Miscellaneous Suffolk County, New York Obituaries - 2000

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Dan Klugherz
Former Southampton resident Dan Klugherz died in Sarasota, Florida on February 27 at the age of 84. A long-time resident of Southampton, he was an enthusiastic golfer and a member of the Southampton Golf Club.
Mr. Klugherz was an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His widely shown and televised film, “The Real Julia,” concerned Dr. Muriel Gardiner’s rescue of scores of Jews from Nazi Vienna. The film, which corrected the Lillian Hellman memoir of her own role in the events, premiered at Guild Hall in East Hampton in 1988.
His other film credits include, “Marked for Failure,” “Women in Sports,” “The Great Black Hope,” “American Samoa: Paradise Lost?” and many others. Mr. Klugherz also directed “Twentieth Century” for CBS and “NET Journal” and “The Fifty-first State” for PBS.
Film awards presented to Mr. Klugherz include the Blue and Red Ribbon of the American Film Festival, Cine Golden Eagle, NEA School Bells Award, and Best Documentary of the Year (TV-Radio Life Magazine).
Mr. Klugherz was a second lieutenant during World War II, serving in the Signal Corps as a cameraman, writer and director.
In addition to his wife, Patricia Klugherz, he is survived by two daughters, Alice Klugherz and Tan Kamine; a grandson, Jack Kamine; and a sister, Marjorie Klugherz.

Adelbert Dordelman
Adelbert P. Dordelman died at his home in Sag Harbor on February 27. He was 94.
A lifelong resident of Sag Harbor, he attended Pierson High School and served in the Army during World War II. He worked as a stationary engineer for Suffolk County for 20 years at the Riverhead Jail, drove a taxicab in Manhattan, was a deck hand on the steamer Shinnecock, a driver for Socony Oil, and worked for the East Hampton Town Highway Department. 
Mr. Dordelman was a past member of the Sag Harbor Fire Department, Otter Hose Company, and a member of Wamponamon Lodge of the Masons, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 
Predeceased by his wife, Nancy (Gilbride), in 1993, and a son, Adelbert, who was killed in World War II, he is survived by five step-children, Catherine Openhowski of East Quogue, Margaret Perry of California, Joan Tebbe of Missouri, Nancy Sabatino of Florida, and T. Denny Gilbride of Florida; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three stepchildren, Charles and Jim Gilbride and Mary Schweinsburg; and three siblings, Carl, William and Raymond.
Prayer services were held on February 29 at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in Sag Harbor. A funeral was held on March 1 at the Old Whalers Church in Sag Harbor; the Reverend Christine Grimbol officiated. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Sag Harbor Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Box 2725, Sag Harbor, New York 11963.

Anna Armusewicz
Anna Armusewicz of Southampton died at Southampton Hospital on February 27. She was 85.
Born January 19 in Jersey City, New Jersey, she had been a resident of the area for 65 years. She devoted her life to making a home for her family and was a past member of the Southampton Golf Club. 
Mrs. Armusewicz is survived by her husband, Vincent; three sons, Richard of Southampton, and Vincent and Robert of Water Mill; two daughters, Carol Benjamin of Southampton and Marcia Liebert of Pluffton, Indiana; a sister, Mary Lamiak of State College, Pennsylvania; 24 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She was predeceased by two sons, Thomas in 1978 and Philip in 1997.
The family received friends at the J.M. O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton on Tuesday. Her remains were cremated.
Memorial donations may be made to Southampton Village Ambulance Corps, Box 832, Southampton, New York 11969.

Mario Gerardi
Mario Gerardi of Bridgehampton died at Southampton Hospital on February 27. He was 92.
Born in Italy on February 6, he attended school in Sicily, and served in the Italian Navy in World War II before coming to the United States in 1946. He worked at Eclipse Mattress in Brooklyn for six years before moving to Southampton and working at the Bulova watch factory from 1952 to 1968, when he retired. In 1970, he moved to Florida and returned to Bridgehampton seven years later. He was a member of the Southampton Full Gospel Church.
Mr. Gerardi is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy; three sons, Vito and Peter of Southampton and Thomas Speedling of Hampton Bays; and three daughters, Mary Sellentin of Bridgehampton, Helen Poehnelt of Flanders and Catherine Rosko of Tennessee; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family received friends at the J.M. O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton on Tuesday. A funeral was held Wednesday at the Southampton Full Gospel Church; the Reverend Donald Havrilla officiated. Burial followed at Southampton Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Mission Reach Out Haiti, Box 126, Southampton, New York 11969.

Ethel Miller Culver
Ethel Miller Culver of Westhampton Beach died Tuesday, February 8 at the Westhampton Care Center at the age of 102. She was born in New York City to Fredrick and Elizabeth Morrison Miller on November 12, 1897.
The Miller family moved to Westhampton Beach in 1914. Her father owned and operated the Westhampton Press. Mrs. Culver graduated from Westhampton Beach High School in 1918, and married Harold Field Culver in 1919.
Mrs. Culver was a member of St. Mark’s Church, first president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW in Quogue, a member of the Daughters of America, the East End Quilters and the Episcopal Church Women’s sewing group.
Mrs. Culver is survived by her five children, Robert of North Babylon, Clara Hulse, Harold Culver of Westhampton Beach, Ethel Clark of Skaneateles and Virginia Gilmore of Westhampton, 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, Harold, and her daughter, Lorene Cyphers, predeceased her.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on Wednesday, February 9 and on Thursday, February 10. A service for the celebration of her life was conducted by The Reverend David Plank, a family friend. Interment followed at the Westhampton Cemetery. 

Edward J. Zebroski
Edward J. Zebroski of Aquebogue died on Tuesday, February 11 at Central Suffolk Hospital at the age of 70. He was born on January 9, 1930 to Charles Zebroski and Marie Radjeski-Zebroski in East Quogue.
Mr. Zebroski was the youngest member of the East Quogue Fire Department before he was married, and also held the position of Peconic Bay U.S. Power Squadron Commander. 
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Kaminski; his daughters, Alexandrea of Queens and Jean of Hicksville; his brothers, John and Larry of East Quogue; and his sisters, Josephine Morton of East Quogue and Dorothy Servello of Queens.
The family received friends on Monday, February 14 at the Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Tuesday, February 15 at St. Isidore’s Church in Riverhead with Monsignor John Mirecki officiating. Interment followed at St. John’s Cemetery in Riverhead.

John J. Loetscher Sr.
John Joseph Loetscher Sr. of Hampton Bays died on Friday, February 18 in his home at the age of 92. Mr. Loetscher was a retired Power Distributor for Con Edison in New York City. He was also a member of the Southampton Elks.
Mr. Loetscher is survived by his companion of over 20 years, Christine Ross; his children, Rosemary Schofield, Rita Resling, Richard Loetscher, John Joseph III and his wife Maxine, all of Hampton Bays, and Janet Weggeland and her husband Duane of Palm Bay, Florida and Robert Loetscher and wife Bonnie of Vancouver, Washington. He is also survived by 24 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, his nephew, Robert Blasius of Tamarac, Florida, and the family of Christine Ross.
A Parish Prayer service, Hampton Bays Fire Department service and a service by Reverend Dr. Roger Kleinheksel from the Manorville Community Church were held on Sunday, February 20 at the J. Ronald Scott Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass was held on Monday at St. Rosalie’s Church with his grandsons Ralph and Ronald Schofield, John Joseph III, Eric, Bobby and Marc Loetscher, and Henry and Jeffery Resling acting as pallbearers. Interment followed at Good Ground Cemetery in Hampton Bays. 
In lieu of flowers, donations to East End Hospice or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated.

Theodore C. Martz
Theodore C. Martz of Manorville died on Thursday, February 24 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital at the age of 81. Mr. Martz was born in Wading River on November 11, 1918.
Mr. Martz is survived by his children, Theodore, Ronald and Kenneth, all of Manorville; his sisters, Estelle Rykaczewski of Riverhead, Mary Fleischmann of Jamesport, Helen Martz of Wading River, Catherine Aprea and Alice Aprea of Manorville and Rosalie Mikata of Florida, and his three grandchildren. 
Funeral arrangements were made by Sinnickson’s Moriches Funeral Home in Center Moriches. Visitation took place on Friday, February 25. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, February 26 at St. Peter and Paul Church in Manorville. Interment to follow at St. Isidore’s Cemetery in Riverhead.

Sally A. Van Bokkelen
Sally A. Van Bokkelen of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn died Thursday, February 3 at the age of 77. She was born on February 25, 1922 in Bay Ridge, and moved to Bradenton, Florida eight years ago from Remsenburg.
Ms. Van Bokkelen was an educator and administrator at Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn for 25 years. She then pursued a career in interior design in Manhattan and the Hamptons. She held a bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame College of Staten Island and a master’s degree from Columbia University and a certification as an interior designer from the New York School of d his wife Irma of Richmond, Texas, Jack Lorenz of Pelzer, South Carolina, David Lorenz of Riverhead and his sister-in-law, Janice L. Lorenz of Newport, Rhode Island; and many nieces and nephews. His mother, Muriel, predeceased him.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 3 at J. Ronald Scott Funeral Home in Hampton Bays with Reverend Walfred Scofield of the First Congregational Church of Riverhead officiating. Burial will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to East End Hematology and Oncology of Southampton, Southampton Hospital, Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance and/or East End Hospice.

Edward Howell Best
Edward Howell Best of Southampton and Westhampton Beach died Monday, May 22 at the age of 79.
Mr. Best served in the Army Air Force during World War II with the 427 Nightfighters Squadron and was employed at Grumman Aerospace for over 50 years. He is survived by his daughters, Allison and Karen, and his son, Jonathan, and his daughter-in-law Eileen.
A viewing was held at Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach on Thursday, May 25. Funeral services followed on Friday, May 26 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made to East End Hospice, Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978 or the American Cancer Society in memory of Edward H. Best.

Elizabeth W. Havens
Elizabeth (“Libby”) White Havens of Hampton Bays died at the age of 81 at the Riverhead Nursing Home on May 25 after a long illness. Her family was at her side.
Born in Good Ground in 1918 to Fredrick and Rachel White, she graduated from Hampton Bays High School in 1938 as valedictorian of her class. She resided in Hampton Bays with her husband, Carl, for over 60 years and served as the District Clerk for the Hampton Bays School District. She was past president of the Good Ground Cemetery Association and of the WSCS of the United Methodist Church of Hampton Bays.
Her hobbies included gardening, dressmaking, card playing, painting and entertaining family and friends. Mrs. Havens and her husband Carlton (“Red”) loved to travel across the United States in the family recreational vehicle. She was also active with the Girl Scouts of America during the early sixties.
She is survived by her husband, Carlton; her daughter, Carel and son-in-law Adam Hosa; and her daughter, Fredricka, and son-in-law George Hughes, all of Hampton Bays. She is also survived by five grandchildren and their spouses—Elizabeth Leishman and husband Jerry of Plainview, Debra McKay and her husband Chris of Hampton Bays, Adam Hosa III and his wife Robyn of Port Richie, Florida, Robert Hughes and his wife Nancy of Brentwood, and Jonathan Hughes and his wife Colleen of Alexandria, Virginia. Mrs. Havens was the great-grandmother of Heather, Jay, Brandi and Hayley. Her sister, Jessie O’Connell of the Riverhead Nursing Home, also survives her. Another sister, Dorothy Smith of Florida, predeceased Mrs. Havens.
After a private cremation, she will be buried in Good Ground Cemetery.

Rita D. Fox Ryan
Rita Dolores Fox Ryan, 82, of Stuart, Florida and Westhampton Beach died suddenly on Saturday, May 20, in Martin Memorial Hospital South in Stuart, Florida.
She was a native of New York City where she graduated from St. Catherine’s Hospital School of Nursing. During World War II, she worked as a phlebotomist with the Red Cross. Before retirement, she was a registered nurse and homemaker. 
In Westhampton Beach, Mrs. Ryan was a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Westhampton Country Club. In Stuart, where she resided for 21 years, she was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Stuart Yacht and Country Club. Her hobbies included golf and bridge.
Mrs. Ryan is survived by her husband of 58 years, Robert J. Ryan, M.D. of Stuart and Westhampton Beach; a son, Robert J. Ryan Jr. of College Station, Texas; four daughters, Mary Patricia Ryan of Kew Gardens, Dolores Reynolds and husband Bruce of Taghkanic, Theresa McEntee and husband Philip of Plandome, and Elizabeth Ryan Byrnes, M.D. and husband Dennis of Greenwich, Connecticut; a brother, Vincent Fox and wife Sheila of New York City; a sister, Catherine Coulton of Wichita, Kansas; and three grandchildren. Her children James Michael and Laura Marie predeceased her.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 24.
Contributions may be made to Mercy Medical Center, 1000 North Village Avenue, Rockville Centre, New York 11570.

Anna Barta
Anna T. Barta of Center Moriches died at Central Suffolk Hospital on May 24 at the age of 90.
Born October 13, 1909, in New York City, she was the daughter of Joseph Michalek and Anna Pospisil. Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Barta was employed as a dressmaker for Henri Bendel in New York. Predeceased by her husband, Charles, she is survived by two sons, Charles of Remsenburg and William of Medford. Two grandchildren and one great-grandchild also survive.
A funeral service was held at the Reginal H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead on Friday, May 26, with the Rev. John P. Fahey Jr., Pastor of the United Methodist Church of Riverhead, officiating. Interment followed on Saturday, May 27, at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Elmhurst, Queens.

Jana Hunsaker 
Jana Hunsaker died Sunday night of an aortic aneurysm at the home of a friend in Hampton Bays. 
Ms. Hunsaker, who was in her 50s, was the Director of Tennis at the National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens for 13 years. She coordinated the U.S. Open, public and private school tennis championships, and a number of tennis clinics and programs. 
Two sons, David and Doug Sachs, survive the deceased.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the R.J. O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays.

Dorothy K. Weber
Dorothy K. Weber died on Thursday, May 18.
“Dorie” was born on August 16, 1925, in New York City. She graduated from Hunter High School and Hunter College, where she earned her bachelor of science degree. Mrs. Weber earned advanced degrees in English and Library Science at the University of Connecticut and the City University of New York, respectively. Her career included classroom teaching and numerous supervisory and administrative positions in the New York City School system. Mrs. Weber also contributed to the underprivileged youth of New York.
Mrs. Weber was known as “Shane” by her husband of 47 years, William P. Weber, who survives her. Other survivors include her brother, Donald F. Kauer of Honolulu, and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to a charity of choice.

Helen Hoffman Spitzer
Helen Hoffman Spitzer died on Sunday, May 21, after residing at the Riverhead Nursing Home for two years. She celebrated her 100th birthday there with family and friends on May 1.
A long-time resident of Westhampton Beach, Mrs. Spitzer was born on April 30, 1900, in St. Paul, Minnesota. She and her twin sister, Ruth Hoffman Brooks, were artists and authors. The twins studied art at L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Their works were shown in various New York galleries. Traveling to Iraq for Ruth’s marriage to Douglas Brooks, an engineer for the British government, the sisters turned the experience into their first book in 1938, “We Married an Englishman.” After a successful book tour, their publisher encouraged them to return to Iraq where they wrote “Our Arabian Nights,” a study of harem life learned firsthand. The sisters also wrote “We Lead a Double Life,” and a children’s book entitled “Little Arab Ali.”
Helen Hoffman traveled around the world with the historian Hendrik VanLoon on the Franconia. The couple held a joint exhibit of their art in New York City. In 1942, she married Silas Spitzer, Food Editor of Holiday Magazine. Together, they made the rounds of famous restaurants and purchased a barn in the Village of Westhampton Beach where they entertained their many famous friends. 
Mrs. Spitzer’s twin sister and her husband both predeceased her.

Robert A. Gelzer
Robert A. Gelzer died suddenly at Nassau County Medical Center on May 20 at the age of 52.
Mr. Gelzer, a truck driver for the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, resided in Brentwood but was formerly of Hampton Bays. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam conflict and belonged to the American Association of Retired Persons and The Disabled American Veterans.
He is survived by his daughter, Danielle I. Gelzer of Hampton Bays; his son, Frederick Gelzer of Shirley; and his mother, Elise Stahr Lawrence of Hampton Bays; his grandson, Talen-James Gelzer; his brothers, David Gelzer of Ohio, Christopher Lawrence of Hampton Bays, and Henry Lawrence Gelzer of Maine; and his sisters, Brenda Gelzer-Hill of Hampton Bays and Linda Heartly Scott of Pennsylvania. 
Reverend Madden, Interim Minister of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Hampton Bays, conducted services at the J. Ronald Scott Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 24. 
Burial followed at Calverton National Cemetery.


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