In Memoriam Alexander J. Shields, 86 1936-2023 RICHFIELD SPRINGS—Alexander J. Shields, 86, passed away on January 9, 2023 at home with his loving wife by his side.He was born in Oneonta on October 2, 1936. Alex is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Barbara A. Shields; a daughter, Ursula (Ralph) Thompson of Canandaigua, and their three children and four great-grandchildren; sons Gregory of Albany and Christopher of Washington, D.C.; stepchildren Harvey (Evonne) Elliott of Oak Hall, Virginia and…
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In Memoriam Alan J. Curran, 73 August 21, 1949 – January 8, 2023 AFTON—Alan James Curran, 73, passed away on January 8, 2023, in Afton, New York, with his family and loving dog, Max, by his side. Born on August 21, 1949 in Youngstown, Ohio, Alan was the son of James Leroy and Marilouise (Hill) Curran. He joined the United States Air Force in 1969, where he worked as a jet aircraft mechanic. He served with honor and distinction until…
In Memoriam Sharon W. Sprague, 90 March 25, 1932 – December 17, 2022 WEST WINFIELD – Sharon W. Sprague, 90, of West Winfield, NY passed away at home on Saturday December 17, 2022. Sharon was born on March 25, 1932 in Walton, NY the son of the late Walter A. and Maude E Borden Sprague. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Nellie in 2015, sisters Lu Anne Benjamin and Ellen Stephens, a son Joseph Sprague,…
In Memoriam Patrick F. “Tex” Gorden, Jr., 74 December 2, 1948 – December 13, 2022 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…
Life Sketches by Terry Berkson The Ritz Crossing In late November of 1965 my dad, in his yellow taxi cab, ferried me and my duffle bag down to the Brooklyn Army Terminal where I would board the USS Darby bound for Bremerhaven, Germany. Several other soldiers who had also gone to Preventive Medicine School were among the 1,400 troops that were about to cross the Atlantic. The water was calm for the first few days but, in spite of the…
In Memoriam Frank M . Van Auken, 102 May 9, 1920 – November 10, 2022 Frank M. Van Auken, 102, passed away peacefully at Woodside Hall in Cooperstown, NY, on November 10, 2022, where he had lived since February 2018. Frank was born May 9, 1920, at his family home on Fassett Rd. in East Springfield, NY. He was the son of Olen Van Auken and Jennie Marks Van Auken. After graduating from East Springfield School, Frank enlisted in the…
New York State Recognizes Otsego County Volunteerism By TED MEBUST Otsego County residents Sheila Serbay and Neil Riddell were recognized by New York State’s Office for the Aging at a celebration of Older New Yorkers’ Day on November 4. The pair, along with 92 others from around the state, received honors for their volunteerism and service to older adults in their communities. “These are two individuals who unselfishly give up their time, resources, and skills in order to make someone…
In Memoriam Philip L. Washburn, Esq., 81 November 14, 1940 – October 22, 2022 COOPERSTOWN – Philip L. Washburn, Esq., a long-time resident of Cooperstown and well-respected attorney, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, October 22, 2022, at HarborChase of Prince William Commons in Woodbridge, Virginia, with family at his side. He was 81. Born November 14, 1940, in Gouverneur, Phil was a son of Leonard Bacon Washburn and Marguerite (Halpin) Washburn. After graduating from Gouverneur High School in 1958, Phil…
In Memoriam Vincent J. Cronin Jr., 87 Veteran, Coach & Gentleman Farmer HARTWICK, NY – Vincent Joseph Cronin, Jr., 87, formerly of South Salem, NY, passed at home on October 16, 2022, surrounded by his loving family and faithful four-legged companion, Lila. Born January 19, 1935 and raised in Yonkers NY to Vincent J. Cronin Sr. and Alice Alleman Cronin, he graduated from Roosevelt High School where his love of all NY sports teams was cemented beginning with the Brooklyn…
Retired Local Navy Pilot Makes Return Trip to Tailhook By Tara Barnwell In 1991, the infamous Tailhook convention scandal took place. “There was some harassment of female pilots at that convention in Las Vegas,” said Dave Rees, Milford resident, business owner and former Navy pilot. “The whole thing got turned upside down. A lot of people didn’t get promoted because of that convention. I was not in attendance at the time.” Since then, things have changed for the better at…
