MARYLAND – Patrick F. “Tex” Gorden, Jr., who served for many years as a locomotive engineer for The Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley Railroad, passed away early Tuesday morning, December 13, 2022, at Strong Memorial Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center, following a valiant battle with cancer. He was 74.
Born December 2, 1948, at home on South Delaware Street in the Village of Stamford, Tex – as he was known by so many – was the son of Patrick F. and Anna (Kardokas) Gorden.
A graduate of St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Brooklyn, Tex later attended Texas Tech University and earned a bachelor’s degree in metallurgy and aeronautics.
Robert O. Schorf selling his sunflowers back in August of 2018 in Milford. (Jim Kevlin/AllOtsego.com)
MILFORD – Robert O. Schorf, know as “Bob” to many was a long-time resident of Milford and passed away unexpectedly Sunday afternoon, February 6, 2022, at his home in Milford. He was 74.
Raised on Long Island, he was born January 26, 1948, in Port Jefferson the son of Oscar and Elizabeth Schorf. After graduating from Newfield High School in Centereach, he attended Suffolk County Community College.
Bob was a member of the New Village Congregational Church of Lake Grove and on January 27, 1968, Bob and Donna Varney were united in marriage. They resided on Long Island until moving to Milford in 1973.
Bob was employed at Stony Brook University and at SUNY Oneonta as a Technical Specialist in the Instructional Resources Center (IRC). In his retirement he was active in the community, serving as Town Councilman and as chairman of the Board of Assessment Review for the Town of Milford.
Bob will be remembered for always helping someone in need and putting others first.
Michael A. Bettiol, 64, of Binghamton, NY, and originally from Oneonta, NY, passed away peacefully at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, NY, on Sunday, August 8, 2021, due to unexpected complications from a very courageous, 5 year battle with metastatic colon cancer.
Mike was born in Sidney, NY on June 6, 1957, moving to Oneonta, NY at an early age.
He graduated from Oneonta High School, Class of 1975.
He worked at Custom Electronics and Medi-Coach in Oneonta before starting his dream job as a locomotive engineer with several northeast railroads.
Mike had a lifelong love of railroads, and was a founding member of the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society in 1982, and served in several positions, including the organization’s 2nd president. Mike was also a local representative to the National Railway Historical Society, and served in several posts at the National level. He traveled extensively across America, most notably with good friends Millie & Bruce Hodges, in pursuit of new railroad adventures, and was an avid photographer of all things railroad.
For the first time in 20 years, the East Main Street (Route 166) railroad crossing in the Village of Milford is being rebuilt, Mayor Brian Pokorny announced. State DOT crews have installed temporary traffic signals while the work is underway, reducing traffic to one lane. Pokorny credited Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society President Bruce Hodges (RR President), Region 9 DOT officials, and all the railroad volunteers to make this well-overdue project come to fruition. (Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com)
Bruce Hodges, president, Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society and founder Jim Loudon, invite you to join two days of fun celebrating Otsego County’s railroad history. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
MILFORD – The Cooperstown-Charlotte Valley Railroad celebrates 150 years with two days of train rides, talks, ice cream, music and more Saturday – Sunday, July 13-14.
9 -11 a.m. Special Postal Cancellation by Milford Postmaster Judy Kessler @ Milford Depot
10 – 11:30 a.m.: Steam powered Train Ride W. Big Hook Demo to Milepost 6 ($30/adult, $28/seniors, $25/kids, under 3 free)
10 a.m. – Noon: Dixieland Band performs (tent in front of Milford Depot)
