COOPERSTOWN – Martha A. Quinn, 105, a former resident of Eastchester who had made her home in Cooperstown for the past 26 years, passed away early Sunday morning, January 19, 2020, in Hartwick at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Peggy Quinn, who were at her bedside.
Born October 29, 1914, in Garfield, New Jersey, Martha was the last surviving sibling of 10 children of Harry and Anna née Cap Palubniak.
Histories and memoirs of the Vietnam War, including Robert McNamara’s apologia, “In Retrospect” (1996), are among the volumes lining retired OHS principal Bud Pirone’s Otsego Street study in 2014. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.org)
ONEONTA – William R. “Bud” Pirone, 81, passed away on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, at Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta.
A former history teacher at Oneonta High School, he later became principal. He also helped found the Oneonta Alumni Association and coached tennis.
Arrangements are pending with the Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.
SPRINGFIELD CENTER – Janice McCredy Maine, 95, who ran a family grocery store and a beauty shop, died Sunday, January 5, 2020, at White Manor in Shelby.
Born July 15, 1924, in Springfield Center, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Mary Frances Ayers McCredy. She attended Malinello School of Beauty in Albany and later owned and operated McCredy Sisters Beauty Shop in Springfield Center, along with her sister Dorothy.
She also owned and operated McCredy’s Grocery, a family business, along with her husband Clyde. She gave piano lessons for over 40 years, and hosted many recitals in Springfield Center.
ONEONTA – Lorana R. Wong, 89, a nurse at Fox Hospital for nearly two decades, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2020 at Chestnut Park Rehab and Nursing in Oneonta.
She was born on Sept. 22, 1930 in Central Islip, Long Island, the daughter of Winthrop and Ruth (Fleming) Reid. She married Dr. Swee Chee Wong on Aug. 4, 1959, in Geneseo. He predeceased her on March 4, 2012.
Moving to Oneonta in 1971, Lorana was employed for 18 years as an LPN at Fox Hospital. She was very active in the Fox Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.
ONEONTA – Fredrick L. Hall Sr., 86, who founded the F L Hall and Son roofing business, passed away peacefully on January 5, 2020 at AO Fox Hospital in Oneonta, NY. He was surrounded by his family.
Fred was born July 1, 1933 in Westford, the oldest son of Oliver (Pete) Hall and Dorothy (Norton) Hall. He attended school in Norwich and Oneonta.
ONEONTA – Deacon Thomas P. O’Connell, 84, who served at churches in Oneonta and Cooperstown, died Jan 4, 2020 at Bassett Hospital, in Cooperstown.
He was born on December 23, 1935 in Astoria, the son of Michael and Lillian (West) O’Connell.
After graduating from St. John’s University 1960, and Siena College (Masters) 1963, he taught at Christian Brothers Academy (1960-1963), Wappingers Central School (1963-1970), and SUNY Delhi (1970-1995). At Delhi he taught English and Philosophy and in 1977 received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. From 1996-2000 he taught Theology and was the department chair at Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. He also served on the Board of Education for the Delaware Academy Central School District.
MORRIS – Bertha Irene Smith, 97, who opened a home daycare and served as a foster mother, passed away at her home in Morris on November 26, 2019. During her last days she had the comfort and support of her loving family at her side.
Bertha was the daughter of Herman and Genieve Comino, of Town of Maryland. She married Leroy Smith, also of Maryland, on March 29, 1942. Together they had eight children.
MARYLAND – Linda L. (Sutton) Briggs, 62, passed away on November 22, 2019 at Albany Veteran’s Medical Center.
She was born September 5, 1957 in Oneonta, the daughter of Robert and Carol (Munson) Sutton.
Linda graduated from Andrew S. Draper Central School in Schenevus. She served in the United States Army, where she met the father of her 3 children, Luis Lopez.
Linda dedicated her life in helping others. She sacrificed much, always putting the needs of her children and others above her own. She owned and operated a daycare in her home for 30 years, touching the lives of numerous children including her three adopted sons.
WEST WINFIELD – Jo Anne (nee Dauchy) Deller, 75, quietly entered Paradise on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019 from her home.
Jo Anne was born in Sidney on June 23, 1944, the daughter of Walton T. and Evelyn M. (nee Mattison) Dauchy. She grew up in Burlington Flats, NY where she enjoyed exploring the woods and creek, riding horses at her grandparents, and playing with the neighborhood kids. Jo Anne loved traveling and camping around the country with her parents and brothers. After high school, and amongst other endeavors, Jo Anne lived in Oneonta and worked at the State University College as a secretary before transitioning into helping to start the Data Processing Department on main frame computers.
COOPERSTOWN – Lora Ellen Kanzler, 72, an area native who worked for the county for nearly four decades, passed away on Nov. 10, 2019 at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida following a brief illness.
She was born on Nov. 6, 1947 to Thomas William Pollette and Pearl Grace Roberts Pollette in Cooperstown, New York.
Lora graduated Cherry Valley Central School and was employed by Otsego County for 37 years before her retirement.
RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Betty Jo Chase, 69, a native of Florida who served for many years as a nurse’s aide at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, passed away following a brief illness Saturday afternoon, Oct. 26, 2019, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
Born Jan. 29, 1950, in Milton, Fla., Betty was one of nine children of Clarence and Leona (Mack) Richardson. Raised in Santa Rosa County, Fla., she graduated from Milton High School and then attended nursing school in Pensacola.
COOPERSTOWN – Dale R. Clinton, 61, a native of Cooperstown who helped restore local historic sites including Hyde Hall, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, Oct. 13, surrounded by, “his people.”
Dale was born April 9, 1958, at Bassett Hospital, the son of the late Douglas and Patricia Clinton. He was tough and overcame many health issues, living life to the fullest.
After attending Cooperstown Central School, Dale worked as a contractor with his father’s restoration firm and helped with efforts to restore and preserve many historic sites, including Hyde Hall. Through the years he also worked for the Village of Cooperstown and Leatherstocking Storage, and shared his talents on many projects for family and friends.
ONEONTA – Eugene Lissandrello, 95, an artist whose work was shown at CANO, peacefully died of old age on Sept. 30, 2019, at Fox Nursing Home.
Eugene was born to Italian immigrant parents, Giorgio and Marietta Lissandrello, of Ragusa, Sicily, in Brooklyn, in 1924.
Artist, teacher, and World War II veteran, Gene’s first opportunity to discover his love for art was through free classes offered by the WPA near his home in Bensonhurst. Though accepted at the Cooper Union School of Art, with free admission, he was drafted into the US Army at 19 years of age. His ordnance unit supported the Normandy invasion in 1944. Following the war, he graduated from the Pratt Institute of Art on the G.I. Bill in ’49. He met his true love, Mary Colleen Moore, of Villisca, Iowa, in their painting class while pursuing his MFA at Columbia University, in 1951. Their love would abide for 69 years to this day.
WATERVILLE – Val Frank Oliver, 67, a Vietnam veteranpassed away peacefully after an extended illness on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019 in Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown. He had the support and comfort of his loving family at his side.
He was one of 22 children. He was born on Feb. 14, 1952 in Ilion, son of the late Frank E. and Ruth McCumber Oliver. He was raised and educated in Brookfield. He first worked on his family’s farm.
COOPERSTOWN – Walter W. Clapper, Jr., 48, an auto mechanic and car race enthusiast, passed away Aug. 28, 2019, at Wilson Medical Center, Johnson City, after an extended illness.
He was born July 19, 1971, in Cooperstown, the son of Walter W. Clapper, Sr. and Thelma (Brannen) Clapper.
Walter was an auto mechanic, working at Value Auto in Oneonta. He could fix just about anything. He enjoyed car races, hunting and spending time with his children.
