REISS, Nancy Ambler (70), THS Class of 1960, passed away on February 21, at her home in Huguenot, Staten Island.  Mrs. Reiss was a retired bank teller and bookkeeper.  As a young adult, Mrs. Reiss moved to Chula Vista, California and lived there for five years.   She then returned to Staten Island, settling in Westerleigh, and later moved to Annadale, and then Huguenot.   Mrs. Reiss worked as a bank teller for Citibank and as a bookkeeper for Villa Marin GMC, the car dealership located on Staten Island.  She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and loved swimming and spending time on the beach.  Mrs. Reiss especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.  She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Great Kills,  Mrs. Reiss is survived by her sons Steven Reiss and Billy Nestved.  She is also survived by her brother Jack Ambler and two grandchildren. 

FILIMON, NICHOLAS (86), THS Class of 1944, passed away on February 20, at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.  Mr. Filimon was a native islander and lifelong resident of Tottenville.  He was a founding member of the South Shore Band and while at THS was a member of the high school band.  Mr. Filimon was believed to be the oldest living member of the THS band.  Today, the THS band can be seen marching along Forest Avenue in our Staten Island St. Patrick's Day and Memorial Day parades.  Our school colors of purple and white  unfurl even more gloriously today accompanied by the band's wonderful music.   Mr. Filimon was in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1944-1947,  He served as Quartermaster, and was stationed in Samson, NY, Bainbridge, Maryland, and The Philippines.   Mr. Filimon graduated from Wagner College with a degree in chemistry and worked as a chemist for National Lead in Perth Amboy for ten years and then worked for PSE&G until he retired on disability in the 1980's.  Mr. Filimon was a Boy Scout leader for Troop and Cub pack 46 for 50 years.  He also was a member of the South Baptist Church in Tottenville.  Mr. Filimon enjoyed listening to music and loved watching old Western movies on television.  He also was an animal lover.   Mr. Filimon is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janice (Petersen), his son, Michael J., his daughters, Katherine A. Corbone, Elizabeth A. Dimino, and Jane Kurabieski.  Mr. Filimon's son, Peter, died in 1970.  Additional survivors are his 11 grandchildren and three great-granchildren.    

2012

BAUR, JOHN BAPTIST (69), THS Class of 1960, and beloved contributor to our Trumpet, passed away Tuesday, July 10th, 2012.

John was a lifelong resident of Bay Terrace; some of our Trumpet staff members have happy memories of visiting John and sharing a meal (preferably Chinese food), while sitting outside on his back deck and discussing all things wonderful in life.  John's passion for life and for his family, his friends, and his fellow Trumpet writers and readers was truly memorable.  His no-nonsense approach to life and down-to-earth advice was a welcome offer to family and friends -- and there was always a dose of humor thrown in with the practical information. 

After graduating from THS where he played in the marching band, John attended Columbia University in Manhattan and then served in the United States Army from 1962-1963.  He worked for the former Chemical Bank in Manhattan as a young man and then worked as an insurance salesman for Metropolitan Life on the island in Great Kills.  Later on John's love for sales led him to become a Good Humor Ice Cream distributor; a job he enjoyed until he retired about 15 years ago.   

John was one of the early members of our Trumpet family and over the years wrote many lovely poems -- all with accompanying graphics.  Our readers can enjoy John's Trumpet contributions in his,   "A Collection of Works ".  John loved working on our Trumpet, and wrote a most beautiful remembrance for one of our staff, Lynn Abrahamsen Turkus, when she passed away on April 14, 2006.  John is survived by his three brothers, William, James and Thomas.  John's final generous gift to all of us was to donate his body to Cornell University for medical research. 

THOMASSEN, PRISCILLA (LUNDE) (70), THS Class of 1959, passed away on April 30, 2012.  Mrs. Thomassen graduated from THS in 1959 and then went to the State University of New York in Oneonta, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education.  Mrs. Thomassen was a lifelong resident of Eltingville and as a fourth-grade teacher she worked at PS 42 and then PS 55, both of which are in Eltingville.  Mrs. Thomassen taught elementary school for seven years, and then turned her time and attention to raising her family and to her artwork.  Mrs. Thomassen's art celebrated her Norwegian heritage and was shared with her family and friends.  She especially enjoyed Norwegian folk art painting.   Mrs. Thomassen was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Willowbrook, and she also belonged to the Sons of Norway, Nansen Lodge, in Travis.  She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Charles, her three sons, Karl, Peter, and Kenneth, and her five beloved grandchildren.  Mrs. Thomassen is also survived by her three brothers, Bruce, Stewart, and Steven, and her sister, Paula Eggleston.  

ROGERS, JAMES "JIMMY" (70), THS Class of 1959, passed away at home, peacefully, after battling brain cancer.  Mr. Rogers lived in New Jersey with his wife, Lois.  The wake for Mr. Rogers will be held at the Freeman Funeral Home, Monday, April 16, 2012, and Tuesday, April 17, 2012.  The Freeman Funeral Home is located on Route 9 in Manalapan, New Jersey.

NICOSIA, CATHERINE (PEROSI) (45), THS Class of 1986, passed away on April 14, 2012 in Staten Island University Hospital from complications of kidney failure.  Mrs. Nicosia was born in Petersburg, Virginia and brought to Staten Island as an infant.  She grew up in Great Kills and as an adult settled in New Dorp Beach in 2001.  Mrs. Nicosia was very involved in her daughters' education and was a past president of the PTA of PS 8 in Great Kills, and at New Dorp High School and was a Girl Scout troop leader at PS 8.  She was a parishioner at Holy Child RC Church in Eltingville where she taught CCD classes.   Mrs. Nicosia is survived by her husband of 19 years, Michael Nicosia, her daughters Katie and Olivia, and her brother, Craig Pelosi.

RYAN, PATRICK JOSEPH (46), THS Class of 1987, passed away on April 9, 2012, due to complications from diabetes.  Mr. Ryan was a native islander and grew up in Great Kills.  While at Tottenville High School he was a member of the All City Band and was listed in "Who's Who in American High Schools".  After graduating from Tottenville High School, he attended St. John's University, Grymes Hill, Staten Island. He moved to Richmond, Virginia, as an adult and later settled in Highlands, New Jersey.   Mr. Ryan was a cook at the Marina Cafe in Great Kills and later at Adobe Blues restaurant in West New Brighton.  He was also a long-term manager at the NDL Transportation Company, Jersey City, New Jersey.   Mr. Ryan enjoyed traveling to Las Vegas Nevada and loved a good cup of coffee - especially if he could find the "perfect" New York bagel of his youth to go along with that coffee.  He also enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews.  Mr. Ryan is survived by his sisters, Eileen Woodbury,  Tara Ryan Killeen, and Shannon Ryan Six, and his brother, Kevin.

FORTUNATO, ANTHONY (21), THS Class of 2009, passed away at home in Eltingville, on March 17, 2012.  Mr. Fortunato was a college student at the time of his death and also had been working for the Casey Funeral Home in Castleton Corners as a pallbearer for the past two years prior to his death.  Mr. Fortunato loved playing baseball and played on teams in the Great Kills Little League, and at Tottenville High School and the College of Staten Island.  He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, and his girlfriend, Angelina Taddeo and loved going to big, family gatherings with aunts, uncles and cousins.  Mr. Fortunato's family is truly heartbroken over his untimely death at the age of only 21.   He is survived by his parents, Ralph Jr. and Teresa Mariano Fortunato, his brothers Ralph III and Daniel, and his maternal grandmother, Grace Mariano.

STEINHILBER, ROSEMARIE (84), THS Class of 1945, passed away on January 18, 2012 in Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.  Mrs. Steinhilber was born in Manhattan and came to Staten Island when she was 12 years old.  She lived at the former Mount Loretto school for the next five years and graduated from Tottenville High School.  Mrs. Steinhilber then moved to Stapleton and later settled in Tompkinsville where she lived for the next 50 years  -- and she was living there at the time of her death.  Mrs. Steinhilber worked as an assistant librarian for Salomon Brothers in Manhattan, retiring in 1989.  She was a member of the Forever Young Senior Center in St. George and enjoyed traveling and especially enjoyed taking cruises.  Mrs. Steinhilber's husband, Helmuth, died in 2006 and her daughter, Lynn Marie Steinhilber, passed away in 1963.  She is survived by her sons, Robert, James and Edward, her sister, Sheila Kelly, and three grandchildren.

2011

WALTER, JAMES, (66), THS Class of 1965, passed away on November 18, 2011, in a local hospital in Rossville, Georgia.  Mr. Walter had re-located to Tampa, Florida, many years ago and in 1992 he moved to Rossville, Georgia.  Mr. Walter was a United States Navy veteran, having served in the Vietnam War and was a member of the VFW Post 3679 and the American Legion in Tampa, Florida.  He had worked for Auto Zone for 15 years, retiring in 2007.  Mr. Walter is survived by his wife, Inez Walter, of Tampa, Florida, sons Jamey Walter of Tampa, Florida, and David Rabon of Pensacola, Florida, daughters Linda Rose of Rossville, Sarah Parker of Kingston, Tennessee, and Denese Forrkio of Maryland.  He is also survived by his brother, Les Walter, thirteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

SULLIVAN, LAWRENCE, (78), THS Class of 1951, passed away on November 17, 2011, following massive complications after surgery at Staten Island University Hospital.  Mr. Sullivan was born on Staten Island and was a lifelong islander.  He had lived in Great Kills for over 40 years with his wife, Norma (Bugge), where they raised their children, now Kathy Sullivan Travers of West Brighton and Brian Sullivan of Tottenville.   Mr. Sullivan was pre-deceased by his various siblings, including his sister, Joan Sullivan Tenny, in 2010 and is survived by one remaining sister, Patricia Sullivan Meldrum (THS 1946), of Melbourne, Florida and Laconia, New Hampshire.  Mr. Sullivan is also survived by his four beautiful grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, including his late sister Joan's children, Patricia Reischour, Susan Carson, Barbara Schierenbeck, William Reischour and Lori Muldoon.  Mr. Sullivan served in the US Army during the Korean War and was sent to Germany.  He became a wire lather and worked in the construction industry during his entire working life.  He was an adventurous, fun-loving person, and enjoyed many trips to Bermuda where he went scuba-diving, and enjoyed motor-cycling and playing softball.  He was an enthusiastic boat owner for many years and was a lifelong member of the Staten Island Yacht Club of Great Kills.

BALLSCHMIEDER,  LINDA (MacGREGOR), (69), THS Class of 1959, passed away on November 10, 2011.  Mrs. Ballschmieder had lived in Huguenot since 1978 after growing up in Great Kills.  She had worked for the former Manufacturers Hanover Trust in Manhattan for many years.  Mrs. Ballschmieder is survived by her four sons, Scott, Gregg, Jeffrey and Brett, her daughter, Gerilyn Cafferata, her sister, Marilyn Bossert and five grandchildren.

SCHIANO, MICHAEL F. (52), THS Class of 1977, passed away on October 8, 2011, at home in Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York. Mr. Schiano was born in Brooklyn, New York and was brought to Eltingville as a child where he grew up and then lived as a young adult.  Mr. Schiano worked for the Depository Trust Company, the organization which is THE record-keeper and institutional standard for all securities trading and settlement among Wall Street brokers and dealers and all institutions.  He enjoyed watching Yankees and Jets games and taking his children to Manhattan on outings in his spare time.  Mr. Schiano also enjoyed taking his dog, Bandit, for long walks.  He is survived by his wife of 26 years, the former Cathy Anne Filipowicz, his son Robert, his daughter, Danielle, his parents, Francis and Theresa, and his sisters, Carol Averbach and Linda Cristiano. 

ACKERMAN, MITCHELL (52), THS Class of 1977, passed away on September 30, 2011, in Staten Island University Hospital.  Mr. Ackerman had lived in Great Kills for most of his life.  After graduation from THS he attended the University of Miami and later on the College of Staten Island in Willowbrook.  Mr. Ackerman worked as a traffic manager in the apparel industry, retiring in 2008.  After retirement he worked as a driver for handicapped-accessible transportation.  Mr. Ackerman enjoyed classic rock music and working on electronics projects.  He is survived by his sister, Rhonda Ackerman and his mother, Gail Ackerman.

STINEMIRE, ROBERT (64), THS Class of 1964, passed away on June 14, 2011, at home in Stanford, Connecticut.  Mr. Stinemire was born in New Brighton, and moved with his family to Huguenot in 1948 then to Great Kills in 1956.   In 1970 Mr. Stinemire moved to Mariners Harbor and in 1986 he re-located to Durham, North Carolina and in 1995 he settled in Stanford, Connecticut.  A graduate of Tarkio College in Missouri, Mr. Stinemire worked in human resources department of Price, Waterhouse and Coopers as a property manager.  While living on Staten Island, Mr. Stinemire was a parishioner at Our Savior Lutheran Church, located at the corner of Forest and Bard Avenues in West Brighton.   Mr. Stinemire played Little League baseball for the Richmond Farms Babe Ruth League, and as an adult enjoyed watching baseball and learning about the history of the sport.  Survivors include his wife of 11 years Marlis Walther, his son Michael ,and daughter Christine Stinemire, his father and stepmother, Warren and Scottie Stinemire, his sister, Barbara Lidell, and his former wives, Karen Anderson and Patricia Kiernan. 

DENEFF, SUSAN (51), THS Class of 1978, passed away on June 29, 2011, at Staten Island University Hospital, South, in Prince's Bay, Staten Island.  Ms. Deneff had lived most of her entire life in Prince's Bay, having been brought there as a child.  She was born in Rome, New York.  Ms. Deneff received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education from St. John's University, Gryme's Hill.  She had attended Our Lady Star of the Sea grammar school as a child and became a lector there as an adult.  Ms. Deneff also led fund raising efforts to raise money to build a new sanctuary at OLSS, located in Huguenot.   For ten years Ms. Deneff was the Volunteer Coordinator for University Hospice, at Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze.  She retired from that position in 2006.  Ms. Deneff was a member of the Order of Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.  She also loved visiting Disney World in Orlando, Florida.  Ms. Deneff is survived by her father, John Stack, two brothers, Daniela and Michael Deneff, a sister, Roxanne Deneff-Brunsman, and her longtime companion, Don Ekstrand.

CAMPBELL, JOHN HALL (57), THS Class of 1971, passed away on January 25, 2011.  Mr. Campbell was a lifelong islander; he was born in Tottenville, and lived in various neighborhoods on the island during his life.   In 2006 he settled in Mariners Harbor.   Mr. Campbell joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Tottenville High School in 1971.  He served in 1972 and 1973 at Andrews Air force Base in Maryland.  He then served in the Reserves after completing his active duty.  Mr. Campbell enjoyed playing the guitar and the tuba. He was a member of the South Shore Band for many years, playing the tuba while marching in local parades and at the band's Christmas Concert as well as other annual concerts.  Mr. Campbell also had interests in physical world around us; he enjoyed being outdoors and taking long hikes with his daughters on the Pacific Coast, and he had an avid interest in astronomy.  Mr. Campbell was a true animal lover and rescued and fostered many stray animals on Staten Island over the years.  He had a  particular love for cats and rescued many homeless cats over the years.  Mr. Campbell was also a sports fan and cheered the Mets baseball team on for many years.   He also coached for the South Shore Little League on the island during the 1980's.  Mr. Campbell is survived by his daughters Annemarie Campbell, Jaclyn Campbell Nix, Christine Campbell, Katherine (Katie) Campbell, and his stepdaughters Christine Krzewinski Anderson, and Pamela Krzewinski.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren.

YALANGO JOAN REPETTI, THS Class of 1970, passed away in February 2011.

2010

HOGAN, PATRICIA ANNE (DONNELLY), THS Class of 1960, passed away on December 16, 2010 in Carroll County Hospital, Westminster, Maryland. 

SCALOGNA, SKYE (21), THS Class of 2007, died tragically in a crash on I95 in St. Lucie County, Florida, on Friday night, November 12, 2010.  Ms. Scalogna was driving with her cousin, Jesse Gibbs, to her new apartment. Per various published reports and internet postings, Ms. Scalogna was maintaining appropriate speed limits when she veered slightly, tried to correct, and then veered off the highway and crashed.

GIBBS, JESSE, (19), THS Class of 2008, died tragically in a crash on I95 in a vehicle driven by his cousin, Skye Scologna, on Friday night, November 12, 2010.

JIMPIE, CHARLES W., THS Class of 1970, passed away on November 1, 2010, in Florence, South Carolina.  Survivors include his wife, Sharon Jimpie.

ZOOLE, KATHERINE, (97), passed away on October 9, 2010, in Spartanburg, South Carolina.  Mrs. Zoole is the beloved mother of Nancy Zoole Kenny, THS Class of 1963, and Jonathon Zoole.  Mrs. Zoole was the widow of Dr. Jonathon Zoole, a family physician who practiced in Annadale for many years during the 1950's and 1960's and early 1960's. 

TENNY, JOAN, (78), (SULLIVAN), THS Class of 1950, passed away tragically on July 12, 2010, at 11:25PM in the Cardio-Thoracic Unit at The Staten Island University Hospital following a cascade of devastating post-operative complications after successful mitral valve replacement surgery at SIUH on June 10, 2010.  Mrs. Tenny had been placed in a medically-induced coma on Tuesday, July 6th, 2010, while the medical professionals made heroic attempts to save her life.  Mrs. Tenny was surrounded by her entire family including her husband, Sonny, her 11 surviving children and 20 grandchildren when she died.  Survivors include her beloved husband, Sonny Tenny of Forked River, NJ, her children, Patricia Joan Reischour, THS Class of 1969, Susan Carson, THS Class of 1972, Barbara Schierenbeck, THS Class of 1974, William Reischour, THS Class of 1977, Lori Muldoon, THS Class of 1980, Kathy Tenny Borys, Georgia Tenny, Nancy Tenny Nacion, Michael Tenny, Kelly Tenny, and Cindy Tenny Hayward.  She was pre-deceased by her son, Frederick Joseph Reischour, Jr., who died in 1958.  Mrs. Tenny's first marriage to Frederick Joseph Reischour ended in divorce after 24 years.  Mr. Reischour passed away in 1997.  Mrs. Tenny is also survived by her sister, Patricia Meldrum, THS Class of 1946, and her brother, Lawrence Sullivan, THS Class of 1951.  Mrs. Tenny was born and raised on Staten Island and spent most of her life in Huguenot where she grew up and later raised her own children across the street from her childhood home.  Her family is heart-broken over her unexpected and tragic death.  A celebration of life was held for Mrs. Tenny at the Island Beach State Park on Saturday, September 2, 2010 on a gorgeous sunset-filled beach.  Her loving family remembered her and her husband let her ashes go in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  Mrs. Tenny's family plans to hold this beach celebration of life in her memory every year during the summer. 

BRISTOW, LOUISE, THS Class of 1960, passed away on June 28, 2010, in Davenport, Iowa.

LOTTERHOS, WILLIAM (67), THS Class of 1959, passed away on June 16, 2010 in Geneva, New York.

KRAEMER, MERL, (68), THS Class of 1960, passed away on June 8, 2010.

DANSER, KAREN MARIE (BRUUN), (59), passed away on March 2, 2010 in Columbia St. Mary Hospital Ozaukee, Mequon, Wisconsin.  Mrs. Danser was a member of the THS Class of 1969 for most of her high school career, but transferred to Curtis High School in the middle of her senior year to be closer to Manhattan.  While at THS, Mrs. Danser was a cheerleader appearing in the familiar purple, flare-skirted uniform at many THS basketball games and other school functions.  Mrs. Danser began working as a photography model as a senior in high school, which required her traveling to the city.  She won the "Miss Staten Island" scholarship pageant in 1968 and later attended Wagner College on Grymes Hill.  Mrs. Danser continued her modeling career for many years, working for some time for The Ford Agency, and appearing in many well-known magazines including, Teen, American Girl, Young Miss, and Mademoiselle, and in retail catalogs including J.C. Penney's and Sears.  She also was the woman in the elegant billboard and magazine advertisements for Black Velvet Whiskey.  Mrs. Danser was recently recognized as one of the top ten models of the 1960's and 1970's.  Born in Seattle, Washington, Mrs. Danser was brought to West Brighton as a young child.  She lived there and in Dorgan Hills, and then moved to Annadale where her family settled in the early 1960's.   Mrs. Danser is survived by her husband, James Danser, son, Peter B. Near, her daughters, Anna Near Payne and Jaime Danser, and her parents Joanne and Stanley Bruun.  She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Rundlet, her brother, Brent Bruun, her first husband, Peter Near, and one granchild.

DANEY, GEORGE (66), THS Class of 1960, passed away on February 11, 2010.  Mr. Daney was born and raised on Staten Island and moved to Perth Amboy when he married Mickey Mills.  In 2005 he and his wife moved to Toms River, New Jersey.  Mr. Daney was employed as a legal clerk for the firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz for several years.  He is survived by his wife, Mickey, his son, George Daney Jr. of East Stroudsburg, PA, his brother, James Daney of Lakehurst and John Daney of Florida.

BROWN, TONI (DEVITO) (49), THS Class of 1978, passed away on January 24, 2010 after a long battle with breast cancer.  Mrs. Brown was born in Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island as a teen-agers.  She lived in Huguenot at the time of her death.  Mrs. Brown had worked as a receptionist for a pharmaceutical company for many years and retired two years ago.  She was a volunteer for the Tottenville High School Marching Band, where her two daughters went to school and she also participated in several breast cancer awareness walks.  Mrs. Brown is survived by her husband of 29 years, Howard, her twp daughters, Gina and Alyssa Brown, her mother, Teresa DeVito, and her sister, Eleanora Valvo.  

2009

ARCHER, ELLEN (JOHANSEN), (67), THS Class of 1960, passed away on December 25, 2009, at Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, where she had lived for the past two years.   Mrs. Archer was born in Brooklyn and moved to Great Kills as a young child.  She grew up in that community, graduating from THS and going on to obtain a bachelor's degree from Wagner College, Grymes Hill and a master's degree from the Clara Maas School of Nursing in Belleville, NJ.  Mrs. Archer worked for the Visiting Nurse Association on Staten Island for several years and then as an operating room nurse at Staten Island University Hospital for ten years.  She retired in 1990.  Mrs. Archers and her husband, William, moved to Todt Hill as young adults and lived in that area for more than 30 years.  More recently, Mrs. Archer moved to Richmond and lived there before becoming ill and entering Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.  Her husband of 30 years, William, passed away in 2005.  She is survived by her son, William, her brother, Louis Johansen, and five grandchildren.

BRAWER, JANINE (17), THS CLASS OF 2010, passed away on November 19, 2009, following a tragic accident outside the school on November 13, 2009.  Ms. Brawer was leaving Tottenville High School, crossing Luten Avenue after an early dismissal from THS when she was struck by a car driven by another Tottenville High School student.  THAT car had stopped to allow Ms. Brawer to cross Luten Avenue.  Another car struck the first vehicle in the rear and the impact pushed the first car forward, striking Ms. Brawer.  Ms. Brawer was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital.  She never regained consciousness and died of her injuries on November 19, 2009.  Thus far no charges have been filed against either driver.  Both drivers were also students at Tottenville High School.  Ms. Brawer was involved in the student-written musical, Sing!.  All three performances of the musical, which took place on the weekend following her death, were dedicated to her memory.  Ms. Brawer was laid to rest in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood, Staten Island, New York.  She is survived by her parents, Robin and Sandy Brawer, and her two brothers.

MACCONNELL, CHRISTOPHER JAMES (27), beloved oldest son of Rory (THS 1981) and Jennifer (THS 1982) MacConnell, passed away on October 11, 2009.  Chris was involved in a fatal car accident when his car struck a utility pole in Orange County, NY.   In addition to his parents, Chris is survived by his brother, Brian, and his sister, Stephanie.  Additional survivors are his paternal grandmother, Catherine MacConnell, his maternal grandparents, Peter and Dorothy Dolan (THS 1959), his aunts, Patricia Benson, Kathy Calello, (THS 1968), Robin Knesel, (THS 1981), Kelly Costelloe (THS 1984), Erin Dolan (THS 1989), Bonnie Bench and Aline Dolan.  Chris is also survived by his uncles, Robert MacConnell, Ronald MacConnell, (THS 1962), Donald MacConnell (THS 1964), Jay MacConnell (THS 1971), Peter Dolan, Jude Knesel, Sam Calello, George Benson, and Greg Costelloe.  Chris is further survived by his nephew, James D. MacConnell and 20 cousins. 

GORGIA, ANTHONY, (81) passed away on September 9, 2009.  Mr. Gorgia attended Tottenville High School but left before he graduated to join the United States Navy during World War II.  Mr. Gorgia was sent to live at the former Mt. Loretto orphanage after his mother died when he was three years  old.  While on active duty in the US Navy, he was stationed at the US Naval Air Force base in Pensicola, Florida for one year, 6 months and 8 days.  Mr. Gorgia was discharged from the US Navy after the end of WWII and remained in the US Navy Reserves until 1952.   His wife, Mary, died in February 1998.  Mr. Gorgia is survived by his sons Peter and Michael (THS 1978), daughters Camille Tota and Rosemary Wozencroft,  his brother, Alfred, and 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

O'BRIEN, PATRICIA (CAMPBELL)  (56), THS Class of 1971, passed away on September 8, 2009 in Suffern, New York. Mrs. O'Brien grew up in Tottenville, Staten Island, NY and married Peter O'Brien in 1976.  The couple lived on Staten Island at first then moved to Somerset, NJ in 1987.  In 2000 they re-located to Goshen NY and in 2007 they moved to Suffern, NY.  Mrs. O'Brien's family was her greatest joy and she loved spending her time with them.  She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Peter O'Brien, her sons Daniel and Robert, her daughters Michelle O'Brien and Maria Verry, and her mother, Patricia Campbell.  Mrs. O'Brien is also survived by her two brothers, Michael and James Campbell, her two sisters, Kathleen Neafsey and Eileen McKinley, and ten grandchildren.  

MCENEARNEY, KEVIN (52), THS Class of 1975, passed away on September 4, 2009 in Staten Island University Hospital.  Mr. McEnearney was a lifelong resident of Great Kills, Staten Island.  He went to Apex Technical School after graduation from THS, and received a certificate in air conditioning and refrigeration.  Mr. McEnearney held various jobs including livery cab driver, sales clerk and landscaper before becoming disabled as a young adult.  During his adult life he pursued his love of several hobbies, including model rocket building and fishing with his father, Robert, and his brother, Roger.  Mr. McEnearney also loved animals and cared for many rescue pets that he adopted during his lifetime including dogs, cats, and hamsters.  Mr. Mcenearney was a supportive care giver to his mother after his father died in 1997 -- arranging for her to get to doctors' appointments and making sure she was cared for in her home.   At the time of his death he was studying Middle Eastern religions and also had been spending much time at the Jacques Marchais Tibetan Museum of Art located on Lighthouse Hill on Staten Island.  Mr. McEnearney is survived by his mother, Joan McEnearney, his brother, Roger, and his sister, Mary Torrente.

LALLY, DARYL SMITH, (65), THS Class of 1961, passed away on August 17, 2009.  Mrs. Lally was a lifelong resident of Tottenville, Staten Island.  She worked for several years as an Emergency Medical Technician and nurse's aide at the former Richmond Memorial Hospital, now SIUH, in Prince's Bay.  Mrs. Lally also worked at Prudential Financial in New Jersey as a clerical & administrative assistant.  She enjoyed many hobbies including, sewing, quilting, arts and crafts and crocheting.  Mrs. Lally was a member of the Huguenot Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star and a parishioner of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Tottenville.  Her husband, Albert, died in 1990 after 26 years of marriage.  Mrs. Lally is survived by her son, Lawrence, her daughter, Amanda Lally, and two grandchildren. 

PARSONS, KELLY LANG (38), THS Class of 1989, passed away on August 6, 2009, in Staten Island University Hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm.  She was a native islander, and was born Kelly Lang In Prince's Bay.  She earned a bachelor of arts degree in business from St. John's University, Grymes Hill, in 1993.  Ms. Lang Parsons had been an agent for five years for True and Associates, an insurance company in the tri-state area, and worked out of their Westfield, New Jersey office.  Before becoming an insurance agent, Ms. Lang Parsons was employed by Lucent Technologies.  She enjoyed spending time at the beach and traveling to Atlantic City.  Ms. Lang Parsons loved spending time with her son, Nicholas, and her daughter, Sydney Parsons. IN addition to her children, Ms. Lang Parsons is survived by her mother, the former Lynn Dennis, her brother, Jim and her maternal grandmother, Ellen Dennis.

WEENING, ELLENEVA, (76), THS Class of 1950, passed away on July 24, 2009, in Staten Island University Hospital of pancreatic cancer.  Mrs. Weening was a native islander, and was a teacher at P.S. 1 in Tottenville for 38 years.  She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Wagner College and a masters' degree, also in education, from New York University.  Mrs. Weening was born Elleneva Kamp in Tottenville.  She had lived in Huguenot since 1958, where she and her husband Samuel raised their family.  Mrs. Weening attended services at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Eltingville.  She was very active in her community.  Mrs. Weening was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Huguenot Chapter 88, and was also a member of the Daughters of the Nile, the Ladies Oriental Shrine, the Daughters of Scotia, and the Jesterettes.  She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Samuel, a son, Robert, her daughter, Christine Oliva, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.  

KOK, LAUREN MELISSA, (22), THS Class of 2004.  Lauren Melissa Kok died tragically in a automobile accident near Norfolk, Virginia, in July 2009.  She was a 2009 graduate of the University of Rhode Island, and earned a bachelor's degree in nursing.  Ms. Kok had recently become employed as a Nurse-Manager at Richmond Home Needs Services.  Ms. Kok further planned to join the United States Navy and work as a nurse.  She grew up in Eltingville and was living in Tottenville at the time of her death. Ms. Kok is survived by her parents, her maternal grandmother and one sibling.

NEUMILLER, PETER (49), THS Class of 1978, passed away in July 2009.  He grew up in Eltingville, and was living in Great Kills at the time of his death.  Survivors include his sister, Jane Neumiller (THS Class of 1969).

CONMY, JOHN JOSEPH (JACK), (62), THS Class of 1966, passed away on May 23, 2009.  Mr. Conmy was a native islander and had moved to Annadale 58 years ago.  He was a Vietnam War Veteran having served with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.  Mr. Conmy worked as an Operating Engineer for the NYC Department of Sanitation for 30 years.   He participated in the World Trade Center Recovery Operation at the Fresh Kills landfill.  Mr. Conmy retired in 2008.  He was a bass drummer with the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights alumni Drum & Bugle Corps.  Mr. Conmy was also a member of the Staten Island Yacht Club and a 39-year member of the Beauvais-Hudson American Legion Post.  Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Maureen Phipps Conmy,  his daughter, Kelly Love, and his brother, Robert.  Mr. Conmy's son, John Joseph (Jack) Jr., died in 2004. 

BURKE, SISTER ELIZABETH MARY, (62), THS Class of 1964, passed away at home in Spotswood, New Jersey on April 30, 2008.  Sr. Elizabeth was born Ernestine Gertrude Burke in Tottenville, Staten Island, New York. She grew up there and then lived in various Staten Island neighborhoods before settling in Spotswood, NJ in 1960. After graduating from Tottenville High School, she earned her bachelor's degree in sociology and early-childhood psychology from the College of Staten Island and her master's in social work from Adelphi University. She worked for 24 years as a social worker for Richmond Home Needs Service in New Dorp before retiring in 2006.  Sr. Elizabeth was a member of the Sisters of St. Gregory, a community of women in the Episcopal Church.   She was attached to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in South River, NJ.  Sr. Elizabeth is survived by her sisters, Carol B. Hangasci, and Joan McElwen, and a niece.  

MARCHI, JOHN, (87),  former NY State Senator, John J. Marchi, passed away on April 26, 2009 while vacationing in Italy with his family.  Sen. Marchi served the South Shore of Staten Island for over 50 years in the NY State Senate.  He retired in 2006.  Senator Marchi had the honor of having a new ferryboat named after him in 2006.  All flags were flown at half mast in the City of New York in honor of Sen. Marchi's long and distinguished career. Sen. Marchi's funeral was held on Monday, May 4, at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church on Victory Boulevard.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor Edward Koch and many many other dignitaries were in attendance.  Governor David Patterson attended Sen. Marchi's wake at the Harmon Home for Funerals on Forest Avenue at Davis Avenue on Sunday evening, May 3, 2009.  Ferryboat Sen. John J. Marchi was draped with purple and black bunting in honor of Senator Marchi's passing.  Senator Marchi is survived by wife, his two daughters, and several grandchildren, and a great-grandson.    

HAMMEL, JOHN, (83), THS Class of 1942, passed away on March 16, 2009.  Mr. Hammel was a World War II veteran and a retired financial planner.  He lived in Rowayton, CT, at the time of his death and had lived in the Darien, CT area for 40 years.  Mr. Hammel interrupted his college studies at Williams College to join the U.S. Navy.  He served in The Philippines.  After leaving the US Navy he re-entered Williams College and later graduated with a degree in economics.  Mr. Hammel went on to obtain a master's degree in Business Administration from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  He worked for Sylvania, which later became GTE in Manhattan and Stamford, CT.  He retired from GTE in 1980 as vice-president of investor relations and became a certified financial planner.  Mr. Hammel fully retired from business in 1999.  He enjoyed skiing and sailing, and participated in many ski patrols in Vermont at Stratton and Okemo mountains during the 1970's and 1980's, as he owned a second home in Ludlow, VT.  Mr. Hammel also raced Star Sailboats at the Richmond County Yacht Club on Staten Island.  He was a 40-year member of the Noroton Yacht Club in Darien, CT, where he raced Sonar, Tempest and Lightning class sailboats.  Mr. Hammel is survived by his seven children, sons, John, Frank and Jim, and daughters, Ann Marie Abate, Mary Jane Reiss, Sally Hammel, and June Anderson.  He is also survived by his sister, Joan Hammel Goetz, 12 grandchildren, and his two former wives, Mary S. Hammel, and Madelyn Murren.   

O'DONNELL, DOROTHEA (MCCAFFREY), (62), THS Class of 1964, passed away on March 9, 2009, in Morristown, New Jersey.  Mrs. O'Donnell had been valedictorian of her class and played in marching bands when she was young.  She was born in New Brighton, and also lived in South Beach, Midland Beach, Mariners Harbor and then Great Kills while growing up.  She had been a resident of Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey, for the past four years and lived there at the time of her death.  Mrs. O'Donnell and her husband, William, adopted and raised three children, who were natural siblings.  They moved to and upstate, NY community, Nunda, about thirty years ago and raised their family in that area.  Mrs. O' Donnell worked as a visiting nurse in various communities upstate including Allegheny and Livingston counties.  Her husband, William, died in 2004.  Mrs. O' Donnell is survived by her children, son Joey O' O'Donnell, and daughters Ashley O'Donnell and Augusta Martin. She is also survived by her sisters Kathryn Watzel and Barbara Balla and her brother, Robert McCaffrey, Jr.

SARNELLI, STEVEN (49), THS Class of 1978, passed on on March 6, 2009, in Staten Island University Hospital, Princes Bay, of cancer.  Mr. Sarnelli lived in Huguenot at the time of his death.  He was born in Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island in 1969.  He relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1988 where he worked for Mailboxes, Etc. and later on became a hotel manager.  He returned home to his family on Staten Island in January 2009, due to his illness.  Mr. Sarnelli was a music lover with an extensive collection of records and CD's.  He is survived by his brother, Gene Sarnelli and his mother, Mary Sarnelli.

SCHNEIDER, ALICE AGNES (69), THS Class of 1956, passed away on February 13, 2009, at home in Whiting, New Jersey.   Mrs. Schneider was born Alice Agnes Burke in Tottenville, Staten Island, NY, where she grew up.  After her marriage she moved to West Brighton.  She had been a long-time employee of the Visiting Nurse Association.  

CAMPBELL, JAMES (88), passed away on January 25, 2009.  Mr. Campbell was a graduate of New Dorp High School.  He was born in Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island as child, living in Ocean Beach, South Beach, Eltingville, and Great Kills.  After graduation from New Dorp HS, Mr. Campbell enlisted in the US Army Air Force, serving 3 years in Europe as an electrician during World War II and achieved the rank of staff sergeant.   He went to work for the City of New York after discharge from the military, first working for the Highway Department and then in 1948, he went to work for the Sanitation Department.  Mr. Campbell retired from the Sanitation Department in 1982.  Mr. Campbell settled in Tottenville, in 1947 after his marriage to the former Patricia Morrissey. The Campbells remained in Tottenville, where they raised their family and became active members of the community.  They were instrumental in the re-building of Our Lady Help of Christians, when the church burned down in 1985. Mr. Campbell was a founding member of Tottenville High School Football Parents club, and in 1973 an award was created, the "James Campbell award" and given annually "to the player who most exemplified the spirit and hustle of Tottenville High School".  He was also a member of the American Legion, the 8th Air Force Society, the Stolzenthaler Council Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Men's Club of Our Lady Help of Christians.   He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Patricia, daughters Kathleen Neafsey, Patricia O'Brien, and Eileen McKinley, his sons, Micheal Campbell and James K. Campbell, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

SHERIDAN-KETT, BARBARA (71), THS Class of 1955, passed away on January 16, 2008, in Clove Lakes Rehabilitation Center.  Mrs. Sheridan-Kett was born in the Bronx and grew up in Great Kills.  She was living in Rosebank at the time of her death.

CARLSEN, ELLA, (104), passed away on January 1, 2009, at the Arnold Walter Nursing Home In Hazlet, New Jersey.  Mrs. Carlsen was the mother of Ralph Carlsen, THS Class of 1959, Richard Carlsen, THS Class of 1961, the mother-in-law of Pam Haugk Carlsen, THS Class of 1959, and mother-in-law of Joanne Greten Carlsen, THS Class of 1961.  Mrs. Carlsen was born in Sweden and immigrated to the United States as a young woman and lived in Brooklyn.  She met and married a young Norwegian immigrant, John Carlsen and they moved to Staten Island where they raised a family of three sons, Roy, Ralph and Richard.  Mrs. Carlsen was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Great Kills until her death.  The Carlsens also lived in Keyport, Bayshore Village, and Kings Row Middletown, New Jersey.  Mrs. Carlsen was predeceased by her husband, John, in 1985, by her son Roy in 1994 and by her son Ralph in 2006.  She is survived by her son Richard and wife Joanne of Somerset, NJ, her daughters-in-law Ruth Ellen Carlsen of Congers, NY and Pam Carlsen of Port Monmouth, NJ and her brother, Arnold Mattson of Deale, Maryland.  She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.   

2008

CYRIACKS, MATHEW (48), THS Class of 1978, passed away on December 31, 2008, at home in Tottenville, from complications of diabetes.  Mr. Cyriacks worked as a mechanic on refinery boats in Bayonne, New Jersey, for several years.  He enjoyed listening to Beatles music, and watching the New York Yankees and the Giants in his spare time.  Mr. Cyriacks is survived by his two sons, Zachary and Michael, his daughter, Nora, his two brothers, Jay and Stephen, his sister, Cathy Raichle, and his companion of six years, Cathy Castellano.  

WARNER, THEODORE R., (70), THS Class of 1956, passed away on December 28, 2008.

DENNIS, ARTHUR, ("Artie") (84), THS Class of 1942, passed way on December 22, 2008, in Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Staten Island, New York.  Mr. Dennis had been a long-time resident of Prince's Bay,  where he and his wife, the former Ellen Thompson, raised their four children.  Several of Mr. Dennis' children have chosen to spend much of their adult lives in Prince's Bay.  Mr. Dennis served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during WWII.  He was sent to the South Pacific where he worked with the Signal Corps as a teletype repairman.  Mr. Dennis joined Bell Telephone Labs after his military service.  He worked in Holmdel, New Jersey and helped develop Telstar, the first active telecommunications satellite.  Mr. Dennis is survived by his wife, the former Ellen Thompson, his two sons Arthur (THS 1969) and Robert (THS 1971) Dennis, and his two daughters, Lynn Lang (THS 1966) and Christine Bentsen (THS 1964). He is also survived by his sister, Georgia Mandrik (THS 1951) and nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.    

NOST, ALF F. (90), former Staten Islander, passed away on December 16, 2008, in Hudson, Florida.  Mr. Nost was a retired firefighter and World War II veteran.  He was born in Brooklyn but returned to Norway where he spent his childhood.  After growing up he came back to the U.S. and at first lived in Brooklyn, and later moved to Eltingville.  Mr. Nost re-located to Hudson, Florida in 1980.  He began his career as a police officer and was cited for bravery following the 1953 crash of the Staten Island Ferry with a freighter.  

Mr. Nost joined the FDNY and retired in about 1970. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service for about ten years.  Mr. Nost is survived by his four daughters, Elizabeth Tancredi (THS 1961), Lucille Payne (THS 1964), Nancy Fajman (THS 1968), and Mary Macintyre, and his son, Louis Nost.  He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

WICK, ELAINE DOROTHY (CHAPMAN), (57), THS Class of 1969, passed away at home in Lilburn, Georgia, on December 8, 2008.  Mrs. Wick died after a courageous battle with breast cancer.  She first became diagnosed with cancer 14 years ago.  She is greatly missed by her family, including her five children and her husband and her many friends. Mrs. Wick grew up in Great Kills and after graduation from Tottenville High School she went on to Wagner College where she obtained a bachelor's degree in education.  Mrs. Wick was a teacher in the Pax River, Maryland, public school system after graduation from college until 1979 when she moved with her family to Georgia.  Mrs. Wick was a member of the Snellville, GA, United Methodist Church.  She is survived by her husband, Peter Wick, her sons Brian Wick of Lilburn, GA, John Wick of Atlanta, GA, and David Wick of Atlanta, GA; her son and daughter-in-law Daniel & Krista Wick of Smyrna, GA, and her daughter, Laura Wick of Lilburn, GA.  Mrs. Wick is also survived by her brother, Richard, W. Chapman of Stormville, NY, her brother and sister-in-law Robert and Michele Chapman of Blackwood, NJ and  her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Robert and Linda Lordo of Port St. Lucie, Florida.  She is also survived by her mother, Dorothy Chapman, of Lawrenceville, GA.  Mrs. Wick was predeceased by her father, Richard L. Chapman.  A memorial service was held at the Snellville, GA, United Methodist Church to celebrate the life of Mrs. Wick.  She remained in touch until her death with some of the dear friends from her growing up years on Staten Island and they have fond memories of those happy times.   

PUTZ, GISELLA (DILLE), (80), THS Class of 1945, passed away on November 10, 2008 in Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Staten Island, NY.  Mrs. Putz was born in Stuttgart, Germany, and moved to Richmond Valley as a child.  She married Richard N. Putz in 1950 and they settled in Pleasant Plains.  Mrs. Putz worked as a secretary in her husband's former business, Harry N. Putz & Son, until her retirement in 1978.  Mrs. Putz's husband, Richard, passed away in 2003.  She is survived by her brother, George Dille, and four nieces and nephews.  

HOWLAND, AMELIA ROSE, (TABER), (94), passed away on September 22, 2008.  Mrs. Howland was the mother of Pamela Howland Bechtold, THS Class of 1964, and Ed Howland, THS Class of 1960.  Mrs. Howland spent 90 years of her life on Staten Island, living in Arrochar, Rosebank and Tottenville.  She moved to South River, NJ in 2004.  Mrs. Howland attended Curtis High School and later worked for the South Shore Dental Clinic and Consolidated Edison, both on Staten Island.  In 1941 she met and married Ed Howland.  Mrs. Howland became friends with the photographer Alice Austen, as they were residents of Rosebank, and helped Mrs. Austen deal with the problems of aging and living in reduced circumstances.  Mrs. Howland was very active in island charitable  and community activities including volunteering at the Red Cross, Carmel Richmond Nursing Home and the Staten Island Mental Health Society Thrift Shop.  She also was a member of the Rosary and Altar Society of Our Lady Help of Christians, R.C. Church and the Prince's Bay Women's Club.  Mrs. Howland was a founding member of the South Shore Swim Club.

In 1948, Mrs. Howland was pictured on the front page of the Staten Island Advance for wading into the icy waters of a pond up to her neck to rescue a child who had fallen through the ice while skating.  She would also pull her children on a sled to do errands during our cold and snowy Staten Island winter wonderlands of the mid-twentieth century.  Later on Mrs. Howland refused to sell her Butler Manor, Tottenville, property which helped to prevent dense over-development of the area.  The property was later acquired by the Parks Department and is included in the recently established Long Pond Park.  Mrs. Howland was married for 60 years to Ed Howland, who passed away in 1991.  In addition to her daughter, Pamela, and son, Ed, Mrs. Howland is survived by four grand-children and a great-grandson.  

ANDRIANY, ERNEST, (96), THS Class of 1930, passed away on September 22, 2008, at Staten Island University Hospital, South, in Prince's Bay.  Mr. Andriany was a lifelong resident of Tottenville.  He worked as a seller of men's clothing at his brother's store, the former Ammy's Men's Shop, on Main Street in Tottenville.  Mr. Andriany retired from the store in 1977.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Bessie Madsen, his son Eugene, his daughter Jean Madsen Lahti and two grandsons. 

KELLY, KAREN (GRANT), (49), THS Class of 1978, passed away at home in Maybrook, New York in September 2008 after battling acute myeloid leukemia for some time.  Mrs. Kelly and her family had just moved into their Maybrook, NY home a week  prior to her death.  She and her husband had re-located to Stockbridge, Massachusetts several years earlier to be closer to her children while they attended college.  Unfortunately she became ill soon after moving to Stockbridge and she and her husband re-located to Campbell Hall, New York to receive treatments at Mount Sinai Medical Center in NY.  Mrs. Kelly was born in Brooklyn and spent most of her life in Tottenville and Pleasant Plains, having been brought to the island as a young child.  She worked as a waitress in various restaurants on Staten Island and New Jersey, including the former City Limits in Tottenville.  Mrs. Kelly enjoyed her family and friends and long days at the beach.  She loved attending her son Sean's THS baseball games and her daughter Ryan's THS soccer and volleyball games and hosting parties for friends and family after the games.  Mrs. Kelly is survived by her husband of 24 years, Gary, her daughter, Ryan, her son, Sean, and her parents, Joan and Robert Grant.  She is also survived by her sisters, Ruth Kelly and Dorothy Horvath.       

DRILL, Mrs. GENE, passed away on July 2, 2008 on Staten Island, NY.  Mrs. Drill was a long-time business teacher at Tottenville High School.   Mrs. Drill taught at THS from 1953-1966. Survivors include her daughter, Rose Drill. 

SOL, CHARLES, (59), THS Class of 1966, passed away on July 2, 2008, at home in Waterford, Maine.  Mr. Sol was born in Chantilly, France and brought to Huguenot as a child where he grew up.  He attended the College of Staten Island after graduation from Tottenville High School.  Mr. Sol served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971, and he was stationed in Korea and also served in the U.S. Army National Guard.  He was a member of American Legion posts in New York, Florida and Maine.  Mr. Sol worked for Consolidated Edison for several years in New York but decided to change careers and become a nurse.  He worked at Staten Island University Hospital - South in Prince's Bay, Staten Island, and at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, and at a hospital in Maine.  Mr. Sol is survived by his wife of 37 years, the former Sandra Bouquio, his son Marcel, his parents, Jacqueline and Jose Sol, and his sister, Marie Bodnar.    

BROWNHOLTZ, PATRICIA (BINFIELD) (58), THE Class of 1967, passed away on June 27, 2008, in San Antonio, Texas.  Mrs. Brownholtz was born in the Bronx and moved to Great Kills with her family as a child.  She was a systems analyst for Verizon in Manhattan for 20 years.  She later moved to Texas with her husband, Carl Brownholtz.  Mrs. Brownholtz loved animals and cared for stray dogs.  She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Carl, a son, Eric, a brother, John Binfield, and her mother, Helen McKay. 

SEMICH, JOHN D., (82), passed away on July 16, 2008.  Mr. Semich was a longtime resident of Annadale and a retired machinist.  He is the father of several of our THS graduates including Susan Semich Day, THS Class of 1968, Diane Semich, THS Class of 1962, and John Semich, THS Class of 1967.

ZANETTI, KARL (65), THS Class of 1961, passed away on July 2, 2008.  Mr. Zanetti had been living in Deltona, Florida, and was recently living in a nursing home.  He had had surgery, but another operation was necessary and he was to ill to survive the surgery.  He is survived by his brother, Eric Zanetti, THS Class of 1962.  

KURTZ, CHARLES REED JR. (71), THS Class of 1954, passed away on May 18, 2008 in Middletown, NY, where he has lived for many years.  He was born on December 31, 1936 and was the oldest of four brothers whom he helped care for as they grew up together on Staten Island.  After graduation for Tottenville High School he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and received an honorable discharge in 1959.  Mr. Kurtz then worked for Sears in Maryland, transferring to upstate Middletown, NY in 1972.  He left Sears soon after moving to Middletown and became owner/operator of the Colonial Sunoco.  Mr. Reed later joined the Times Herald Record where he started as a fleet mechanic and retired as Distribution Coordinator in 1995.  Mr. Reed is survived by his wife of exactly 35 years, to the day, Mary Jane Fusco Kurtz, at home; his children, Charlie-Marie Kurtz-Podgorsky and her husband, Justin of Unionville, Amanda Kurtz of Middletown, Karen McGowan and her husband, Timothy of Virginia, Roger Kurtz and his wife, Lynn of North Carolina, and Bonnie Kerns and her husband, William of Virginia. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Christian Kurtz, Jonah and Simon Podgorsky, Christin Cook, Jared and Shelby Brumfield, Rachel and Lisa Kurtz, Russell Kurtz and John Hoye; and his brothers, Douglas Kurtz of Indiana and Thomas Kurtz of Maryland; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Fredrick Kurtz.

MATTEI, BRUNO (98), of Monroe Township, NJ, passed away on April 28, 2008.  Mr. Mattei was a teacher of several foreign languages at various NYC high schools including Port Richmond High School on Staten Island, and in Brooklyn he taught at Franklin K. Lane High School and Fort Hamilton High School.  Mr. Mattei's longest tenure as an educator was at Tottenville High School where he taught Spanish and was grade advisor and chairman of the foreign language department for many years.  Mr. Mattei retired in 1966.   He was a graduate of Curtis High School and City College of New York.  Mr. Mattei also did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University.  Mr. Mattei lived in Great Kills for many years while a teacher and department chairman at THS.   He was born in Bernardsville, NJ, and after retirement returned to live in NJ, first in Metuchen and later in Monroe Township.  He is survived by a son, Arthur G. Mattei, of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, a daughter, Annemarie Keating of Staten Island, New York, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

MARTYKA, STANLEY, (76), THS CLASS OF 1949, passed away on May 7, 2008.  Mr. Martyka was a retired New York City Firefighter, having worked for FDNY for 25 years.  He was a lifelong islander, and was born in Richmond Valley.  Mr. Martyka settled in Tottenville in 1955.  He was a founding member of the Staten Island Woodcarver's Association, and enjoyed making rocking chairs and toys for his grandchildren.  Mr. Martyka was a 40-year member of the South Shore Swim Club.  He had the distinction of having graduated from Tottenville High School with perfect attendance.  Mr. Martyka is survived by his wife, the former Maureen Ryan, his daughters, Barbara and Gina Martyka, his two sisters, Barbara Duchai and Clare Martyka and three grandchildren.

COLONNELLO, ANTHONY JOHN, (74), THS Class of 1953, passed away in the Brooklyn VA Hospital on April 13, 2008, after a sudden illness.  He was born in West Brighton and moved to Great Kills at age 10.  Mr. Colonnello served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1958.  He later graduated from the former Staten Island Community College with a degree in accounting.  Mr. Colonnello worked as an accountant for the U.S. Aviation Corp. until his retirement in 1998.  He is survived by his wife, the former, Maria Rojas, whom he met 30 years ago while working as a dance instructor at a dance studio on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond.  Mr. Colonnello is also survived by his four daughters, Barbara Bradley, Cynthia Colonnello, Vicky Miller and Maria Koster and his two sons, David and Daniel.  He is also survived by eleven grandchildren.

MEZZACAPPA, ANGELA ROSE (ANDRIOLA) (58), THS Class of 1967, passed away on March 9, 2008. Mrs. Mezzacappa was a graduate of Staten Island Community College and had a Master's Degree from the Dance Educator's of America.  She was the owner of Angela's Dance Studio on Staten Island, NY.  Mrs. Mezzacappa was a member of Professional Dance, Teachers of America, Radio City Music Hall Alumni Association and a lifetime member of Dance Educators of America.   She won "Best Legs in America" in 2001.  She is survived by her husband, Michael Mezzacappa.  She is also survived by her brother, Jack Padovano. 

RANDALL, RANDY DAVID, (29), THS Class of 1997, passed away at home in Charleston, on February 22, 2008.  Mr. Randall was a medalist in the 1985 and 1986 New York State Special Olympics in track and field events.  He was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and moved to Tottenville with his family in 1985.  Mr. Randall had recently moved to the Charleston area.  Mr. Randall was an animal lover and spent many happy hours caring for his pets.  He also enjoyed computer video games.  He is survived by his mother, the former Dorothy Cahill, his three brothers, Conrad, Michael, and Frank, and his two sisters, Cathy Randall Thornton and Valerie Randall Reischour.   

SWEETMAN, EDITH (BITDORF), (87), THS Class of 1938, passed away at home in Tottenville, on January 6, 2008.  Mrs. Sweetman had lived her entire life in the same house.  After graduation from THS she went to work for the Home Insurance Company in Brooklyn and was later employed at the National Lead Company in Sayreville, New Jersey.  She also worked in Manhattan.  Mrs. Sweetman and her husband, Jack, raised a family of three children -  two sons, Jack R. and Robert, and daughter, Jill.  While her children were growing up she was active in PS1 (Tottenville) PTA association and she was a board member of the Tottenville High School PTA.  She was a charter member of the Tottenville Yacht Club (destroyed by a fire in 1964) and a charter member of the South Shore Swim Club.  Mrs. Sweetman also belonged to the Tottenville AARP and the Mount Loretto Friendship Club.

She was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Tottenville.  Mrs. Sweetman was also a member of the Humane Society and the ASPCA and enjoyed rescuing and adopting homeless cats and kittens.  Her husband of 49 years, Jack Sweetman, passed away in 1997.  Mrs. Sweetman is survived by her sons Jack R. Sweetman and Robert Sweetman and her daughter, Jill Berger.  She is also survived by her son-in-law, Stephen Berger, and her daughter-in-law, Eva Sweetman.  Mrs. Sweetman is further survived by her grandchildren Stephen and Kaitlyn Berger and several nieces and nephews.  Her many neighbors and friends in Tottenville will especially miss her friendly phone calls. 

2007

MONAHAN, THOMAS JR. (9 years old) grandson on Pat Nisi, THS Class of 1957, died tragically in early December 2007, in a house fire at his home on Princewood Avenue, Prince's Bay, Staten Island, New York.  Thomas was attempting to rescue his pets in the fire and ran back into the burning home.  Firefighters were not able to rescue him in time to save HIS life.  Thomas' efforts serve as an inspiration to all, particularly those of us who rescue and adopt homeless cats and dogs. 

KURTZ, FRED (65), THS Class of 1959, passed away in December 2007.  Mr. Kurtz had been living in Eltingville for many years prior to his death.  Mr. Kurtz's brother, Charles, (THS-1954) has since passed away in 2008. 

DEAL, RICHARD, THS Class of 1956, passed away in Rockland, MA on November 4, 2007.  Mr. Deal is survived by his wife. 

BERKE-JORDAN, SANDRA, (70), THS CLASS OF 1955, passed away on October 21, 2007, in Van Nuys, California.  Mrs. Berke-Jordan was president of the Motion Picture Costumers IATSE Local 705.  She was a motion picture costumer for 30 years, her credits include work on "The Godfather, Part II", "Heaven's Gate", "The Deer Hunter", "Splash" and "PeeWee's Big Adventure". In 1992, Mrs. Berke-Jordan became assistant business representative for the Motion Picture Costumers and from 1993-2000 she served two terms as business representative for that union.  Mrs. Berke-Jordan was elected to three terms as president of the union, a position she held until her death.  During her time in as union president, Mrs. Berke-Jordan served four consecutive terms on the California Film Commission, representing the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).  She was also a trustee and director of the Motion Picture Pension and Health Trust Funds from 1996 to 2006.  In 2003 the Coalition of Labor Union Women recognized Mrs. Berke-Jordan's contribution to the lives of working men and women and she was also recognized by the Harry Bridges Institute for her dedication to the labor movement.  Mrs. Berke-Jordan was born in Brooklyn in 1937.  

GABRIEL, ELISE ANNE (BOLT), (56), THS Class of 1969, passed away after a brief illness in Vienna, Austria, on August 10, 2007.  Mrs. Gabriel grew up in Eltingville and graduated from PS 8 and Tottenville High School. After graduation from THS, she went on to Hunter College where she graduated cum laude with a degree in German.  At Hunter, Mrs. Gabriel was a member of the German Honor Society and the Delta Pi Alpha sorority.  She moved to Vienna, Austria, in 1974 after her marriage to Peter Gabriel, an Austrian citizen.  Mrs. Gabriel and her husband raised two sons, Martin (28) and Philip (26), in Vienna.  While raising her family, Mrs. Gabriel worked as a German translator for the United Nations in Vienna.  She had planned to retire on August 28th, 2007, after a 33-year career at the UN.  Mrs. Gabriel visited her family and friends on Staten Island as often as possible while living in Austria.  Her last long visit home was during Christmas, 2005, when she spent almost a month on Staten Island.  Mrs. Gabriel's family and friends, including some of her fellow THS and Hunter College grads, have happy memories of a wonderful afternoon spent in December 2005 with Mrs. Gabriel and her mother, Nelly Bolt.  Mrs. Gabriel is survived by her husband of 33 years, Peter Gabriel, her two sons, Martin and Philip, all of Vienna, Austria.  She is also survived by her mother, Nelly Sakshaug Bolt and her sister-in-law, Trisha Bolt, of Eltingville.  Mrs. Gabriel is pre-deceased by her only sibling, her brother, Kenneth Bolt, who passed away in April 2007 and her father, Knute Bolt, who passed away about 10 years ago.  

HAUBER, RAYMOND (47), THS Class of 1978, passed away on August 4, 2007 after a long illness.  Mr. Hauber was a lifelong resident of Eltingville, hand was a member of Eltingville Lutheran Church.   After graduation from THS, he attended the College of Staten Island, and later joined the New York City Fire Department.  Mr. Hauber was a New York City Firefighter for 17 years, serving at Engine Co. 284/Ladder Co. 284, known as the "Castle on the Hill" in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.  Mr. Hauber worked rescue and recovery at Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001, Attack on the World Trade Center.  He gave unselfishly to this effort, often working 12-hour shifts at the former WTC site.  Mr. Hauber enjoyed many outdoor activities including fishing, and loved to cook.  He is survived by his longtime companion, Barbara Davey, his parents Otto and Beulah Hauber, his sisters, Lynn Cranstoun and Patty Birdsalo, and his brother Paul Hauber.

BENDIKSEN, VIOLET APPEL, (93), passed away on June 4, 2007, in Murray Hill, New Jersey.  Mrs. Bendiksen was the mother of Joan Bendiksen Moore, THS Class of 1960.   Mrs. Bendiksen was born and raised in Weehauken, New Jersey and then lived in Great Kills for many years while her children grew up.  She had lived in Murray Hill since 1964.   Mrs. Bendiksen worked as a credit manager at the former Wanamaker's department store in Manhattan and also at United Carr Fasteners in the city.   She then worked at her brother's business, The Paris Pastry Shop, in Ridgewood, New Jersey, for many years until she retired.  Mrs. Bendiksen enjoyed music, including opera and rock and roll, and loved cooking and shopping.  She was married for 56 years to Parke B. Bendiksen, who passed away in 1998.  Mrs. Bendiksen is survived by her daughter, Joan B. Moore of Watchung, New Jersey, her brother, Harry C. Appel of Whitingham, Vermont, her grandson, John Parke Foote of Whitingham, Vermont, and Murray Hill, New Jersey, and her cousin, Richard T. Simpson of New Providence.        

MANGINELLI, JOHN J. (46), THS Class of 1978, passed away on April 23, 2007, after a long illness.  Mr. Manginelli was born in Brooklyn and brought to Staten Island as a young child where he grew up. Mr. Manginelli owned and operated a Port Richmond-based business for the past 25 years preceding his death.  His firm, Information Transport Systems, is a courier company servicing Manhattan-based clients.  Surviving Mr. Manginelli are his wife, Thea; his two sons, John and Andrew; his parents, John and Marie Manginelli; three sisters, Rosemarie Salomonsen, Jacqueline Cotogno and Elizabeth LoMonaco, and a brother, Christopher.

LIST, BARBARA TYVELA  (63), THS Class of 1961, passed away on March 12, 2007, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  Mrs. List was born in Manhattan and was brought to Staten Island by her family when she was one year old.  She graduated from Public School Number 3 where she won the Peace Prize at her graduation for her essay on world peace.  Mrs. List went on to Tottenville High School, graduating in 1961, and winning the cooking prize at graduation.  She then went to the Claremont Secretarial School for one year and completed their course of study.  Mrs. List worked for the Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company for 11 years where she was  executive secretary to the treasurer of the company.   Mrs. List and her husband Bruce List, THS Class of 1960, were married in 1966 and in 1987 they moved to Eastham, Massachusetts.  While living in Eastham the Lists owned and operated Nauset Haven, a 9-unit cottage complex on Minister Pond, and also worked part-time at the child care center at their church.  After 12 years  the Lists sold Nauset Haven and then owned a wood working business for five years before their retirement.  They moved to Earlton, NY, when they retired to be close to their family.   In 2006 the Lists celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.  Mrs. List is survived by her husband of 40 years, Bruce List, their daughter, Jennifer Anne, and grandson, Adam.  She is also survived by her sister, Maria Desinski of Denville, New Jersey.   

STRUYK, MARILYN ELEANOR MILLER, (67), THS Class of 1956, passed away on March 6, 2007, at her home in Clovis, New Mexico. 

DODGE, LORETTA BUNDESEN (56), THS Class of 1968, passed away on March 8, 2007, in Oregon, from complications of diabetes.

CATALANO, MICHAEL B. (63), THS Class OF 1961, passed away on January 14, 2007, in Middletown, NY, after a brief illness.  Mr. Catalano was born in Manhattan and as a young child moved to Pleasant Plains where he grew up.  He graduated from THS and while a student there played for the local football team, The Plainsmen.  Mr. Catalano joined the US Navy following high school and served overseas in Turkey, Greece and Spain.  He was honorably discharged in 1964 and went to work in the computer operations field for the banking industry.  Mr. Catalano worked as the computer operations manager for the former Goshen (NY) national bank and the Valley National Bank in New Jersey.  He retired in 2005.  Mr. Catalano is survived by his wife of 21 years, Deborah Haas Catalano, his son Todd Catalano and his daughter Tara Catalano.  He is also survived by his sister, Stefanie Gorman.

TUFTE, VERA RUSSELL (93), (attended THS), passed away on January 2, 2007, in Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home.  Mrs. Tufte spent her entire life in Eltingville, where she and husband, Stephen, raised three children: Gwendolyn Tufte Grodman, THS Class of 1961; George Tufte, THS Class of 1957; and William Peter Tufte.  While living in Eltingville, Mrs. Tufte was a girl scout leader in the 1930's and worked for the board of elections in the 1950's.  She was also a member of the former Eltingville Plaque Association, which maintained the war memorial that had been located at Eltingville station for many years and is now at the Elks Club in Greenridge.  Mrs. Tufte was a parishioner at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Eltingville.  She is survived by her three children, Gwendolyn Grodman, George Tufte and William Peter Tufte.  Mrs. Tufte's husband, Stephen Tufte, passed away in 1982 and they had been married for 46 years.  She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

2006

MORRIS, RICHARD A. (69), THS Class of 1956, passed away on October 28, 2006, at his home in Burleson, Texas, after bravely battling cancer for some time.  Mr. Morris served in the United States Army for 20 years working as a customs inspector,  tank platoon sergeant and Mac-V advisor during the Vietnam War.  He was most proud of his service as a drill sergeant because he could train soldiers and help them make the transition from civilian life to military service. After retiring from the US Army in 1978, Mr. Morris and his family moved to Burleson, Texas, where he began a second career as a bus driver for the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.  He very much enjoyed helping people finding their way around the airport. Mr. Morris is survived by his wife of 49 years, Patsy Garrigan Morris, THS Class of 1957, his two sons, Steven Morris and Robert Morris, his two daughters, Penny Pendergrass and Linda Loflin, and his daughter Linda's husband, David.  He is also survived by four grandchildren, James and Amber Pendergrass, and Justin and Matthew Loflin.   

WALLACE, AIDEN KILLIAN GADDIS, (3 MONTHS OF AGE), beloved grandson of Kenneth P. Wallace, THS Class of 1966, passed away on October 27, 2006, at Easton Hospital in Pennsylvania.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 

BASILE, JOSEPH DOMINICK (17), Member of the Tottenville High School Class of 2007, died tragically on October 19, 2006, following a car accident in Eltingville.  Mr. Basile was driving a Mitsubishi Outlander about 11:30 am when the vehicle spun out of control and crashed into a guardrail and a cluster of trees on Hylan Boulevard near Woods of Arden Road.  He was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital where he died. Mr. Basile had worked as a lifeguard for the past three summers at the Island Swim Club in New Springville.  He planned to go on to college and to follow in his father's footsteps and become an engineer.  He is survived by his parents, Barbara and Perry Basile and his maternal grandparents, Rosemarie and William Graham.  

MESSER, SHARON REICHICK (61), THS Class of 1963, passed away on October 15, 2006, in Baptist Hospital, Miami, Florida.  Mrs. Messer was a native islander and was raised in Tottenville.  Mrs. Messer's classmates at Tottenville High School fondly remembered her cheerleading for the school's teams.  She moved to the Bronx in 1965 where she lived for two years.  She then moved to Ohio where she lived for three years and in 1970 she relocated to Miami, Florida with her husband and family.  Mrs. Messer lived in Texas for five years, from 1980 to 1985 and then returned to the Miami area where she spent the rest of her life.  Mrs. Messer's husband of 27 years, David Messer, passed away in 1991.  She was a loving mother and grandmother and is survived by her  two sons, Eric and Greg, and her four grandchildren.  She is also survived by her mother, Evelyn Stern, and her two brothers, Richard and Mark Reichick. 

D'AMATO, ROBERT, (18), THS Class of 2006, passed away on September 24, 2006, after he was critically wounded in a stabbing incident near a Stapleton nightclub late Saturday evening September 23, 2006.  Mr. D'Amato was  rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital, West Brighton, where he passed away early Sunday morning, September 24, 2006.  He was a native islander and lived in various island communities as a young child.  His family then moved to Florida and later returned to the island.  Mr. D'Amato was a resident of Pleasant Plains for the past three years.  He graduated from Barnes Intermediate School and in June 2006 he graduated from Tottenville High School.  At the time of his death he was working as a carpenter and deciding about career and life choices for his future. He enjoyed dirt biking and loved animals, particularly the family pets - their dog, Bosco and their cat, Billybob.  Mr. D' Amato is survived by his mother, Stacey Randazzo, his father, Richard D'Amato, his stepfather, Richard Randazzo, his stepmother, Donna Alban, his sisters, Jessica and Emily, and his brothers, Ricky and Johnny.  He is also survived by his paternal grandparents, Richard and Maryann D'Amato, and his maternal grandmother, Shirley Kerrigan.  Mr. D'Amato was devoted to his girlfriend of the past three years, Brittany Rubel.  His grieving family and friends mourn his tragic and untimely death and will miss him greatly. 

EYSEL, ROBERT A., (77), THS Class of 1946, passed away on September 18, 2006, in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.  Mr. Eysel had recently been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from THS for his 30 years of service in the Tottenville Football Father's Club.  The school also named a scholastic scholarship in his honor.  Mr. Eysel was a long-time resident of Richmond Valley.  He is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Bernice Jungian and his four sons, Robert, Jr., Michael, Thomas, and Christopher.  Mr. Eysel is also survived by five grandchildren.

ROGERS, PATRICIA, (53), THS Class of 1971, passed away on September 12, 2006, in a Naples, Florida hospice.  She was born in Great Kills and as a teen-ager was a cheerleader for the Great Kills Vikings, a local football team.  She married Robert Bessler and moved to Sparrow Bush, New York where she lived for many years.  Ms. Rogers settled in Naples, Florida about ten years ago after becoming divorced from her husband.  She is survived by her former husband, Robert Bessler, and her three sons Brian, Daniel, and Robert and her daughter, Rachel Bessler.  Ms. Rogers is also survived by her sister, Gay Rogers.  Her brother, Richard, passed away in 2005.

MCDONOUGH, HAZEL, (96), passed away on September 12, 2006. She was a lifelong resident of Huguenot and graduated from PS5 and Tottenville High School.  Mrs. McDonough became a teacher for the Archdiocese of NY and worked at St. Mary's School in Rosebank and St. Thomas-St. Joseph's School in Pleasant Plains.  She is survived by her two sons, James and Robert, her daughter, Ann Linkh, 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.  Mrs. McDonough's husband, John, passed away in 1985.

KUSULAS, PETER, (65), THS Class of 1959, passed away on September 6, 2006, in Fair Haven, New Jersey.  Mr. Kusulas was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the son of a Greek immigrant father, Petros, and mother, Angeline.  His father and Uncle Costas emigrated from the small village of Anayrti in Greece to the United States as teenagers.  Together they operated a luncheonette at the Staten Island Rapid Transit Train terminal and its connection with the ferry to Perth Amboy from 1941 to 1959.  Mr. Kusulas was raised in Tottenville, where he graduated from PS1 and Tottenville High School.  He went on to Rutgers University where he graduated as an electrical engineer.  Mr. Kusulas had a distinguished career working for Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies for 37 years -- beginning in 1963 by working on the earliest digital phone systems being developed for customer homes. By the time he retired in 2000, his business groups were developing business internetworking and voice-over-the-internet systems.  Mr. Kusulas is survived by his wife, Rose Greco, of Fair Haven, his two brothers, Elias Kusulas of Naperville, Illinois, and Theodore Kusulas of Whitestone, NY.  He is also survived by his two nieces, Carolyn Queden of Cumming, Georgia, and Deborah Clemens of Naperville, Illinois, and his nephew, Mathew Kusulas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

MINOT, ROBERT, (67), THS Class of 1956, passed away on August 23, 2006, at his home in Summerland Key, Florida.  Mr. Minot was a native islander and spent most of his life on Staten Island.  Mr. Minot graduated from Tottenville High School and received a bachelor's degree from Wagner College.  He worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield from 1973 until 1995, when he retired as an executive vice president.  Mr. Minot worked at several Blue Cross/Blue Shield locations including Manhattan, Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.  He also served in the United States Army Reserves.  Mr. Minot enjoyed many water sports including fishing, boating and diving.  He moved to Summerland Key, Florida in 1995.  Mr. Minot was married to Doris Odson from 1960 to 1975 when they divorced.  Mr. Minot married Bertha Rouse in 2002.  He was a member of Eltingville Lutheran Church while living on the island, and he was a Mason.  Mr. Minot is survived by his wife of the past four years, Bertha, his three daughters, Kristin Fitzpatrick, Karin Bauerlein and Nancy Fitzgerald, and three grandsons. 

MAGEE, SHARON (FRERICHS), (59), THS Class of 1965, passed away on August 14, 2006, in Staten Island University Hospital after begin ill with cancer.  Mrs. Magee was born in Tottenville and lived there as well as in Great Kills and Brooklyn.  In 1965 she married John (Jack) Magee.  The Magee’s settled in Eltingville in 1979 to raise their four children – two sons and two daughters. Christine Walsh and Kelly Magee. Mrs. Magee loved spending time with her family and was especially fond of her grandchildren.  She was an enthusiastic homemaker and enjoyed growing her own vegetables and making Christmas cookies.  Mrs. Magee’s grandson, Timothy Walsh, died in 1997.  Her survivors include her husband, Jack, her two sons, John, Jr. and Jimmy, and her two daughters, Christine Walsh and Kelly Magee. She is also survived by five grandchildren.

POWDER, JEROME, "JERRY" (77), longtime teacher of physical education and esteemed sports coach at Tottenville High School, passed away on August 11, 2006, in Wilmington, North Carolina.   Mr. Powder had been participating in a table tennis tournament when he succumbed to heart failure.  He was also a coach for a table tennis team that participated in the Senior Olympics.  Mr. Powder was a physical education teacher at THS for many years (1963-1985), and was the coach for three men's varsity sports teams.  As coach he led the THS team to nine city championships in golf and two city championships in gymnastics.  Mr. Powder also coached basketball at THS.  He was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, and lived in Brooklyn as well as the Bronx.  He graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn and then went to New York University where he received a bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in counseling.  Mr. Powder lived in Annadale for over 20 years during his tenure at THS with his wife and family.  Mr. Powder also served in the United States Army during the Korean War, based in Fort Dix, New Jersey.  He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Phyllis Bribitzer, his two sons, Howell and Glenn, his sister, Francine Lifrieri, and three granddaughters.  Mr. Powder's body was donated to Duke University for medical research.

REID, PETER, (49), THS Class of 1975, passed away on August 7, 2006, in New Vanderbilt Rehabilitation and Care Center, Clifton, Staten Island.  He had been in the Care Center for about three weeks prior to his death.  Mr. Reid had diabetes and had been dealing with heart problems for several years before he died. 

Mr. Reid was born in Brooklyn and was brought to Eltingville at age 6 where he grew up with his two brothers, Daniel and Dennis, and two sisters, Brenda and Ellen.  He graduated from Tottenville High School in 1975 and then joined the US Navy.  Mr. Reid served in the US Navy for two years, and for most of that time he was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy.  After his discharge from the US Navy, Mr. Reid worked in the back office operations department of two brokerage firms in Manhattan, Kidder Peabody & Co. and Goodbody Stockbrokers.   He left the industry after eight years and then worked for over ten years as a security guard at several island businesses. Mr. Reid then had to stop working due to health problems.  He settled in Oakwood in 1994 and became a parishioner of St. Charles R.C. Church in that neighborhood. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers were Mr. Reid's favorite football team and he enjoyed watching their games and supporting the team.  His family was important to him and he and he loved telling them his stories and making his friends and his family laugh.  He also enjoyed spending time with his neighborhood friends from Oakwood. 

Mr. Reid's mother Marion L. Reid, passed away several years ago.  His sister, Brenda, passed away in October 2004.  Mr. Reid is survived by his father, James Reid, of Annadale. He is also survived by his sister, Ellen Reid, of Annadale, and his two brothers, Dennis Reid, of

New Hampshire, and Daniel Reid, of Italy, and several nieces and

nephews, including his nephew, Luca, of Italy.

SUOZZO, JAMES, (46), THS Class of 1977, passed away on July 26, 2006, in Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Manhattan.  Mr. Suozzo was a native islander who was born in Great Kills and later moved to Huguenot where he lived for several years.  Mr. Suozzo settled in Old Bridge, New Jersey, 12 years ago with his wife, the former Harriet Gumbs.  At the time of his death Mr. Suozzo was the loving father of their five sons, Aaron, Andrew, Brian, Christopher and Joseph.

After graduation from Tottenville High School in 1977, Mr. Suozzo went to St. John's University, Grymes Hill, Staten Island, and then the American Institute of Banking in Manhattan.  He was the vice president in charge of the traveler's checks department at Barclay's International Bank in Manhattan until 1994.  Mr. Suozzo was a partner at Transportation Techniques of Vincentown, New Jersey, at his time of death.

An enthusiastic fan of many of the New York area sports teams including the Jets, Mets, Rangers and Knicks, Mr. Suozzo enjoyed attending sporting events.  He coached Little League and assisted with a Pop Warner League and worked with local soccer and wrestling teams.  Mr. Suozzo also enjoyed traveling and had gone completely around the world.

Mr. Suozzo's family said he was very attached to his wife's parents, Florrizele and David Hodge.  He is survived by his wife of 20 years, the former Harriet Gumbs, their five sons, his father, Frank Sr., his two brothers, Frank, Jr. and Edward J. and his sister, Elizabeth Villani.   

HANSEN, DOUGLAS, (68), THS Class of 1956, passed away on July 14, 2006, in California.  He had been suffering from lung and heart problems. Survivors include his son, Donald Hansen.  

NAEDER, THERESA (TORZSAS), (62), THS Class of 1961, passed away on June 14, 2006, after being ill for a long time with thymic carcinoma.

Mrs. Naeder was born in Charleston when it was known as Kreischerville, and moved to Tottenville when she was 7 years old.  She grew up in Tottenville and lived in that area for the rest of her life.  

As an elder in the Free Magyer Hungarian Reformed Church in Charleston, Mrs. Naeder was responsible for arranging many church events such as bazaars and auctions.  Her Hungarian heritage was very important to her -- she had belonged to that church since she was a child.  She was also known for making authentic Hungarian sausage.  Mrs. Naeder also maintained her connection to Charleston by playing bingo every week at the Andrew E. Zimmer Fish and Game Protective Association clubhouse in that neighborhood.

Mrs. Naeder devoted her life to her family -- she and her husband, Robert, raised four children.  Mrs. Naeder was active in the PTA's for all her children's schools.  She belonged to four different PTA's at the same time as her four children were each enrolled in a different school.  These schools were also spread out on the island and include Monsignor Farrell High School in Oakwood, Moore Catholic High School in Graniteville,  Tottenville High School in Huguenot and Totten Intermediate School in Tottenville.  Mrs. Naeder returned to work after her children were old enough and worked as rectory coordinator at Our Lady Help of Christians R.C, church in Tottenville for 18 years. 

Mrs. Naeder loved to travel with her husband in their 32-foot motor home.  They visited 45 states as well as Mexico and Canada.  She enjoyed spending time with her family and took pleasure in being a "young" grandmother of 10.  Mrs. Naeder is survived by her husband of 44 years, Robert, her mother, Jennie Torzsas, her daughters, Sherry Ann Zambrzycki, Lisa Ann Bymes, and Kelly Ann Stissi, and her son Robert Henry Naeder.  She is also survived by her three sisters, Irma Jean Saia, Louise Corrente, and Gloria Paramithis, and ten grandchildren. 

WHITMAN, GERALD B. "BARRY", (59), THS Class of 1965, passed away on May 23, 2006, in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay, Staten Island.  Mr. Whitman was born in Roslyn, Long Island, and was known as Barry throughout his life although his given first name was Gerald.  He was raised in Annadale and moved to Prince's Bay as an adult in 1980.

Mr. Whitman was a Vietnam vet and retired New York City Police Department. He served in Manhattan's Sixth Precinct and at Patrol Borough Manhattan South, retiring in 1989 after 21 years with the NYPD.  Mr. Whitman had been working as a security building representative for the Empire State Building at the time of his death.  He returned to school later in life and received a bachelor of science degree in criminology in 2002 from the New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan.  Mr. Whitman also owned and operated Barrett's Paints and Wallcoverings in Somerset, New Jersey, immediately following his retirement from the NYPD.  

Mr. Whitman was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, in Annadale, where he coached youth basketball.  He loved his family dearly, and enjoyed visiting various relatives in Southern California.  He also enjoyed playing the drums and enjoyed the company of his pets.  Mr. Whitman's wife, Barbara Rugge, THS Class of 1964, passed away in March 2006. The Whitmans had been married for 38 years.  Mr. Whitman's survivors include his two sons, Brian Whitman and Barry Whitman.  

AUSTEN, NANCY J. (67), passed away on May 5, 2006, in Cape Coral, Florida.  Mrs. Austen was the widow of William Austen, THS Class of 1957, (deceased).  She was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and lived on Staten Island for several years.  Mrs. Austen and her family later moved to Cape Coral in 1980 where she worked for the City of Cape Coral for 16 years.  

Mrs. Austen is survived by her two daughters, Debra Dill and Trish Rouette, both of Cape Coral, and her five grandchildren, William, Kevin, Penny, Jessica and Austen.  She was pre-deceased by her husband, William, and her sister, Joan Kuczera. 

TURKUS, LYNN (ABRAHAMSEN) (57), THS Class of 1966, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on Good Friday, April 14, 2006.  Lynne was the The Trumpet's beloved and much admired Class Directories Associate Publisher.  Lynn recently completed a new way of finding classmates by using our Classmates Directory.  We call this our Schoolmates Directory.  Thanks to Lynn, we can now find our THS classmates in the directory, even if we cannot remember their class year or how to spell their last name.  We thank you dear Lynn for your tireless efforts on behalf of The Trumpet.  We all so enjoyed your e-mail correspondence and we will miss you every day.  Your wonderful and creative work has helped make us all proud of "The Trumpet".

Lynn was born in Dublin, Ireland and was brought to the US when she was 2 years old.  She was raised in Huguenot on Staten Island, and later moved to Great Kills when she married her husband, Robert Turkus, in 1971.  The couple also lived Eltingville and later moved to Huguenot.  Lynn was a 1966 graduate of Tottenville High School and worked in the banking industry for for nearly 35 years as a computer trainer.  She was employed by the Chase Manhattan Bank in Manhattan for about 20 years.  Lynn and her husband relocated to Maryland in 1981.  They lived in Severna Park and then moved to Millersville the following year.  They  settled in Pasadena, Maryland.  While living in Maryland, Lynn worked for Allfirst Bank in Baltimore for 15 years.

Lynn had a passion for genealogy and enjoyed researching the family trees for herself and her husband.  She would walk through cemeteries searching through the headstones for names of family members from the past.  Lynn's research of the Turkus family and its roots made her an even more cherished member of the family.  She was an only child and learning about the Turkus family history strengthened her bond with them.  Lynn was very close to her nieces and nephews who were related to her by marriage.  She is survived by her husband, Robert.  Lynn's mother, Kathleen (Pat) Abrahamsen, passed away in November 2005. 

SARJEANT, JAMES (63), passed away on April 13, 2006, at home.  Mr. Sarjeant was a self-employed auto mechanic for the last 20 years.  He owned and operated Sarge's, in Rossville until his illness forced him to stop working.  Mr. Sarjeant's interest in auto mechanics and repair developed while he was growing up; his father, the late James A. Sarjeant, owned and operated "Sarjeant's" a repair shop, until the 1990's. 

Mr. Sarjeant attended Tottenville High School and then joined the US Army.  He served in Germany, working as a sharpshooter. After leaving active duty, Mr. Sarjeant served in the Army Reserve until 1966. 

Along with auto mechanics and repair, Mr. Sarjeant enjoyed working on his lawn and doing landscaping on his yard with trees and shrubs.  He is survived by his son, Charles Armstrong and his daughter, Wanda Armstrong.  Mr. Sarjeant is also survived by his mother, Lillian Sarjeant, THS Class of 1940, his brother, Lawrence Sarjeant, THS Class of 1969, his brother, Robert Sarjeant, THS Class of 1972, and his brother Darrell Sarjeant. 

VAN VORST, RUTH KERBER, (58), THS Class of 1965, passed away on April 9, 2006, of cancer, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Mrs. Kerber-Van Vorst spent most of her life on the island; she was born in Annadale and lived in Prince's Bay and Oakwood. In 2003 she moved to Linden, New Jersey.

Mrs. Kerber-Van Vorst worked for 25 years as a secretary for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, retiring in September 2005.  She also worked at the Willowbrook State School for five years before joining the Port Authority. 

An accomplished cook, Mrs. Kerber-Van Vorst was known for her baked macaroni, pot roast and her cookies.  She loved spending time with her two granddaughters, Alyssa and Kristen.  Mrs. Kerber-Van Vorst gave generously of her time to others.  She volunteered at the Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, in Egbertville.  Mrs. Kerber-Van Vorst was also a member of the Red Hat Society, "Lockettes".  She also had plenty of time for her two Persian cats whom she dearly loved.

Mrs. Kerber Van Vorst is survived by her daughter, April, her two granddaughters, Alyssa and Kristen, and her mother, Marie Kerber Sherwood. She is also survived by her brothers, William Kerber, Jr., and Gary Kerber, Sr., and her cousin, Carol Kerber, THS Class of 1964.

WHITMAN, BARBARA (RUGGE) (58), THS Class of 1964, a lifelong islander, passed away on March 29, 2006, in Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze.  Mrs. Whitman was raised in Annadale and moved to Prince's Bay 25 years ago where she spent the rest of her life.  She worked for many years as an office manager for Dr. Robert Feldman, in Huguenot.    

Mrs. Whitman particularly loved reading and writing poetry.  Her family said that her poem, "A Mother's Tribute" was published by the Library of Congress, about ten years ago.  She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Annadale and attended the Lutheran Bible Institute in Teaneck, New Jersey after graduating from THS.

A devoted family member, Mrs. Whitman enjoyed visiting her relatives in Southern California.  She had a love for all pets, but dogs were her favorite.  Survivors are her husband of 37 years, Grant, her two sons, Brian and Barry, and her mother, Iris Rugge. 

SCHMIDT, LISA (MULI), (44), THS Class of 1980, passed away in Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale, Pennsylvania on February 17, 2006.  Mrs. Schmidt was gravely injured in a snowmobile accident while on a family vacation in Hawley, Pennsylvania.  A resident of Tottenville, Mrs. Schmidt was born in Brooklyn and moved to Eltingville as a child.  She later moved to Tottenville in 1999 where she lived until her untimely death. 

Mrs. Schmidt returned to her native Brooklyn upon graduating from the Wilford Beauty Academy to open her own salon, "Snappy Snippers".  She owned and operated "Snappy Snippers" for five years and then sold it to devote her time to raising her two sons and making a home for her family.  For the past five years Mrs. Schmidt had been working as a hairdresser at "This is It", a barbershop in Tottenville.

Mrs. Schmidt was married for 17 years and her husband, William, said she loved spending time at their home in upstate Brant, NY.  She enjoyed riding bikes, walking and riding in their boat.  Mrs. Schmidt also loved to throw big parties at their house for family and friends.   She is survived by her husband, William, her two sons, William and Christopher, and her mother Rae Muli.  Additional survivors are her brother, Charles Muli, Jr., and her sister, Kerrie Muli.   

REYMANN, ELEANOR BRADLEY (EYERS), (91), passed away on February 28, 2006, in Masconomet Health Care Center in Topsfield, Massachusetts.  Mrs. Reymann was the mother of Robert A. Bradley, Jr., THS Class of 1956, Herbert E. Bradley, THS Class of 1959, and Deborah A. Bradley. 

Mrs. Reymann was born and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts and graduated from Gloucester High School. She enjoyed many activities including swimming, cheerleading and horseback riding.  Mrs. Reymann's connection to Gloucester was lifelong; she always spent summers at her grandparent's house.  She loved to visit Good Harbor Beach, the Back Shore and  the lookout from Bear Neck Skin. Mrs. Reymann also belonged to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in the Gloucester area.

After marriage to her first husband, Robert (Roy) Bradley, the couple re-located to Great Kills. The Bradleys moved to New Dorp a few years later where they settled down to raise a family.  Mrs. Reymann belonged to Christ Lutheran Church in Great Kills and sang in the choir while she lived on the island. Sadly, Mr. Bradley passed away in 1966. 

After going deaf at age 18, Mrs. Reymann took classes at Hunter College while raising her three children.  She was able to read lips and used a hearing aid.  Mrs. Reymann's skills and perseverance led her to a career as principal medical stenographer at the former Willowbrook State School.  She worked there for 20 years and retired in 1976.    

Mrs. Reymann was married to her second husband, Royal A. Reymann, for close to 20 years when he passed away in 1986.   Surviving Mrs. Reymann are her two sons, Robert S. Bradley, Jr. and Herbert E. Bradley, her daughter, Deborah A. Bradley, 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  A memorial service is planned for April 23, 2006, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in the Gloucester area.   

SZABO, OLGA E. (FAZEKAS), (86), passed away in the Bethlen Home, Ligionier, Pennsylvania, on February 5, 2006.  Mrs. Szabo was the mother of Alexandra Szabo Myron, THS Class of 1961; Nancy Szabo Chan, THS Class of 1965; and Judith Szabo Glaus. 

A native islander, Mrs. Szabo lived on Sharrots Road in Charleston for many years until the late 1960's when she moved to Highland Park, New Jersey.  Charleston was home to many people of Hungarian heritage, particularly in the 1940's, 1950's and 1960's.  Mrs. Szabo took pride in her Hungarian background and and was an active participant in her community.  She became the first woman president and treasurer of the church council for the Free Hungarian Reformed Church, Charleston.  Mrs. Szabo was a lifetime member of the church and president of the Women's Guild.  She was also active in the PTAs of both PS 4 in Charleston and Tottenville High School while her children attended those schools.

A graduate of the Drake Business School in Manhattan, Mrs. Szabo worked at various insurance firms including the Hartford Insurance Co in Manhattan, the Norman G. Heil Insurance office on Staten Island and the Alan C. Bentson Agency in New Jersey.  Mrs. Szabo later lived in Hugo, Oklahoma, where she worked for Franklin Bank.  She moved to Ligonier, Pennsylvania in 1990 where she spent many years at the Bethlen Home, known for its Hungarian traditions.   Mrs. Szabo volunteered at the gift shop at Bethlen Home and worked hard to keep her home's community spirit and sense of Hungarian heritage alive and well. 

Mrs. Szabo is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Chan, Alexandra Myron and Judith Glaus.  She was pre-deceased by her husband,  Alexander W., who died in 1972.   The Szabos had been married for 31 years.  Mrs. Szabo is also survived by her sister, Helen Rose, one  grandson and two great-grandsons.

SWEENEY, VINCENT A. (87), THS Class of 1938, passed away on January 31, 2006, in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay.  Mr. Sweeney was a lifelong islander.  After graduating from Tottenville High School he joined the US Army and was trained in radio communications.  He served from 1943-1946, first in Texas and then at Halloran Hospital in Willowbrook.  Mr. Sweeney returned to the island after finishing his military service and went on to Wagner College where he earned an associate's degree.  He also became and a licensed radio and telephone operator.  His interest in telecommunications led him to join the former New York Telephone Company in Brooklyn.  Mr. Sweeney supervised repair and installation crews.  He worked for the phone company for 25 years, retiring in 1984. 

Mr. Sweeney and his wife, the former Marion Turkus, built a home on Woolley Avenue in 1951.  A few weeks after the home was completed, it had to be moved to make way for construction of the Staten Island Expressway.  The house was lifted up onto rollers and moved to Willowbrook Road. The Sweeney's moved to Pleasant Plains in 1961 to a home that was built in 1802.  The home was was previously owned by Mr. Sweeneys' mother.  Mr. Sweeney was a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle R.C. church in Pleasant Plains at the time of his death.  He was also a member of the Staten Island Council Knights of Columbus in Great Kills and the Watkins-Kellett American Legion Post (Great Kills).

An avid interest in Ireland led Mr. Sweeney to the movie "The Quiet Man". The film took place in Ireland and it's main star was Mr. John Wayne.  Mr. Sweeney's son, James, said his father loved the movie, and they would often watch it together. 

Mr. Sweeney's wife, Marion, passed away in 2002 after 51 years of marriage.  His brother, James, was his only sibling, and he was killed tragically in Africa during World War II. He is survived by his son, James, three daughters, Susan M. Sweeney, Elizabeth F. Sweeney-Monahan, Patricia A. Sweeney-McMahon, and one granddaughter.  

BRADY, EDWARD HENRY, (78), THS Class of 1945, passed away on January 10, 2006, at his beloved 10-acre home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.  A native Staten Islander, Mr. Brady was a retired New York City Police Detective.  He was born and raised in Tottenville where he lived until he married Regina C. Blanke in 1950, and they moved to Annadale.  The Brady's moved to Prince's Bay in 1961 and remained there for many years.  Upon his retirement from the NYPD in 1976, Mr. Brady fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved with his family to Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

After graduation from Tottenville High School in 1945, Mr. Brady joined the United States Navy and served from June 1945 to July 1946 as a seaman aboard the USS Levte CV-32.  According to his family, Mr. Brady recently received a piece of the decommissioned ship.  After serving in the US Navy, Mr. Brady returned to the island and worked as a tool and die maker at various firms including the S.S. White Dental Manufacturing plant in Prince's Bay. 

Mr. Brady joined the NYPD in June 1954 and became a patrolman in the 25th precinct in Harlem. He requested a transfer to work on Staten Island and was assigned to the 120th precinct (St. George) where he was a patrolman for 19 years.  While working as a patrolman at the St. George precinct, Mr. Brady was partnered with Eugene Merrill for 15 years, a record at the time to serve with one partner.  Mr. Brady was later promoted to the rank of detective and worked as a field service officer where he trained and mentored rookie officers.

In 1975 after 21 years with the NYPD Mr. Brady retired and moved with his family to Honesdale, Pennsylvania.  He loved "mowin the back 40" on his John Deere tractor -- although in his case it was the "back 10"  acres.  Mr. Brady enjoyed country music and gardening and home improvement.  He also worked for many years after moving to Pennsylvania.  He joined the Wayne County Sheriff's Department in 1976 and in 1983 was promoted to deputy prison administrator.  Mr. Brady retired from the Wayne County Sheriff's Department in 1989.  

Mr. Brady's keen sense of humor and wit will be missed by his family and friends.  He is survived by his wife, Regina, his son Edward (Scott) and his three daughters, Carol Salerno, Donna Brady Miller, and Teresa Brady McCloskey.  Additional survivors are his brother, Joseph, his two sisters, Marion Cossean and Margaret Roccki and five grandsons.

2005

THOMPSON, GAIL (HYDAR), THS Class of 1960, passed away due to cancer, during 2005.  Mrs. Thompson had been living in Washington, D.C. and working for the United States Navy at the time of her death.

BLAIR, BURTON,  THS Class of 1964, passed away during 2005.  Mr. Blair was the brother of Alan Blair, THS Class of 1965, who was killed in action while serving his country during the Viet Nam War. 

GILKESON, EDNA M. (DuBOIS), (88), THS Class of 1935, passed away on December 21, 2005.  Mrs. Gilkeson was the mother of Paul Gilkeson, THS Class of 1961, and Russell Gilkeson, THS Class of 1965.  Mrs. Gilkeson had been living at the Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, in Caselton Corners, Staten Island, for the two weeks before she died.

 Mrs. Gilkeson was born Edna DuBois in Tottenville and was a lifelong islander.  She was a descendant of Caleb Tompkins Ward, the well-known historic island figure.  In 1826 Caleb Tompkins Ward bought 250 acres in Tompkinsville, now Ward Hill, and built a grand mansion that is has become a New York City landmark.  Caleb Ward also established the St. Paul's Memorial Episcopal Church in Stapleton in 1833.

After graduating from Tottenville High School in 1935 Mrs. Gilkeson went on to Packard Business School in Manhattan where she earned certification in secretarial studies.  She worked for five years in the city.  Mrs. Gilkeson married her husband, Paul, in 1939 and then decided to devote her time to making a home for her family.

The Gilkesons lived in Rossville until 1952 when they settled in Huguenot where they remained for the rest of their lives.  Mrs. Gilkeson was president of the PTA of PS5 in Huguenot, the South Shore Little League and the Women's Auxiliary of the South Shore Babe Ruth League.  She was also a member of the Reformed Church of Huguenot Park for many years.  Mrs.  Gilkeson enjoyed reading and baking.  Her family members including nieces, nephews, and grandchildren always requested one of her cakes for their birthday celebrations. 

Mrs. Gilkeson's husband, Paul, died in 1986.  She is survived by her sons Paul and Russell, five grandchildren and one great-grandson.  

GABRIELLIE, THOMAS, beloved husband of Francesca Nesti Gabriellie, THS Class of 1956, passed away in December 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Francesca Nesti and Thomas Gabriellie were married on Staten Island in 1967.  The couple left Staten Island in 1968 and moved to California.  The Gabriellies left California for Hawaii several years later and eventually settled in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Prior to his death, Mr. Gabriellie had worked for the State of Hawaii.  Mr. and Mrs. Gabriellie made Honolulu, Hawaii their home since 1994. 

MALTA, CAROLYN M. (KOY), (65), THS Class of 1958, passed away on December 12, 2005, in Franklin Care Center in Franklin Park, New Jersey.  Mrs. Malta was born and raised on Staten Island, New York.  She left the island and lived in Edison, New Jersey, and in 1972 moved to North Brunswick, New Jersey, where she spent most of her adult life.  Mrs. Malta worked as a clerk/secretary for the North Brunswick Public Library.  She is survived by her husband, Frank Malta, her son, John, and his wife Patty, of Somerset, New Jersey, her daughters Jean Duffy of Somerset, NJ, and Donna Scaletti, of South Brunswick, New Jersey.  Mrs. Malta is also survived by her daughter Donna Scaletti's fiancé, Donald Gubista, also of South Brunswick, NJ.  Additional survivors are Mrs. Malta's three sisters, Alice Lawler of Maine, Veronica Basina of Barnegat, New Jersey, and Joanne Cohen of West Virginia.  She is also survived by six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.  

ABRAHAMSEN, KATHLEEN F., "PAT" (GALLAGHER), (95), passed away in Atlantic Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, on November 26, 2005.  Mrs. Abrahamsen had been vacationing with her daughter, Lynn Abrahamsen Turkus, THS Class of 1965, and her son-in-law, Robert Turkus.  Mrs. Abrahamsen was a long-time resident of Huguenot, on Staten Island, having moved there in the early 1950's with her husband, Alfred Abrahamsen.  She was born Kathleen Francis Gallagher in Killeen, County Mayo, Ireland, and came to the United States in the early 1920's.

As a young woman, Mrs. Abrahamsen worked at various companies in Manhattan, including Consolidated Brokers, where she was assistant to an insurance brokers.  And, while working at Consolidated, she met her husband, Alfred, whom she married in 1942.  The couple moved to Arizona after Mr. Abrahamsen was drafted into the Army.  Mrs. Abrahamsen worked as a dental technician at the former Station Hospital while her husband served at the Douglas Army Air Base.  

The Abrahamsens settled in Huguenot in the early 1950's and remained in that town for the rest of their lives.  Mrs. Abrahamsen was a hard-working member of the community; she worked as a chairwoman in her district for the Board of Elections until last year.  She also worked at the New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, Queens (1964-65), supervising attendants on the monorail ride.  She was highly regarded by her staff, and was treated to the monorail's final ride in 1965.  And, Mrs. Abrahamsen had the distinct honor of having a monorail car named for her.    

Mrs. Abrahamsen's husband died in 1979 after 37 years of marriage.  She is survived by her daughter, Lynn, who is our Trumpet's Associate Publisher of Class Directories. She is also survived by her two sisters, Maryellen Barton and Rita Rhatigan, and two brothers, Michael and Jack Gallagher.    

SCHMARDEL, LESTER, E., (60), THS Class of 1963, passed away at home on October 24, 2005.   A resident of Great Kills, Mr. Schmardel was a Viet Nam veteran.  He retired with the rank of sergeant from  the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority after 25 years of service.  Prior to working for the TBTA, Mr. Schmardel worked in security for the Bank of New York.  Most recently, he was employed as a part-time security guard at "The Staten Island Advance" offices in Grasmere.  Mr. Schmardel was an active member of the Stolzenthaler Council, Knights of Columbus, in Charleston, Staten Island and a a member of St. Clare's Church, in Great Kills.  He was also a very active member of the THS Class of 1963 Reunion Committee.  Mr. Schmardel loved spending time at his vacation home in the Pennsylvania Poconos.  He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Barbara Porzio, and two brothers, Martin and Edward Schmardel.

ROGERS, RICHARD, E. (63), THS Class of 1959, a retired New York City firefighter, died on October 6, 2005, at home.  Mr. Rogers was a lifelong resident of Great Kills and worked as a New York City firefighter for 21 years.  He retired in 1990.  Mr. Rogers especially enjoyed spending time with his family, including his granddaughter, Demi.  He enjoyed fishing, golfing, solving crossword puzzles and watching old black and white movies.  Mr. Rogers loved to prepare his special dish, shrimp francèse.  He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Elizabeth Sheridan, and his two daughters, Deborah and Karen Rogers.  Mr. Rogers is also survived by his brother, Stephen Rogers, his two sisters, Gay Miller and Patricia Bessler, and his granddaughter, Demi.    

KASZA, EDWARD J., (37), THS Class of 1986, a plumber, business owner and licensed contractor, died on September 15, 2005, after being electrocuted at a Manhattan construction site.  Mr. Kasza was working at for a Queens-based plumbing firm when the accident occurred at 197 Bowery.  He was taken to NYU Downtown Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  According to Mr. Kasza' s family, the NYC medical examiner is determining the cause of death.

A lifelong resident of Staten Island, Mr. Kasza was born and raised in Annadale.  He moved to Tottenville eight years ago, and was married for five years to his wife, Tammy Perner Kasza.  Mr. Kasza obtained his contractor's license in 1998.  He also owned and operated the Redwood Tree and Landscaping Service, which he founded 15 years ago, starting the business with landscaping work for five front lawns.  Mr. Kasza is survived by his wife, Tammy, his stepson, Jonathon, his brother, Frank Kasza, and three sisters, Carol, Kathy and Joan Kasza.  

WRANOVICS, JOHN, (62), THS Class of 1960, passed away on September 13, 2005, in Cumming, Georgia.  John was a valued staff member of our Trumpet working as Directory Manager of our Class Directories.  Survivors include his wife, Hilda Wranovics and son, John Leonard Wranovics both of Cumming, Georgia.  Mr. Wranovics is also survived by his daughter, Denise Klauder, and son-in-law, Charles Klauder, of Spotswood, New Jersey.  Additional survivors are three grandchildren, Megan Ryan Sinka, Griffin Jon Klauder, and Kyle James Klauder, all of Spotswood, New Jersey.

VOGT, SARITA CELESTE (SCHROEDER), (84), passed away on September 12, 2005, in Bethel, Connecticut.  Mrs. Vogt was our beloved and inspirational music teacher at THS for 35 years.  Mrs. Vogt taught both musical instruments and voice lessons.  Many of us have fond memories of her classes -- we learned to appreciate and enjoy many styles of music. 

Mrs. Vogt was a long-time resident of Staten Island, spending ten years in Huguenot, and then moving to Tottenville. She was born in Hillsboro, Kansas, where she earned a bachelor's degree in education at Tabor College.  Mrs. Vogt then went on to earn a second bachelor's degree in music from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas.  After graduation she joined the USO and entertained the World War II troops with her musical talents; she could sing and play various musical instruments.  More significant, she met her husband, Raymond, while performing at the USO and they were married in 1943. 

The Vogts settled in Huguenot in the early 1950's and ten years later relocated to Tottenville.  Mrs. Vogt was our music teacher for 35 years at THS where she lead the band, the chorus and the madrigal singers.  She also produced our annual Christmas concerts  -- many of us grads  remember the soaring "Hallelujah" chorus from Handel's "Messiah" sung each year by current students  -- and returning graduates who were invited on stage to sing.  Mrs. Vogt also produced the annual spring concert and various musical comedy shows at THS.  And, she found time to earn a master's degree in guidance and counseling from Newark State University when she was in her 40's.

Mrs. Vogt and her husband, Raymond Vogt, lived on the island for over 40 years.  In addition to all her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Vogt was also the organist at the Huguenot Methodist Church from the 1950's to the early 1990's.  More recently, Mrs. Vogt lived in Leonardo, New Jersey, moving there in the mid-1990's and then in 2000 she moved to Connecticut.   Mrs. Vogt's husband died in 1996 after 53 years of marriage.  She is survived by her daughter, Joyce Cook, her son, John Vogt, three grandsons and one granddaughter.

(Note: Mrs. Vogt passed away on September 12th, her obituary was  published in the Staten Island Advance on December 4, 2005.)

MUNRO, HERBERT C. (68), THS Class of 1955, passed away on August 31, 2005 at his home in Jackson, New Jersey.  Mr. Munro was a native Staten Islander, he was born in the historic Sandy Ground section of Rossville, Staten Island, the site of the nation's oldest free black settlement.  Mr. Munro enjoyed horseback riding throughout his life and as a child in Sandy Ground participated in many rodeos and competitions.  As an adult Mr. Munro passed on his love of the sport through teaching his children to ride.

After graduating from Tottenville High School in 1955, Mr. Munro worked  at various jobs on the island, and joined the US Army as a medic.  He served from 1960 to 1963, serving first at Fort Carson, Colorado and then in Korea.  He attained the rank of Specialist Fourth Class.  Mr. Munro worked for several island firms including Whalen Trucking, before going to work for Procter & Gamble at its Port Ivory facility in 1978.  He was employed there until P&G closed down that location in 1991, working in the Tide and liquid soap factories.

In addition to his work for Procter & Gamble, Mr. Munro worked for forty years in his parents florist and garden center, the former Munro Gardens, in Sandy Ground.   He worked there until 1987, when it closed down, growing flowers including chrysanthemums and poinsettias, and making floral arrangements.  His love of flowers and floral arrangements continued throughout his life; as a hobby Mr. Munro made Christmas wreaths and pine blankets for graves all over Staten Island.  And, when he died he had been working as a landscaper for Best Patio and Garden Supply in New Springville.

Mr. Munro lived on Staten Island until 1988 when he and his family re-located to Jackson, New Jersey.  While living on Staten Island  he was a member and past president of Brown Bombers, and was also a member and former exalted ruler of the Elks Continental Lodge 319, International Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks of the World, in Mariners Harbor. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Joyce, his two sons Jeffrey and Michael, his two daughters Cheryl and Michelle Munro, and five grandchildren.  Mr. Munro is also survived by his two beloved Yorkies, Puffy and Buddy, who took walks with him every day and sat in his lap at night.   

SEHLMEYER, ERNST, (85), THS Class of 1937, passed away on August 25, 2005, at his home in Casper, Wyoming.  A native of Great Kills, Mr. Sehlmeyer enrolled in the Casey Jones School of Aeronautics to study the mechanics of airplanes following his 1937 graduation from Tottenville High School.  He then went on to Baltimore, to work on B-26 bombers and to learn to fly.  Mr. Sehlmeyer enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and served for 4 years as a flight instructor.

Mr. Sehlmeyer loved mechanics and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering.  He then relocated to Los Altos, California, to work for United Airlines as an engineer.  Mr. Sehlmeyer retired in 1985, when he and his wife of 59 years, Marjorie Jean, moved to Wyoming to be closer to their grandchildren.

A civil war history buff, Mr. Sehlmeyer was beloved by family and friends for his many interests, and above all, for his love of mechanics.  He would often remind family members exactly how to fill up their car tires with air.  Mr. Sehlmeyer was a treasured contributor to our Trumpet.  We will miss him and we thank him for spending his time preparing articles for us.

Mr. Sehlmeyer is survived by his wife, Marjorie Jean, his son, Pete Sehlmeyer, and three daughters, Claire Venn, Barbara Buyske, and Kim Graves.  He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

WALTER, DOROTHY, passed away on August 12, 2005, in Connecticut.  Mrs. Walter was the beloved mother of Jim Walter, THS Class of 1965, and Les Walter, THS Class of 1959.  Jim Walter is the Trumpet's Class of 1965 Directory Editor and Les Walter is our Trumpet's Class of 1959 Directory Editor.  She was predeceased by her husband and the father of Jim and Les Walter.  After services in Connecticut, Mrs. Walter will be returned to Tottenville, Staten Island and laid to rest next to Mr. Walter, cherished father of Jim and Les.

MALLIEN, EILEEN, (VAN TINE), (65), THS Class of 1957, died on July 12, 2005 at Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay, Staten Island, New York.  Mrs. Mallien was born on the South Shore of Staten Island and was a life-long islander, having lived in Pleasant Plains for most of her life. 

Mrs. Mallien raised her family and then worked at JP Morgan Chase in Manhattan for 20 years, retiring as a supervisor of tax clerks in 2002.  She enjoyed reading, crocheting, and spending time with her family and her two dogs.  She is survived by her husband, Conrad Jr., her sons, Conrad III and Edwin, and her daughter, Susan Sarnes.  Mrs. Mallien is also survived by her brother, Edwin Van Tine, THS Class of 1953, and seven grandchildren.

BURGESS, BORDY (KNUDSEN), (74), (THS Class of 1949?), passed away on July 9, 2005, in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince’s Bay.  Mrs. Burgess grew up in Eltingville and graduated from Tottenville High School.  Mrs. Burgess married Jim Burgess in 1947 and moved to Tottenville, where she lived before moving to West Brighton in 1950.  Mrs. Burgess, a lifelong Staten Islander, bought the house she grew up in two years later and moved back to Eltingville.  She loved sewing, going to garage sales and spending time with her family.  Her family especially remembers how Mrs. Burgess insisted on having a cake for everyone’s birthday.  She is survived by a sister, Lily Fitzgibbons-Wilcox; three sons, James, William and Walter; a daughter; Wendy Esposito, and eight grandchildren.

SHALL, DAVID (47), THS Class of 1976, passed away on July 9, 2005 in St. Francis Hospital in Trenton, New Jersey.  Mr. Shall lived most of his life on Staten Island but recently moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania to be near his mother.  He worked in the retail industry as a manager for 25 years, most recently at the Burlington Coat Factory in Elizabeth, New Jersey.  Mr. Shall was a collector and dealer of vintage dolls, spending many weekends at trade shows.  He is survived by his brother, John, his life partner, Michael La Russo, his mother, Genevieve, and his sister Janice Lyons.

SCHWARTZER, PATRICIA A. (MCMAHON), (73), THS Class of 1950, passed away on June 17, 2005 in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey.  Mrs. Schwartzer lived in Pleasant Plains until moving to East Brunswick 47 years ago, in 1958.  She worked as a front-end teller for PNC Bank, South River, New Jersey for 25 years, retiring in 1990.  Mrs. Schwartzer’s husband passed away in 1990.  She is survived by two sons, Michael Schwartzer and Dr. Thomas Schwartzer, a daughter, Rev. Kathleen Schwartzer, a brother, William McMahon, and four grandchildren.

(Source for the Danser, Gorgia, Brawer, Brown, O'Brien, Archer, Mcenearney, Parsons, Weening, Kok, Neumiller, Burke, Sarnelli, O'Donnell, Sweetman, Gabriel, Hauber, Manginelli, Catalano, Tufte, Messer, D'Amato, Eysel, McDonough, Rogers, Powder, Magee, Minot, Reid (in part), Suozzo, Naeder, Whitman, Turkus (in part), Kerber-Van Vorst, Sarjeant, Whitman, Schmidt, Reymann, Szabo, Sweeney, Brady, Gilkeson, Vogt, Abrahamsen, Schmardel, Rogers, Wranovics, Kasza, Munro, Sehlmeyer, Burgess, Shall and Schwartzer entries above: Staten Island Advance on-line version, www.SILIVE.com)

WHOLIHAN, MARGARET, "Nanny" (McEVOY) (74), THS Class of 1942, passed away on June 17, 2005.

HORN, BRIAN, (62), THS Class of 1961, passed away on June 9, 2005.  Mr. Horn lived in East Chatham, New York and worked as a developmental aide for the North House in Valatie, New York.  He enjoyed kayaking, painting and was an avid bird watcher.  Mr. Horn is survived by his sister, Judith Vasquez of Florida.

(Source for Horn entry is The Albany Times-Union.)

HALL, MARIA JOHANNA (HARMSEN), (93), THS Class of 1930, passed away in June 2005.  Mrs. Hall lived most of her adult life in Ohio, but she maintained her ties to Staten Island, driving to her summer home in Tottenville, each year until a few years before her death.  She is survived by her nephew, John (Jack) Harvey, Jr. and her sister, Anna Dorothea.  Mrs. Hall's husband, William, passed away in 1982. 

(Source for Hall entry is Staten Island Advance on-line version, www.SILIVE.com.)

PERRICONE, ETHEL (KOCIS), (76), (THS Class of 1949?), passed away on May 27, 2005.

SUPINA, CAROL, THS Class of 1962, passed away in 2005.

GRANT, CARL ARTHUR, (89), THS Class of 1934, passed away on March 28, 2005.  Mr. Grant was a retired Captain in the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).   He is survived by his wife, Margaret, to whom he was married for 69 years.  Mr. Grant is also survived by his two daughters, Karen Lorentzen and Mary Searl, as well as 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

RICCI, ANNEMARIE (CAMPBELL), THS Class of 1961, passed away on March 25, 2005.  AnneMarie was the cousin of Tim Campbell, THS Class of 1964.

MARSHALL  CATHERINE C. (SCHRON), (56), THS Class of 1966, of Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, died at home on March 2, 2005.  Mrs. Schron worked as a medical laboratory technician and in a real estate office.  While she lived on Staten Island, Mrs. Schron played the organ at Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church in Huguenot and at St. John Neumann R.C. Church In Greenridge.

Mrs. Schron was born in Brooklyn and moved to Huguenot with her family in 1964.  She met her husband, George Schron, while a student at Tottenville High School.  Survivors include her two children and several siblings, including her dear sister Claudia Marshall Alois of Pennsylvania.  Mrs. Schron was pre-deceased by her beloved husband who passed away in August of 2004.

TAUTE, RICHARD, J. (JOHN), THS Class of 1967, passed away on February 19, 2005.  Mr. Taute was born on December 13, 1949.

2004

ARGENZIANO, RICHARD JOHN, (74), died May 19, 2004.  He was the brother of  Ann Argenziano Ranieri and Pat Argenziano Frank, THS Class of 1960.

CAPUTO, TERESA,  mother of Mary Caputo Ruzicka, THS Class of 1960, died May 4, 2004 in Michigan.  Teresa Caputo was born on August 21, 1911.

LINK DORIS E., (HEMSTREET), passed away on April 23, 2004. She is survived by her two daughters, Linda Link Keiser, THS Class of 1960, and Lois Link Hummers, THS Class of 1962.

OSMUNDSEN, MARILYN A. (BRUCKMAN), (66), of Prince's Bay, a secretary, died May 12, 2004. She graduated from Tottenville High School in 1955. Surviving are her two sons, Eric and Kevin.

RYAN, LYNN E. (NICOLAISEN), (59), THS Class of 1962, of Hazlet, New Jersey, a homemaker and an entrepreneur who was a native Staten Islander, died on August 7, 2004 in Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. Her husband died in January.

The couple raised three children -- son Timothy F. Ryan and daughter Nancy Ryan, both of Hazlet, and Sheryl Ryan of Long Island. Mrs. Ryan is also survived by her mother, Ethel Nicolaisen, who still resides in Tottenville, and her sister, Nancy Mester of Hazlet. Mrs. Ryan's father, Einar Fred Nicolaisen, is deceased.

SLEIGHT, MARGARET, (83), of Tottenville, a homemaker who worked for the former city Board of Education for two decades, died on July 4, 2004 in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay. Mrs. Sleight has also worked as an army secretary.

Born Margaret Olsen in West New York, N.J., she was brought to New Dorp as a 12-year-old in 1932. She settled in Tottenville 10 years later, after marrying. Her husband of 41 years, Owen, died in 1983.

Surviving Mr. Sleight are her twin sons, Michael and Richard; her daughter, Christine Sleight-Panizo; THS Class of 1968, two sisters, Mary-Lou Ulrikson and Claire Vadola, and eight grandchildren.