, Allegra Kent, Patricia McBride, Gelsey Kirkland, Kay Mazzo and Suki Schorer. Ohman performed with the New York City Ballet at the New York State Theater, Kennedy Center, Marinsky Theater, Bolshoi Theater, the White House and Jacob’s Pillow. 

With the blessing of his mentor George Balanchine, Frank Ohman established New York Dance Theatre Inc. in 1974 on Long Island to bring classical ballet to a broader audience. Five years later, the Ohman School of Ballet was founded as a training ground for young dancers, teaching the art of classical ballet in the style of Balanchine. Ohman’s commitment to the Balanchine legacy extended to his company’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” Long Island’s largest and an annual tradition for families throughout the region. A prolific choreographer, Ohman created more than 200 original ballets, performed by his New York Dance Theatre, Boston Ballet, Edmonton Ballet, Syracuse Ballet (where he was director), the Cassandra Ballet of Toledo, the Long Island Philharmonic, the Long Island Lyric Opera, the School of American Ballet workshop performance and American Movie Classics, among others. Still actively teaching at his eponymous classical ballet school in Commack until his death, Ohman’s teaching career also included stints at prestigious programs including the School of American Ballet, the Boston Ballet, the St. Louis Ballet, the National Dance Institute and as guest Ballet Master at Ballet Philippines. 

Beyond his career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher, Ohman was a gifted fine artist whose paintings have been featured in art shows at libraries throughout Long Island and Queens. Ohman encouraged his students to be well-rounded students of the arts. In his 2014 memoir “Balanchine’s Dancing Cowboy,” Ohman wrote, “To be a great artist, one must care deeply and completely about something, and to work devotedly to contribute that artistry to the world.” Ohman is survived by his son, Johan (Soumala), and grandson, Luke, as well as his ballet family of students and colleagues who carry on his legacy. A private funeral service is being held for immediate family. A public memorial service is planned for late summer. Details to be announced at www.ohmanballet.org.

Rose Messina

Rose Messina of Hauppauge died on Aug. 10 at the age of 97. She was one of six children and is survived by two sisters Nellie and Lena, ages 93 and 94; six children, Linda D’Amico, Frank, Christopher, Mickey, Diane Cazzetta and Ramona Bisono; 21 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren with three more on the way.

Born in Retsof and raised in Huntington, Messina attended Huntington High School. At 4 feet 9 inches, she was nicknamed “the peanut.” She was a four-year varsity letter winner in field hockey, basketball and softball and four-time outstanding female athlete at Huntington in grades 9 thru 12. Messina played semi-pro baseball, while working for Grumman during World War II. She gave up a baseball contract to marry Dominick Messina in 1946. She joined the Red Cross to help in the war effort in the 1940s. The family lived in Huntington and moved to Hauppauge in 1960.  Messina was a class mother to every one of her six children for over 20 years and an active lifetime columbiette member for 75 years. She was one of the original founders of the “Hauppauge Sideliners Club” and member for over 25 years, and also a member of the St. Thomas More church “Young at Heart” organization for over 30 years. She was a team mom, seamstress and cook for every sport her six children played from little league, football, wrestling, baseball, field hockey, eaglettes, cheerleading, volleyball, track, to dance and theater plays in the school.

As a seamstress, she made many of the costumes for the school’s musicals and plays, costumes that her children and grandchildren performed in. 

Messina started cooking for the Hauppauge wrestling team in 1969 and continued organizing dinners for many sport teams which evolved into an end-of-the-year awards banquet, a tradition still enjoyed by sport teams in Hauppauge today.

Messina was inducted into the Hauppauge Hall of Fame in 2011 as an honorary member and in 2018 with her entire family. Messina’s lifelong dream was to become a physical education teacher, which was fulfilled by seeing five of her children become teachers, two physical education, industrial arts and biology teachers and one an engineer.

Her compassion, beside for her entire family, was for the Hauppauge wrestling team. She spent 40 years supporting the team. 

Services were held at Moloney’s Hauppauge Funeral Home on Aug. 12 and 13 and a funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Thomas More R.C. Church in Hauppauge on Aug. 14. 

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that tax-deductible donations be made to the Rose Messina scholarship foundation. Please make checks payable to: The Hauppauge Wrestling Club, which is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and include “The Rose Messina scholarship foundation” in the memo. All money collected will be distributed to a Hauppauge wrestler and/or student in the upcoming years.

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Robert A. Moore

Robert A. Moore, formerly of Stony Brook, died July 29 at East Neck Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in West Babylon.

Born in Brooklyn, Robert was the son of the late Charles and Marianne (Meier) Moore. He was a proud member of the Mt. St. Mary’s University doctorate alumni family and the Stony Brook Fire Department, and will be remembered as a Ward Melville High School soccer and lacrosse fan where his children played.

He was the big brother to the late Kathleen Leddy and William Moore, as well as Judy Button and Janet Ruquet. In addition to his siblings, he is survived by his children, Katie Martin (Matt) of Medford, Massachusetts; Terry Moore (Fatima) of Lindenhurst; and Ryan (Aparna) of Baltimore, Maryland; as well as his grandchildren, Gabriela, Daniela, Jackson, Aidan, Quinn and Kailash.

A memorial service will be held at Hawkins and Davis Funeral Home, located at 17 Manor Road in Smithtown, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, August 10. Relatives and friends are invited to attend and may visit with the family at the funeral home from 2 to 6 p.m. Following the service, a celebration of his life will be held at the Ward Melville Educational and Cultural Center at 97 Main Street, Stony Brook and all are invited to join. Interment will be private.

Doris M. LaTurno (Beaumont)

Doris M. LaTurno (Beaumont), 83, died in Naples, Florida, Feb. 20. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Peter LaTurno.

She grew up in a large family of 10 sisters and three brothers. She lived in Suffolk County until relocating with her husband to Florida in 2016. Doris is survived by her sons Walter Chad Beaumont and Gary Roy Beaumont; four grandchildren and six great- grandchildren.

Her (and her husband’s) remains will be put to rest at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Joseph Peter LaTurno

Joseph Peter LaTurno, 91, died in Naples, Florida, Dec. 27, 2017.

Born in Mineola, he attended Hempstead High School. In the spring of 1944, when he was 18 years old, he enlisted in the Navy and served on LST 537/755 in the South Pacific until the spring of 1946. Between 1946 and 1950, he worked at Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corp, in Bethpage. With the outbreak of the Korean War, he returned to active duty and was assigned to the USS LSMR-527 as a radio operator. Following a one-year tour he returned to Grumman where he retired after 40 years.

For the next 25 or so years, he and his wife Doris enjoyed travelling and their lovely home in Lake Grove. They relocated to Florida in July 2016. Their remains will be put to rest at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Winthrop Taylor Hall

Winthrop Taylor Hall of Lake Ronkonkoma died on Monday, May 13, at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center in Smithtown after suffering a heart attack at the age of 64. Several family members were by his side.

Hall attended Harbor Country Day School in St. James, East Woods School in Oyster Bay, The Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut, and graduated in 1974 from The Stony Brook School in Stony Brook.

He grew up in the Village of Nissequogue with three brothers and a sister and enjoyed tennis, golf and paddle tennis as well as volunteering in the Nissequogue Fire Department and monitoring emergency communications for the Suffolk County REACT Program. He was a seaman in the U.S. Navy from 1981 until 1983 and served in the active reserves upon discharge from active duty.

In the late 1990s, Hall was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and became a longtime participant in programs at the Clubhouse of Suffolk County, which later merged with Suffolk County United Veterans and the Mental Health Association in Suffolk to form today’s Association for Mental Health and Wellness.

One of Hall’s greatest pleasures was to participate in periodic trips to Albany for NYAPRS (New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services) conferences, where he made presentations to state legislators to advocate for mental health awareness and program funding for those with mental disabilities. He was a valued member of the Clubhouse/MHAW team at these conferences and made significant contributions to their activities through the sharing of his knowledge of public policy and personal experiences with public programs.

He is survived by his mother, Louise of South Setauket; two brothers, Frederick of Bellport and Stuart (Robin) of Durham, New Hampshire; a sister, Lisa H. Reed (Keith) of Three Forks, Montana; a nephew, five nieces, a great-nephew and three great-nieces. His father, Gordon, and brother, Bruce, predeceased him. He will be fondly remembered by family and friends for his exceptional memory, his love of trivia and his eagerness to converse with others. 

A memorial service has been planned for Saturday, Sept. 7 at 9:30 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church,  490 Route 25A, St. James.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Association for Mental Health and Wellness, 939 Johnson Ave., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.

Amelia E. Stegmaier 

Amelia E. Stegmaier of Northport died on July 17 at 87 years of age. Beloved wife of the late Kenneth; loving mother of Marlene McDonnell, William Stegmaier (Maggie), Annette Fiumano and Tara Brooks (Russell); cherished grandmother of Evan McDonnell, Heather Vergara (Lincoyan), Adam Fiumano, Amanda Fiumano (Daniel), Wyatt Brooks and Kirsten Brooks; adoring great -grandmother of Coy Gilchrist and Christian Vergara; dear sister of Wilhelmina Shoob; fond sister in-law of Claire Dorr. Memorial visiting was held on July 26 at the funeral home with Rev. Harry Schenkel officiating funeral services. Burial of her ashes followed at Northport Rural Cemetery. 

Anthony “Tony” Damulewicz

Anthony Damulewicz of Northport died on July 4. Beloved husband of Rose; loving father of Robert, Thomas and Laura; devoted grandfather of Maximilion, Cole and Alexandria; dear brother of Irene (the late Dory) Pendzick. Tony was the owner of All Appliance Repair. He served in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of the Korean War and active member of Northport American Legion Post 694. Religious service held at the Nolan funeral home on July 7 and 8. Interment, with U.S. Navy military honors, was held at Philip Neri Cemetery on July 9. Donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org, in his memory, would be appreciated.

Susan Martorella 

Susan Martorella of East Northport died on July 12 at 92 years of age. Beloved wife of the late Joseph J. and the late Arthur Soper; loving mother of Anita Taylor (Kevin), Melanie Soper – McGroarty (John), Andrew (Maureen) and Lucille; also loved by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Visitation was held at Nolan Funeral Home, 5 Laurel Avenue, Northport on July 15. A funeral mass was celebrated on July 16 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, East Northport with interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Huntington.

Charlie Beck

Charlie Beck of Northport died on July 14 at the age of 81. Recipient of the St. Agnes Medal of Service from St. Philip Neri for his devotion to teaching his religion to the children of the parish. Proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force in which he served for six years. Beloved husband of Barbara Beck and beloved by his predeceased wife Joan Norwood Beck; adored by Gretchen Boyles, Anastasia Beck, Kelly Boyles, Leslie Boyles, Miah Charlee Boyles, Matty Boyles and Matthew Boyles; cherished brother of Rosemarie (Robert) Scheibe and Margaret Oliva; also cared for by Jeanne (Richard) McPartland; precious uncle to his many nieces and nephews; dear cousin of many; loyal companion to two dogs, four cats (especially Gracie) and many other animals; dearly devoted to and loved by his many faithful friends. Memorial visitations were held at Nolan Funeral Home, 5 Laurel Avenue, Northport on July 19. A memorial mass was celebrated at St. Philip Neri Church on July 20 with Msgr. Peter Dooley officiating. Interment of ashes with U.S. Air Force military honors followed at Northport Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any of the following charities in Charlie’s memory.

-St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org

-St. Philip Neri Religious Education, 344 Main Street, Northport, NY 11768

-North Shore Animal League, 25 Davis Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050, www.animalleague.org

 

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August LaRuffa

August J. LaRuffa Jr., a longtime community resident, died June 8. He was 87.

August was born March 26, 1932, in Brooklyn and was the son of Concetta and August LaRuffa.

He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean War but later became an engineer, since retired. He was known as a smart man, a master of the trade who worked on the Apollo moon mission. He also enjoyed doing crosswords.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Gina, son Dr. August LaRuffa, four grandchildren and many other family and friends.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home June 12. He was afforded full military honors at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online
guest book.

Katherine Dzurney

Katherine Dzurney, a longtime community resident, died June 11. She was 98.

Katherine was born Oct. 12, 1920, in
Perryopolis, PA, and was the daughter of Eva and Michael Zehall.

Katherine was a homemaker, and she enjoyed knitting, sewing, growing a vegetable garden and cooking.

Left to cherish her memory are her son Ray, her grandchild and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Stanley.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home June 13, and interment followed in the Calverton National Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online
guest book.

Frank Russo

Frank A. Russo, of Port Jefferson Station, died May 20. He was 59 years old.

Frank was born May 27, 1959, in Mineola and was the son of Marie and Frank P. Russo.

He was a 23-year veteran school teacher for the Three Village school district, and those that knew him said his qualities included a great spirit, kindness and generosity. Frank’s bright smile and natural warmth made his students, colleagues and friends always feel acknowledged and special. He dedicated his career to working with children and delighted in their successes and accomplishments. He was a bright light and his beautiful singing voice resonates in our memories and hearts. He left an indelible message of caring, joy and compassion, which will forever remain with us.

Left to cherish his memory are his parents Marie and Frank, brother Anthony (Susan) and  other family, friends, colleagues and students.

Services were held at St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church in Port Jefferson Station May 23, and interment followed at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online
guest book.

Majael Gelston

Majael (Mickey) Gelston, of Port Jefferson Station, died May 21. She was 82.

Majael was born May 8, 1937, in Sand Springs, OK, and was the daughter of Florence and Allen Baker.

Majael was a retired executive secretary, and she enjoyed baking, gardening, knitting and sewing.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband Stephen; daughters Kathleen, Jacqueline, Stephanie and Denise; son Kevin; seven grandchildren and many other family and friends.

Services were held at the Bryant Funeral Home May 25, while committal services were held in private.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online
guest book.

Edward Kettell

Edward E. Kettell, of East Setauket, died May 10. He was 90.

Edward was born Dec. 28, 1928, in Brooklyn and was the son of Janet and Joseph Kettell.

He was a retired captain in the New York City Fire Department, and people who knew him described him as family-oriented, hardworking, protective, smart and very generous. He loved the farm in Pennsylvania where the family would go to snowmobile, and he also enjoyed building and fixing computers.

Left to cherish his memory are daughter Janet, sons Edward and Robert, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, brother Richard and many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn and his brother Joseph.

Services were held at St. Gerard Majella R.C. Church in Port Jefferson Station May 29, while interment followed at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online
guest book.

Diana Spetta

Diana Spetta, of Stony Brook, died June 15. She was 86.

Diana was born April 13, 1933, in Queens and was the daughter of Lillian and Paul Duttge.

Diana was a retired executive secretary for Stony Brook University, and she was a member of the community garden club. She also enjoyed the piano, traveling, gardening and being with family.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons Glenn and Robert, five grandchildren and other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Donald and brother Paul.

Services were held at the Bryant Funeral Home June 19, while committal services were held in private.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Mary Lewis

Mary Jane “Maisie” Lewis, of Port Jefferson, died June 14. She was 101.

Mary was born Sept. 27, 1917, in Northern Ireland and was the daughter of Sarah and Samuel Stevenson.

Mary was a retired bookkeeper, and she loved to read, garden and spend time with family.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons Michael and Harry, two grandchildren, three great- grandchildren and many other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband  Harry.

Services were held at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Jefferson June 20. Interment followed in the Calverton National Cemetery.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online
guest book.

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Eleanor Kra

Eleanor Kra, 77, died at Mount Sinai West hospital in Manhattan of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig’s disease, July 9. In the last weeks of her life, she was surrounded by her devoted husband, children, grandchildren, her sister and countless friends.

Eleanor was born in the Warsaw Ghetto Oct.1, 1941, and was smuggled out of the ghetto by her mother early the following year. Eleanor, her mother, Rochelle, and her best friend Mary Shidlovski survived the Holocaust in Warsaw while living on false papers, and Eleanor did not know she was Jewish until after the war had ended.

She moved with her family from Poland to Germany, eventually arriving in the United States in 1949. Eleanor graduated from William H. Taft High School in New York in 1958 and from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York June 5, 1962.

At Barnard she met the love of her life, Irwin Kra, and they were wed Dec. 23, 1961. Irwin and Eleanor were married for over 57 years and lived happily in New York and Boston before settling on Long Island in 1968, where they resided for the next 46 years. In 2014 they returned to New York City.

Eleanor received a master’s degree in American history from Stony Brook University in 1971 and later was employed at the same university. For many years, she worked in the health sciences, and she retired as the assistant dean at the School of Health Technology and Management in 2008.

Eleanor devoted much time and energy to volunteer activities, even more so after she retired. She served as chair of the Center for Human Justice and Social Understanding featuring the Holocaust Collection at Suffolk County Community College. She was also a fierce activist and champion of a variety of Jewish and social justice causes, recently commenting that if you weren’t angry you weren’t paying enough attention.

Eleanor’s first language was Polish, but before and after the war, her family spoke Yiddish. She had a lifelong love for the language and was active with the YIVO Institute for Jewish Learning in Manhattan. A Yiddish language interview of her about her life can be found online at the Yiddish Language Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project.

Eleanor loved laughter, food, wine, music, friends and family. She was a warm and devoted mother, wife and friend and hosted numerous wayward guests and visitors every year on Thanksgiving, Pesach and any other holiday where someone needed a temporary home and a delicious meal. Eleanor was an accomplished cook and invitations to her table were always welcome, both for the food and for the conversation. She was always ready with a quick joke or a sharp retort, as circumstances warranted.

Eleanor adored the opera and held season subscriptions first to the New York City Opera and then to the Metropolitan Opera. She also loved travel and adventure, returning repeatedly to Israel, along with visits to dozens of other countries.

Eleanor enjoyed her final years surrounded by friends and family, enjoying all that New York had to offer. She is survived by her husband, Irwin; her sister, Rosely; her children Douglas, Bryna and Gabriel; their spouses Lisa, Brian and Julie; and her eight beloved grandchildren Stephanie, Danielle, Jacob, Elie, Calla, Jonas, Jasper and Nola.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (www.hias.org), American Jewish World Service (www.ajws.org) or www.ALS.org.

Arlene Pearce

Arlene A. Pearce, of Port Jefferson, died July 5, 2019.  

She was the beloved wife of W. Donald Pearce; devoted mother of Donald G. Pearce (Janine), Debbie Grimaldi (Pat) and Cindy Parry (Bill); the cherished nana of Donald C., Michael, Patrick, Stephanie, Danielle, Matthew and Katelyn; the loving sister of Carol Wickel (Joe); and dear sister in law of Peggy Butscher.  

The family will received friends July 7 at the O.B. Davis Funeral Homes in Port Jefferson Station, while a Mass of Christian Burial took place July 7 at the Infant Jesus R.C. Church in Port Jefferson followed by a private cremation.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in memory of Arlene be made to: Hope House Ministries – The Ministry for Hope Inc. 501 (c) (3) E.I.N. 11-2667800 d.b.a. Hope House Ministries 1 High St. / P.O. Box 358 Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Donald Kane

Donald John Kane, of Wilmington NC, formerly of Mount Sinai passed away July 8 at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in North Carolina. He was 87.

The youngest of eight sons, Donald was born in Brooklyn Jan. 27, 1932, to Henry Vincent Kane and Anna Donahue Kane.

Don was a career Marine serving his country all over the world as a Comms Chief. He was a veteran of both the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was a Purple Heart recipient. He retired from the Marine Corps after 22 and a half years of faithful service in 1971. He held true to the Marine Corps motto Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful), attending the Drill Instructor reunion and Marine Corps Ball every year with his wife Robin. Upon retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps, Don pursued a career with the U.S. Post Office in Mount Sinai York, where he retired after a 20-year commitment in 1994.

Don’s zest for life was contagious, and he was always the life of the party. He was known as “Uncle Don” in Mount Sinai, and as “The Godfather” of his neighborhood. Don was happiest tending his garden and spending time with his family and friends. Don was renowned for his storytelling. Family said his big heart encompassed everyone he met, and he always made you feel loved, no matter what.

In addition to his wife Robin, he is survived by his four daughters, Donna (Jonathan) Seely of Murfreesboro, TN, Dorine (Joe) Gallo of Wildwood, MO, Gloria (Jonathan) Deitsch of Marysville, MI, and Kasey (Bryan) Scanlon of Hubert, NC; daughter in law Nina Kane of San Antonio, TX; twelve grandchildren, Aimee Seely Hull, Christopher Sauer Seely, Stephanie Kane, Joseph Gallo, Elisa Gallo, Jordyn Deitsch, Taylor Deitsch, Jack Donald Deitsch, Bradyn Deitsch, Kaydince Scanlon, Brody Scanlon, Karter Scanlon; and his great grandchild, Kate Hull.

Don was preceded in death by his son, Timothy J. Kane of San Antonio, TX.

Family and friends are invited to a viewing on July 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station. A Celebration of Life and funeral service will be held July 29 at 10 a.m. at the same funeral home.

Don will be laid to rest at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks people to support his fellow Marines with contributions to the Semper Fi Fund at:

The Semper Fi Fund

825 College Blvd. Suite 102, PMB 609

Oceanside, CA 92057

 

Joan Aird Kremens

Joan Aird Kremens, 81, died June 7.

Born Feb. 11, 1938, in Maspeth, Joan was the second of two daughters to Mary and Joseph Aird. She spent her childhood in Maspeth and summers in Oakdale, where she excelled as a champion swimmer and runner.

In 1956 Joan married her high school sweetheart Chester Kremens and moved to Bay Shore. They were married for 63 years and had three sons. In 1964 she and Chester started a construction supply company, which came to be known as Sure-Set Fasteners Inc. The company grew from their deep commitment to customer service and their willingness to go above and beyond for their clients. It remains a thriving family business to this day.

The family of five were avid boaters, boating on Long Island Sound, around Shelter Island and in the Bahamas, where they vacationed.

Joan had a keen mind and was an avid reader, delving into history, medical science, current events and anything else that caught her eye. She stayed engaged politically and was a committed Democrat.

In their retirement, Joan and Chet bought an RV. After spending a few years crisscrossing the country, the couple settled into winters in Miami and became solid members of an RV community there.

Joan was a doting grandmother to seven grandchildren April, Stephen, Chris, Paul, Riley, Charlie and Annabelle; and four great-grandchildren Olivia and Ayrdrie van Bemmelen, and Penelope and Parker Kremens. In addition to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is survived by her loving husband and her children Chester Jr. (Val), Russell (Karen) and Jim (Laura) as well as her sister Marion Aird and her nieces Jeanine Lobell and Adrienne Amundsen.

A memorial service will be held Aug. 31 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Port Jefferson. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Emily’s List. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to St. James Funeral Home.

Elizabeth M. Fitzpatrick

Elizabeth M. “Betty” Fitzpatrick of Nesconset passed away June 14 at the age of 86. Born in Manhattan, she was the beloved wife of Philip, and devoted mother of Ann, Philip and Paul. Services were held at Moloney’s Lake Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Lake Ronkonkoma. A funeral Mass was held at Holy Cross R. C. Church in Nesconset with interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.

Dorothy Marie Miller

Dorothy Marie Miller of Hauppauge passed away June 26 at age 78. Born in Islip, she was the beloved wife of the late Myron, devoted mother of Myron and the late Pamela. Services were held at Moloney’s Hauppauge Funeral Home, Hauppauge with a private cremation at Nassau Suffolk Crematory, Lake Ronkonkoma.

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Louise Wasilevitch

Louise Wasilevitch died June 12. She was 107. For nine years she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Charles Anderson of Stony Brook. She also traveled to their home in New Hampshire, where the whole family often gathered. 

Born in New Jersey in 1911 as Louise Zaitz, she led a full life, marrying Julius Wasilevitch in 1937, with whom she had two daughters, Susan Bergman (deceased) and Alice. She worked as a secretary on Wall Street, but was let go when she married. Later, her husband started an engineering firm, Euclid Equipment Inc., and she headed the office. Business allowed them to travel around the world together.

She sang in her younger days, at social clubs and in the First Presbyterian Church choir in Greenlawn, where she lived for most of her married life. Julius died in 1995.

She was also a Girl Scout leader, a part of the Greenlawn Beach and Swim Club and a member of two senior clubs. In addition to playing violin, she enjoyed many crafts, including counted cross stitch, which she did even after she was 100. 

Louise is survived by her daughter Alice Anderson and her husband; three granddaughters, Heather Anderson and her friend Steve Kennedy of North Carolina, Jennifer Irwin and her husband Tobin of Evergreen, Colorado,  and Emily Rietzel and her husband Robert of Coventry, Rhode Island; and eight great-grandchildren. She is missed by her loving family.

Services were held June 17 at A. L. Jacobsen Funeral Home in Huntington Station, followed by cremation.

Michael R. Campbell

Michael Roy Campbell of Northport died on June 27. He was 71. He was a retired business teacher, golf coach and work study coordinator at Northport High School and served in the United States Army, 101st Airborne, during the Vietnam War.

Michael is survived by his wife, Colleen; children Michael William, William Roy, Colleen Jill, Bonnie Michelle and Kathleen Mary; and his granddaughter Violet Aurora. Funeral services were held at Nolan Funeral Home in Northport on July 1 followed by interment, with U.S. Army Military Honors, at Calverton National Cemetery.

Diva Cherbavaz

Diva Cherbavaz, of Ridge, died May 4. She was age 94.

Diva was born April 3, 1925 in Pirano, Italy, and was the daughter of the late William and the late Carmela (Gladi) Contento.  

She was predeceased by her husband, Duilio Cherbavaz, and her son, Dennis Cherbavaz.  

She is survived by three loving daughters, Dorothy Cherbavaz-Tigliapietra, Diana Cherbavaz and Joy Ellen DiGiorgio and  two cherished grandsons, Ambrose DiGiorgio and Isidore DiGiorgio.  

Family and friends gathered at the funeral home on May 10 for closing prayers. Burial followed in St. Michael’s Cemetery in East Elmhurst. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Donald Lowe

Donald Edward Lowe, of Frederick, Maryland, formerly of Ridge, died May 7. He was 76.

Donald was born Feb. 4, 1943 in Teaneck, New Jersey, and was the son of the late August and the late Ruth (Speiser) Lowe.  

He was a proud army veteran serving during the Vietnam war and was later an administrator in the Sayville school district. 

He is survived by two loving daughters, Jessica C. Smith of Frederick, Maryland and Jennifer A. Elia of Glen Allen, Virginia; one brother, August H. Lowe of Virginia and five cherished grandchildren.  

Private burial with military honors was held May 13 at Calverton National Cemetery.  

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Albert Reichle

Albert “AJ” Joseph Reichle, of Rocky Point, died May 15. He was 24.

AJ was born in Stony Brook and was the son of Albert J. and Lorraine (Timpone) Reichle.  

He was employed by YAI in Farmingdale as a counselor.  

He is survived by his beloved parents, Albert J. and Lorraine (Timpone) Reichle; his loving sister, Ava Reichle; his cherished grandparents Albert and Joan Reichle of Rocky Point and his grandmother Laura Timpone of Ronkonkoma.

A celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial was offered May 20 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church with a burial following in Washington Memorial Park in Mount Sinai. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com. 

Diane Cummings

Diane V. Cummings, of Ridge, died May 19. She was 73.

Diane was born Feb. 7, 1946 in Brooklyn. She was the daughter of the late Gerard and the late Katherine (Krewer) Rice.

She was employed by Kings Park State Hospital as a therapy aid. 

She is survived by her husband, Richard J. Cummings; two daughters, Kelly Crean of Saint James and Shannon Cummings of Ridge; two sons, Michael Cummings of Shoreham and Sean Cummings of Setauket; three sisters, Kathy Christie of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Janet Doyle of Lake Panamoka and Suzanne Romaine of Coram; three brothers, Greg Rice of Toms River, New Jersey, Thomas Rice of Mount Sinai and Jerry Rice of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Rocky Point with a burial following at Calverton National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home.  An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Ryan Delena

Ryan J. Delena, of Ridge, died May 21. He was 33.

Ryan was born Jan. 23, 1986 in Smithtown. 

He is survived by his father William Delena and his mother Debra (Mohr) Delena. In addition, he was the cherished father of Scarlette Rose Delena and the loving brother of Heather Franco. Delena was privately cremated. 

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home.  An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Linda Ladensack

Linda Ladensack, of East Islip, died May 22. She was 65.

Linda was born Feb. 21, 1954 in the Bronx. She was the daughter of the late Robert and the late Mary (Gydosh) Ladensack. She was employed by the West Islip School District as a teacher.  

She is survived by two loving sisters, Donna Stiene of Arizona and Karen Ladensack of New York.  

Burial was held in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram May 30.   

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home.  An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.  

Martha Martocci

Martha Martocci, of Ridge, died May 22. She was 90.

Martha was born July 9, 1928 in the Bronx and was the daughter of the late Ladislaw and the late Agnes (Fritch) Patterson.  

She was employed by Northport School District as a clerk.  

She is survived by one daughter, Mary (Joseph) Taussi of Arizona; two sons, Peter (Renee) Martocci of Sayville and Robert (Kathy) Martocci of Ridge and her  three cherished grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.  

Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial was held May 28 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Rocky Point with burial following at Calverton National Cemetery.  

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.   

Albano Melo

Albano Melo, of Miller Place, died June 30. He was 92.

He was the beloved husband of Maria Natalia Melo; the devoted father of Joseph (Aeyung) Melo, Isabel (Kenneth) Melo-Kay and Julia (Frank) Melo-Orlik; the loving grandfather of Andrew, William and Briana (Brian) and is survived by many other family members and friends.

Funeral mass was celebrated at St. Louis de Montfort R.C. Church in Sound Beach and interment followed at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram. Arrangements were entrusted to the Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place and Vigliante family. An online guest book is available at www.branchfh.com.

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Dieter Lund

Dieter Lund, of Port Jefferson, died May 10. He was 79.

He was born Oct. 24, 1939 in Germany, and was the son of Jenny and Albert Lund.

Dieter was the owner of Seven Seas Construction in Port Jefferson and was a member of L.I. Antique Power Association, Fohrer & Amrumer (German Club), Cold Spring Power Museum and Rough and Tumble Engineers Museum. He enjoyed skiing, fishing, traveling, machinery and especially family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Amy; daughter, Jenny; son, Thomas; sister, Christa; brother, Helmut; along with many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home May 18, and interment followed at St. Ann’s Episcopal Cemetery in Sayville.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Kenneth Larsen

Kenneth T. Larsen Sr., a longtime community resident, died April 9. He was 89.

He was born Nov. 26, 1929 in Hicksville, and was the son of Adina and Oscar Larsen.

Larsen was a retired roofer for Larsen Roofing Company and was a member of the Stony Brook Yacht Club and Sons of Norway. He enjoyed boating, fishing and spending time with family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mildred; sons, Kenneth Jr., John and Jeffrey; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; along with many other family and friends

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Conrad and Lawrence.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home April 12. Interment followed at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Barbara Barkley

Barbara R. Barkley, of East Setauket, died April 12. She was 80.

She was born Nov. 29, 1939 in Bokoshe, Oklahoma, and was the daughter of Neoma and Haden Barkley.

Barkley was a retired financial underwriter, and she enjoyed old and mystery movies.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Analisa; son, Guy; four grandchildren; and the rest of her family and friends.

Services were held at the Bryant Funeral Home April 15. Entombment followed in the Pinelawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Contributions in her memory can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson.

Florence Caramihas

Florence Caramihas, a longtime community resident, died April 4. She was 96.

She was born Feb. 17, 1923 in Brockton, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Kaleroe and John Pechilis.

Caramihas worked at Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, Massachusetts, during and after WWII, and after that worked at her father’s store in Brockton until she married her husband Andrew on Nov. 16, 1952. 

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Candace (Donald) Foust; son, John; grandson, Andrew Foust; and her other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Andrew and son Thomas.

Services were held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Port Jefferson April 9. Interment followed in the Seaview Cemetery in Mount Sinai.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

Thelma Hall

Thelma Hall, of Setauket, died May 7. She was 85.

She was born June 11, 1933, in Medford, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Gladys and Stanley Whitman Sr.

Hall was a retired nurse at Stony Brook University Hospital and a member of the Caroline Church. She enjoyed singing and gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, William; daughters, Susan, Carol and Joan; son, Edward; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the Caroline Church May 14. Committal services were held in private.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket.

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Peter Sammarco

By Christine Zammarco

It started with a hoarse voice that seemed like part of a lingering cold that wouldn’t go away. Then one morning, Peter Sammarco, then 48-years-old, was shaving when he coughed up blood and right away knew something was wrong. After meeting with the doctors, Sammarco was diagnosed; it was throat cancer. Yet, rather than being concerned about what lay ahead, the Plainview history teacher, Rocky Point resident, father and husband met the challenge head on.

Peter Sammarco

“I was pretty hopeful,” he recalled at the age of 81, and speaking by projecting air through his diaphragm.

He was more upset about retiring from his job than he was about losing his voice or even the risk of dying, but Sammarco is from tough stock and from a generation which knew how to work hard and how to fight. He was born in 1930 during the Great Depression. He remembers the absence of his older brothers away serving in the military as he grew up. His Father, Petero, was a tailor and able to trade making suits in exchange for doctor and dentist visits or other services for the family.

As a boy, Sammarco would go to the tailor shop during his lunch breaks in grammar school and enjoyed conversations with two part time Jewish men who worked there — one of whom would become his mentor. The worker would give him history lessons and talk about Hitler and what life was like in Germany, where he immigrated from.

Between the knowledge Sammarco picked up from the workers and the letters he received from his brothers stationed overseas in different parts of the world, he was always learning about current events going on in the world. His teacher would often ask the young man, “how’d you know that?” The teacher even asked him to report current events to the class.

When his brother, Bob, whom Sammarco hadn’t seen in five years, came back from serving in the military, one of the first things he did was grab his younger brother by his collar and take him to St. Ann’s Academy school to enroll. It was an all-boys private school with a cost of $12 a month, which was a lot of money back then, but Bob and his father paid for it. Sammarco was always an above average student with good grades across the board. He graduated in 1948 and planned to go into the military, but again Bob had other plans for him, and took him to Queens College to enroll. He was only the second person in the whole neighborhood to go to college.

“I graduated Sunday, and the Monday after I graduated [the next day] I was sworn into the military,” said Sammarco.

He was in charge of communications in Korea for 17 months. The highlight of his time in Korea was helping the local orphaned children who had no food, clothes, or even underwear. He used his leadership to get the troops stationed there to build an orphanage. He went from tent to tent collecting money. Three days later, a truckload of clothes arrived.

“That was one of the best times of my life because they knew I was responsible for it,” said Sammarco.

The children were amazed by how fast the buildings went up, and Sammarco felt good to leave something of himself behind.

“I came home from Korea in 1954 on military discharge and I said, what am I going to do now?” Sammarco recalled.

Bob guided him and told him about a job at an insurance company. He did very well financially, but working sales wasn’t for him.

“I loved teaching. I always loved teaching,” said Sammarco.

He went back to college at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. He was only there a week when he was called to the office.

Peter Sammarco

“I asked, ‘was there a problem with my check?’ And they said, ‘no’ and offered me a job teaching,” Sammarco recalled. “I said, “but I’ve only been going to school here a week.” The new job was at an all-girls school, namely William Maxwell Commercial High School in Brooklyn.

He went in for the interview not knowing much about the position. Amazingly, they hired him on the spot.

“They didn’t ask me any questions, they said, here you go, room 401.”

He was in a class with 52 female students where Sammarco taught history for three years, but eventually it came time to settle down in the suburbs, and the commute to the city became too much. A friend helped him get a job at Plainview High School teaching history. He was there for 19 years. He spent his free time teaching at a Jewish community center and homeschooling sick children at a mental institution.

“The parents said he was such a wonder to their kids,” said his wife, Janet Sammarco.

One year, the journalist Geraldo Rivera ran a feature story about wanting to raise money for schools with special needs. Sammarco decided to throw a carnival at the high school and get his senior students involved. They raised $9,000 dollars.

“Some parents in Plainview say it was the best thing that ever happened to Plainview… that all the kids did something good,” said Sammarco.

But it was not just one single event that stands out to him. “The whole experience was rewarding,” he said. “Seeing kids grow. I had the same kids for a year so I could see the difference between when they started and the end. Plainview had really good students. Oh, they were bright. It was a good feeling, if you don’t get that feeling. Don’t teach.”

Sammarco still remembers receiving the news of his cancer and how the idea of having to resign pained him, as he would no longer be able to teach without a voice. The students all walked him out to his car on that last day.

“All the girls were crying,” Sammarco recalled. “That was a bad day, let me tell you… I loved teaching… that was very sad. I drive out of the parking lot and they were all waving.”

He had surgery shortly after, and the whole school waited for news. Someone made an announcement on the loud speaker, saying “Mr. Sammarco made it through the surgery, he is okay.”

They could have taken only one vocal cord and left him with a voice, because the tumor was only on one vocal cord, but it was large and if even meniscal traces were on the second one the cancer would have spread further. The operation saved his life. With speech therapy he started with a method using burping up air, one he learned to laugh about. His more recent pattern of projecting air became more natural, allowing him to verbally communicate.

“People would be scared and feel bad if they couldn’t understand what he was saying,“ said Janet Sammarco. “I think we were closer. He needed me more than ever before.”

It also brought the community together and showed him how many people cared. People came to him and prayed for him.

“Losing my voice didn’t affect the quality of my life. I can’t complain about my life. I was good to my country, I helped people grow, I’m very positive about my life,” said Sammarco.

The radiation from chemotherapy led to blood and kidney cancer years later. He believed the water he drank while in Korea that had been contaminated with gasoline also contributed. Drinking that water and smoking socially are his only regrets in life, but he says he wouldn’t have changed anything.

“Did I appreciated what I had? Not really. I do now. We take things for granted… after the third cancer I was like, O.K God, I get it,” He laughed lightheartedly with a big warm smirk.

Still a young man after the surgery, Sammarco still needed to work. Sammarco went on to be the groundskeeper at his local church, St. Anthony of Padua R.C Church in Rocky Point after resigning from teaching.

Sammarco passed away June 24. He was 88, and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet; his children, Peter and Jennifer; two granddaughters, Jennifer and Christine; two great-grandsons, Connor and Bryce; and his only surviving brother, Richard.

He was preceded in death by his son Robert.

“I enjoyed the 19 years working at the church and planting trees… it wasn’t that bad,” Sammarco said. “The trees will outlive me, and people will look at them and remember me driving around on the tractor.”

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