Miscellaneous Albany County, New York Obituaries
CEMSEARCH - OBITUARY CENTRAL - OBITUARY LINKS PAGE - SURNAME SEARCH UTILITY - GENLOOKUPS


First Name:
Last Name:
Michael Modic, 40, research engineer who held 28 patents 
HOUSTON, Texas - Michael John Modic, 40, of Houston, died Thursday.
Mr. Modic was born in Schenectady.
He was a graduate of Virginia Tech and the University of Akron.
A research engineer for 17 years with Kraton Polymers, he held 28 patents in the field of polymer modifications.
Survivors include his wife, Aimee Modic; his parents, Marie and Frank J. Modic of Scotia and Mesa, Ariz.; a sister, Diane Smith of Stratford, N.J.; two brothers, Kevin Modic of Bethlehem, Pa., and Frank E. Modic of Santa Rosa, Calif.; and his grandmothers, Mary Modic and Rita Connors.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Monday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail.
Calling hours will be 7 to 9 tonight at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Hemochromatosis Society Inc., 4044 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Suite 104, Lake Mary, FL 32746-2012.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

`Marge' Pallotta, co-owned food market in Amsterdam 
AMSTERDAM - Mrs. Madalene "Marge" Pallotta, 88, of McClellan Avenue, died Saturday at the Edward L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility after a long illness.
Mrs. Pallotta was born in Holyoke, Mass., and lived in Amsterdam for most of her life.
She and her husband owned and operated the former Pallotta's Food Market on Florida Avenue for 28 years before retiring in 1969.
Mrs. Pallotta was a communicant and Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church and a member of its Christian Women's Society, Mount Carmel Seniors and Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
Her husband, Horace A. Pallotta, whom she married in 1936, died in 1970.
Survivors include a son, Robert Pallotta of Amsterdam; a daughter, Sister Madilene Pallotta of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Latham; and two grandchildren.
Services will be held Tuesday at 8:15 a.m. at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave., and at 9 at St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated.
Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Calling hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Members of the Christian Women's Society will meet at 6 for prayers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Montgomery County SPCA or the Amsterdam Library, in care of the funeral home.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Monsignor Liu, Vatican official 
VATICAN CITY - Monsignor Odorico Liu Ho-Teh, a Vatican vicar general in China who helped bridge relations between underground and state-sanctioned Catholic churches after being imprisoned by the communist authorities, has died. He was 90.
Liu, the vicar general in the central Chinese city of Hankou since 1950, died in a hospital in the nearby city of Wuhan on Dec. 10 after a fall, the news service of the Vatican's missionary arm, Fides, said Saturday.
Liu remained in China and loyal to the pope after the Vatican and Beijing broke formal relations in 1951. The rupture occurred after China's new communist rulers kicked out missionaries and forced Catholics to sever ties with Rome.
One of millions of Chinese Catholics who continued to worship in underground churches, Liu resisted the birth of China's state-sanctioned church, the China Patriotic Catholic Association, which doesn't recognize papal authority, including the right to name bishops.
As a result, he was arrested and questioned by Chinese authorities, and in 1958 was sentenced to 20 years in prison and hard labor, Fides said.
In the 1990s, Liu decided to reconcile with the Patriotic Church and its "official" bishop in Hankou, Monsignor Bernadino Dong Guangqing, a fellow member of the Franciscan order, Fides said.
Fides said Liu's gesture made a strong impact within the Patriotic Church and helped strengthen relations between the underground and state-sanctioned church, even though Liu was still considered by many Catholics in the Hankou diocese to be their true bishop.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Winfried Sebald, professor, author 
LONDON - Winfried Georg Sebald, a German-born author and academic who impressed the literary world with books based on tragic events of the last 200 years, was killed in an automobile accident, police said Saturday. He was 57.
The British-based author, also known as Max, died Friday when his car collided head-on with a truck in Norwich, England. His daughter, Anna, who was traveling in the car, was in poor but stable condition at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, a hospital official said.
Sebald, professor of European literature at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, was an author of novels, poetry and essays. His works, often about characters affected by World War II and the Holocaust, included "Vertigo," "Europe," "The Past & The Trials of Knowing," "Austerlitz" and "Rings of Saturn."
Vincent Watts, vice chancellor of East Anglia University, said Sebald's colleagues were "shocked and saddened."
"As an established author he had a unique style that brought him great acclaim in many countries around the world, including his native Germany," Watts said.
"He was an eminent critic of German literature and teacher of German studies and he also created here at UEA what is now the major center for literary translation in this country. We shall miss him greatly as a friend and colleague."
Born in Wertach im Allgau, Germany, he studied German language and literature in Germany, Switzerland and England.
Sebald became assistant lecturer at the University of Manchester in 1966 and moved to England permanently in 1970, when he began teaching at the University of East Anglia.
He had been professor of European literature since 1987 and lived in Norwich with his wife, Ute, and his daughter.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Anna M. Cognetta 
MILFORD, Mass. - Mrs. Anna M. Cognetta, 94, formerly of Nott St. and Palmer Ave. in Schenectady, died Saturday at the Geriatric Authority in Milford.
Born in Schenectady, Mrs. Cognetta was a Schenectady resident most of her adult life.
She was a graduate of Schenectady High School and the Spencer Business School.
She was employed as a secretary for the International General Electric Co.
Her husband, Philip Cognetta, died in 1993.
Survivors include a son, Philip J. Cognetta of Milford; a daughter, Lucretia C. Hovsepian of Newark, Del.; three sisters, Carmella Battista and Helen Williams, both of Schenectady, and Victoria Fontana of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Salvatore Mauriello of Niagara Falls; and four grandchildren.
Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Griswold Funeral Home, 1867 State St., Schenectady, and at 9 at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated.
Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Schenectady.
Calling hours will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Foundation.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Florence Maslak 
AMSTERDAM - Mrs. Florence Baia Maslak, 82, of Center Street, died Friday at St. Mary's Hospital after a short illness.
Born in Amsterdam, Mrs. Maslak attended Amsterdam schools and was a lifelong area resident.
She was a cook for many years for the Greater Amsterdam School District, retiring in 1980.
Mrs. Maslak was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and its choir and Christian Women.
She married Raymond L. Maslak on Feb. 24, 1946. He died in 1980.
Survivors include a son, George P. Maslak of Marietta, Ga.; a daughter, Julianne Maslak of Amsterdam; two grandsons; and three great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Guzielek-Pomykaj Funeral Home, 13 Belmont Place, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 9:15 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be from 3 this afternoon to 7 tonight at the funeral home, where the Christian Women will meet at 4.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church in care of the funeral home.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Gladys Whittingham, was honored for volunteerism 
NISKAYUNA - Mrs. Gladys D. Whittingham, of Brookshire Drive, died at home Saturday after a long illness.
Mrs. Whittingham was born in Albany. She was a graduate of Albany's public schools and Albany Business College.
She was a member of the Mohawk Golf Club, the Hugh Platt Garden Club and the Schenectady Historical Society.
Mrs. Whittingham was a former member of the Schenectady Museum, a volunteer for many community organizations and a member of the executive committee of the board of managers for the Heritage Home for Women.
She was a volunteer and board member for more than 20 years for the American Heart Association. In 1983 she received the first annual Volunteer of the Year Award, named in her honor.
Mrs. Whittingham established and chaired the Schenectady Chapter Heart Ball and was the recipient in 1991 of the New York State American Heart Association's Development Achievement Award.
She was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church, where she taught Christian education classes, church school and confirmation classes.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Harry E. Whittingham Jr.; two sons, Jeffrey A. Whittingham and Neal E. Whittingham, both of Atlanta; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Garner Avenue and The Plaza.
Burial will be in Memory's Garden in Colonie.
Calling hours are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union St., Schenectady.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Laura Forman 
SALT ROCK, W. Va. - Mrs. Laura DiPier Forman, 39, of Salt Rock, formerly of Schenectady, died Monday in Huntington, W. Va.
Mrs. Forman was an environmental activist for the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition for the last seven years.
Survivors include her husband, Michael Forman; a son, Donald Roy Forman; her parents, Ralph "Jack" and Geneva DiPier of Schenectady; two sisters, Gayle Manion of Green Cove Springs, Fla., and Lynn DiPier of Fairbanks, Alaska; and a brother, Eric DiPier of Mesa, Ariz.
A service was held Saturday in Beech Fork State Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura Forman Memorial Fund for OVEC or to the Donald Roy Forman Educational Fund at OVEC, P.O. Box 6753, Huntington, WV 25773.
Arrangements are by the Reger Funeral Home, Huntington.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Lawrence D. Haynes 
ROTTERDAM - Lawrence D. Haynes, 82, of Roberta Road, died Friday at home after a long illness.
Mr. Haynes was born in Starrucca, Pa. He had resided in the Schenectady area since 1949.
He was a machinist at the General Electric plant in Waterford for 32 years, retiring in 1981.
Mr. Haynes was a World War II Army veteran.
He was a member of American Legion Post 1005; a member and past master of Masonic Lodge 1174; past worthy patron of the Eastern Star; past watchman of the Shepherd's Shrine; past royal patron of St. George's Court; former captain of the White Eagle Ambulance Squad; former scoutmaster with Boy Scouts of America Troop 52; and a Red Cross first aid instructor.
Mr. Haynes was a member of Carman United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Nettie Burnside Haynes; a son, Nelson Haynes of Guilderland; and a granddaughter.
A service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Gleason Funeral Home, 730 Union St.
Calling hours are from 4 this afternoon to 6 tonight at the funeral home. Members of Masonic Lodge 1174 will conduct a service at 5.
Burial will be in Schenectady Memorial Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eddy Senior Care, 502 State St., Schenectady, NY 12305; or St. Clare's Hospital Foundation, 600 McClellan St., Schenectady, NY 12304.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Mary Cotugno 
EAST GREENBUSH - Mrs. Mary Altieri Cotugno, 70, of the Branson Manor Apartments, died Saturday at Albany Memorial Hospital after a short illness.
Mrs. Cotugno was born in Albany and lived in East Greenbush for more than 40 years.
She was a communicant of the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights.
Mrs. Cotugno was a homemaker.
She was married to the late George F. Cotugno Jr.
Survivors include two daughters, Angela Cotugno and Georgiana Lord, both of East Greenbush; three sons, George A. Cotugno and Joseph F. Cotugno, both of East Greenbush, and Dominick F. Cotugno of North Greenbush; a brother, Salvatore Altieri of Pennsylvania; two sisters, Theresa Jarvis of Florida and Josephine Swantak of Saratoga Springs; and six grandchildren.
Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer, and at 9:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Mary at Clinton Heights, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated.
Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Nicholas Pucci 
COHOES - Nicholas A. Pucci, 84, of Lancaster Street, died Friday at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy.
Mr. Pucci was born in Cohoes and was a lifelong Cohoes resident.
He was employed at the former American Locomotive Co. and Pucci Brothers Used Cars and later worked for the city of Albany as a code enforcement officer.
He was married to the late Beatrice Young Pucci.
Survivors include a son, Frederick N. Pucci of Cohoes; a daughter, Joan McNab of Waterford; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Rita's Church.
Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Waterford.
There will be no calling hours.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Arrangements are by the Marra Funeral Home, 246 Remsen St.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Patricia Larsen 
COLONIE - Mrs. Patricia G. Larsen, 75, of Jones Drive, died at home Friday after a long illness.
Mrs. Larsen was born in Glens Falls. She moved from Glens Falls to this area as a child and lived here all her life.
She was a graduate of the former Nott Terrace High School in Schenectady and attended the Mildred Elley Secretarial School.
Mrs. Larsen was a medical records librarian for St. Clare's Hospital in Schenectady for 15 years, retiring in 1977.
She was a member of St. Clare's Church, Colonie, for many years.
Her husband, Elef Larsen, died in 1992.
Survivors include a son, Robert E. Larsen of Hicksville; a daughter, Eileen R. Shea of Schenectady; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Griswold Funeral Home, 1867 State St., Schenectady, and at 9 a.m. at St. Clare's Church, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated.
Burial will be in Memory's Garden.
Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Robert E. Anderson 
POESTENKILL - Robert Everett Anderson, 79, of Poestenkill, died Saturday at Samaritan Hospital in Troy after a short illness.
Mr. Anderson was born in New Milford, Conn., and had lived in Poestenkill since 1962.
He received bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Mr. Anderson was a supervisor at Niagara Mohawk in North Albany.
Later, he was an originator of the former New York Power Pool in Rotterdam.
He worked at the power company for 37 years until retiring in 1987.
Mr. Anderson was a member of the RPI Alumni Association, the NiMo 25-Year Club and the Poestenkill Historical Society.
A Navy veteran of World War II, he served on a sub chaser.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Carol Snyder Anderson; a son, Neil W. Anderson of Poestenkill; a daughter, Christine Carol Grusczak of New Milford; and three grandchildren.
Services will be private. There will be no calling hours.
Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy.
Contributions in memory of Mr. Anderson may be made to the Poestenkill Ambulance, P.O. Box 93, Poestenkill 12140, or to the American Parkinson's Disease Association at Albany Medical Center, 43 New Scotland Ave., Albany 12208.
Arrangements are by the DeGraaf-Bryce Funeral Home, West Sand Lake.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Shirley K. Parker 
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Mrs. Shirley K. Parker, 68, of Briarwood in Myrtle Beach, died Friday at Duke Medical University in Durham, N.C.
Mrs. Parker was born in Albany and was a graduate of Albany High School and Cornell University, where she earned a bachelor's degree.
She was a former president of the Cornell Women's Club.
Mrs. Parker was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and a former member and elder of the State Street Presbyterian Church in Schenectady.
A former resident of Albany and Schenectady, she moved to Myrtle Beach in 1990.
Survivors include her husband, Robert H. Parker; a son, Robert H. Parker Jr. of Fairfax, Va.; a daughter, Cynthia J. Parker of Saratoga Springs; two sisters, Ruth Russell of Albany and Barbara Buchholz of Ocala, Fla.; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church.
Burial will be private in Albany Rural Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1306, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578, or to charity, in memory of Mrs. Parker.
Arrangements are by the McMillan-Small Funeral Home.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

Simon Schermerhorn Jr., owned marina, RV center 
SCOTIA - Simon "Si" Schermerhorn Jr., 63, of Riverside Place, died Thursday at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady after being stricken.
Mr. Schermerhorn was born in Schenectady. He was a 1955 graduate of the former Mont Pleasant High School and a lifelong area resident.
He retired in January 2000 from the Town of Glenville Highway Department as a deputy highway superintendent after 23 years of service.
Mr. Schermerhorn was the owner and operator of the Arrowhead Marina and RV Park in Glenville and a service manager for the Andersen Boat Shop in Burnt Hills from 1967 to 1975.
He was a member of the First Reformed Church of Scotia, the Family Motor Coach Association and the Campground Owners of New York, a charter member of the Scotia-Glenville Elks Lodge 2759, and a past member of the Schonowe Volunteer Fire Department in Rotterdam and the Scotia-Glenville Auxiliary Police.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret White Schermerhorn; a son, Michael E. Schermerhorn of Scotia; a daughter, Cathy M. Conroy of Glenville; his mother, Renice "Betty" Schermerhorn of Rotterdam; two brothers, Donald F. Schermerhorn of Beverly Hills, Fla., and Richard C. Schermerhorn of Montgomery; and three grandchildren.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the First Reformed Church of Scotia, 224 N. Ballston Ave.
Burial will be in Viewland Cemetery, Rotterdam.
Calling hours will be 2 to 4 this afternoon and 7 to 9 tonight at the Bekkering-Ellis Funeral Home, 1 Mohawk Ave.
Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

William H. Russell Sr. 
TROY - William H. Russell Sr., 80, of Troy, died at home Friday after being stricken.
Mr. Russell was born and raised in Troy and was a 1939 graduate of Troy High School.
He was employed by Allegheny Ludlum, later the Al Tech Specialty Steel Co., in Watervliet for more than 40 years as a supervisor in the specialty steel melting division.
He retired in 1984.
Mr. Russell was a member of St. Basil's Orthodox Church in Maplewood and its Sr. R Club, SOYUZ Society and 100th anniversary committee.
He was a volunteer for St. Basil's church hall and cemetery and a member of the Maplewood Coffee Club.
An Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Russell served in Naples, Italy.
His wife, Catherine Zonitch Russell, died in 1985.
Survivors include a son, William Russell of Troy, and a sister, Elizabeth Howell of Louisville, Ky.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Parker Bros. Memorial Funeral Home, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet, and at 10 at St. Basil's Orthodox Church, Maplewood.
Burial will be in St. Basil's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, where a Parastas will be held at 7.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bootsy's Fund for Kids in care of The Arts Center, 265 River St., Troy 12180.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]

William Rybicki 
BALLSTON SPA - William F. Rybicki, 55, of Goode Street, died Friday at Saratoga Hospital.
Mr. Rybicki was born in Niskayuna and lived in Ballston Spa for most of his life.
He was an instrument technician for Lockheed Martin in West Milton for 27 years until retiring in April.
Mr. Rybicki was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War.
He was a member of the F Troop Hunting Club for 35 years.
Survivors include two daughters, Jennifer Scanlon of Vernon, Conn., and Joanna Rybicki of Utica; a brother, Ronald Rybicki of Ballston Spa; and two sisters, Sandra Ariel of Burnt Hills and Maryann Knowlton of Schenectady.
A service is set for 10 a.m. Monday at the Armer Funeral Home, 39 E. High St.
Burial with full military honors will be in Saratoga National Cemetery in the town of Saratoga.
Calling hours will be 3 to 5 this afternoon at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville 12211.
[Published 16-Dec-2001]


Search this massive database of obituaries, cemeteries, and death records:


CEMSEARCH - OBITUARY CENTRAL - OBITUARY LINKS PAGE - SURNAME SEARCH UTILITY