Obituaries

L. Neigh, of Lansing, passed away September 25, 2008 at the age of 95. Born April 21, 1913 in Phelps, NY, he was a son of the late Alfred and Samantha (Bryant) Neigh. Jim was a 1936 graduate of Ithaca High School. He owned and operated Neigh's Garage in Northfield, MA for many years before returning to the Ithaca area. He was employed at Cornell University as a Senior Electronic Technician, retiring in 1978. Since the early 1960's, he and his wife, Elizabeth, were avid ham radio operators and formed many lifelong friendships through this hobby.

Jim is survived by his wife of 69 years, Elizabeth (Pallam) Neigh; a son, James (Adah) Neigh of Mt. Carmel, IL; a daughter, Jean (Robert) Perkins of West Covina, CA; two grandchildren, Nancy Sams and Jim Neigh; and two great- grandchildren. Jim is also survived by a brother, Lyle Neigh of Ithaca; and numerous nieces and nephews.

George Gioumousis died peacefully at age 79 on September 23 in Palo Alto, California, where he had lived for most of his adult life. He was born March 2, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York to his parents Katherine and Emanuel, both of whom had come from Greece to the United States. He received a BS in Chemistry from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in 1951, a MS in Mathematics and PhD in Theoretical Chemistry in 1954 and 1955 from University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.

He is survived by his wife, Ellie Gioumousis;  two sons, Andrew of Menlo Park, CA and Peter of Palo Alto; daughter, Martha and her partner, Hilary Greenberger of Newfield, New York; daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Henry Hazebrouck  and their daughter, Allison of Sunnyvale, CA; sister, GG Farber and her husband, David of Pennsylvania; sister, Theodosia Zalantis and her husband, George of Staten Island, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

NEWFIELD - Adrian Dante Hines, infant son of Kristine Hines Freda of Newfield and Terry Dutcher II of Mays Point. Adrian was born August 13, 2007 and departed for Heaven's playground on October 3, 2008.

Adrian is also survived by a brother, Brent (Winona Walrad) Austin; two sisters, Chloe Austin and Charlotte Charpentier; two brothers, Noah and Dylan Dutcher; a close family friend, Randy Parker; in addition to his paternal relatives, Adrian is survived by maternal grandparents, Raymond Hines of Mays Point and Mae (Papa Bill McHale) Inman of Newfield; maternal great-grandparents, William "Red" (Mary) Hines of Speedsville and Robert (Elsie) Inman of Ithaca; three uncles, Robby (Liz) Hines of West Dryden, Rick (Heather Mix) Mason of Newfield, and Jason Inman, also of Newfield; several great aunts, great uncles and cousins.

ITHACA - R. Merle Zavaski, age 85, of Ithaca, died Tuesday afternoon, September 23, 2008 at her residence. Merle was born in Ithaca, the daughter of the late Elmer and Janet Johns.

Prior to retirement, she was employed by the Selective Service in Ithaca as an administrative assistant. Merle was an active member of the local chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees where she was the honorary Vice-President. She also enjoyed baking, cooking, and keeping up with her family's genealogy.

Jean M. Dufresne, age 73, of Bell Lane, McLean, NY died Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at the Cortland Regional Medical Center, Cortland, NY.

Born January 3, 1935 in Cortland, NY she is a daughter of the late Francis and Dorothy Hood Hobart and wife of the late John E. Dufresne who died November 26, 2004. Jean was a life long resident of the Cortland and McLean area and at one time had been employed at Crescent Corset Co. in Cortland.

 

Paul M. Conklin,Sr., 69, of 128 North St., Dryden, NY, went to Heaven peacefully Sunday evening surrounded by his family. Paul had bravely fought a long battle with cancer. He was able to remain home and be cared for by his children, his amazing grandchildren and the help of Hospice, which he was truly grateful to have. Paul served in the United States Marine Corp. as a rifle instructor and was a longtime employee of IBM of Endicott, NY. He was predeceased by Nancie L. (Cooper) Conklin, his wife of 31 years. Together they enjoyed their big "Pink House" in Dryden, NY, which they opened as a bed and breakfast and beautiful antique shop, and spent years enjoying their guests.

Surviving Paul are his two children; Jon (Karen) Conklin of Ithaca, NY, and Angela (Th omas) Towner of Dryden, NY. He was predeceased by his parents, Orren & Laura Conklin; Brothers Albert Conklin, Francis Conklin, and David Conklin; His sisters; Jane (Robert) Jones, Mona Morton and Donna Bronson. Surviving him are his three sisters Jeri Faggioni, Laura (Robert) Musa, Faye (Robert) Coonick; Sisters- in- law: Carol, Marie, and Barbara; Brothers -in-law Alvie Bronson and Fred Morton; His four sons from a previous marriage and their children in N.C. and many nieces & nephews.

ITHACA - Pearl Etta Calkins, age 89, of Ithaca, went to be at home with her husband and The Lord, on Monday evening at Beechtree Care Center. Pearl was born in Burdett, the daughter of the late Charles and Eva Finkenbinder. She was a 1937 graduate of Spencer High School.

Pearl loved music and often played the piano for her church. Pearl will always be remembered for her witty comments; People would ask Pearl, "How are you feeling today?" of which she would reply, "With my fingers." Other precious comments could not be published however people who knew her will be smiling.

Survivors include her three daughters, Eva (William) Siegard, Sharon Calkins, and Denise (Kenneth) Murphy; two sons, Charles (Linda) Calkins, and Roger (Sharon) Calkins; daughter-in-law, Gaye Calkins; 18 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

ITHACA - Marcia Stone Paige of Ithaca (formally, of Kingston), died on September 1, 2008 at Oak Hill Manor Nursing Home. Born on February 16, 1926 in Kingston to the late Dinah and Sam Stone, she is survived by her daughter Julie of Ithaca and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends. She was predeceased by her husband Milton Paige in 1978 and her brother Merrill Stone.

Marcia graduated from Kingston High School in 1943, attended Penn State University, and graduated from the Ohio State School of Social Work. In her early professional years she was employed as a social worker for Ulster County and later was a business store owner until her retirement.

BATAVIA - Philip A. Penepent Sr., age 85 of Batavia, died Friday evening (August 22, 2008) while under Hospice care. Mr. Penepent is the son of the late Anthony and Mary Panepinto Penepent. His wife, Concetta F. DeFazio Penepent, of 55 years, died on August 19, 2002.

Mr. Penepent was the former Supervisor of the Town of Batavia and a member of the Assessment Board of Review for several years. Since the age of 16, he worked his entire life in the concrete business and until two years ago was the owner and operator of Phil Penepent Construction Company. He served in the Army during WWII; a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus; a member of the Batavia Sertoma Club; and a member of St. Joseph's Church in Batavia.

Thomas Huggins, "Captain Tom", 52, of 106 Ringwood Rd., Freeville, NY passed away Friday, August 15, 2008 at his home following a short illness.

Born February 22, 1956 in Sidney, NY, he was the son of Audrey LaVarnway Huggins and the late Franklin Huggins. Tom was employed at SUNY Cortland prior to becoming ill and enjoyed anything that got him outdoors, especially sailing, golfing and hunting.

Eric Stephen Moffett, 40, of 250 Drake Rd., Lansing, NY died unexpectedly Monday, August 11, 2008 at his home.

Born May 15, 1968 in National City, CA, he is the son of Thomas and Carolyn Hayden Moffett. A U.S. Navy veteran, he had been employed at Intertek in Cortland, NY and was proud to be a Freemason.

In addition to his parents, Thomas and Carolyn Moffett of Dryden, NY, Eric is survived by his wife, Bonnie Caward Moffett of Lansing; paternal grandmother, Olive Moffett of St. Petersburg, FL; step-children, Miles, Lauren and Sarah; his siblings, Darren, Sean, Adam, Teresa and Kristen; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in laws.

Jeremy James Vyskocil, 34, of Willow Brook Manor, Dryden, NY passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2008 following a lengthy illness battling kidney disease.

Jeremy was born February 5, 1974 in Ithaca, NY, son of Claudia Miller Norton and the late Frederick Vyskocil. Jeremy had been employed by Groton Community Services, now Franziska Racker Center and most recently with The CBORD Group in Ithaca, NY. He was a Junior Corps member of the Locke Fire Dept. during his teenage years.

NORTH LANSING - Audrey M. Palmer, 81, of 72 Locke Rd., Locke, NY (North Lansing) passed away Monday, August 4, 2008 at Cayuga Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born November 5, 1926 in Cortland, NY, she was the only daughter of Roland and Daisy Rideout Rounds. As a homemaker, she was an Avon and Dutchmaid representative and painted and taught ceramics.

Robert "Droop" Reese, age 39, of Ithaca, a barber at JC Knights on the Commons, died suddenly on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at Cayuga Medical Center. Droop was born on July 26th, 1969 a son of Portia Bibbs and the late Robert Reese Sr.

In addition to his mother, Portia (Calvin) Bibbs, survivors include, his son, Khalil Reese; two sisters, Portia and Susan Reese; a paternal grandfather, George Cammon; a host of nieces, nephews, cousin, and friends. He is predeceased by his grandmother, Ida Cammon.

Muslim Prayers were held Tuesday at the Herson Funeral Home followed by burial in Greensprings Natural Cemetery in Newfield. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kidney Foundation or to Research for MRSA.

ITHACA - Carmela A. June, 84, of Ithaca, died Wednesday July 23rd, 2008, at Beechtree Care Center. Mrs. June was born in New York City on May 7th, 1924, the daughter of the late Rocco and Anna DeFrova Santamassino.

She was a communicant of Immaculate Conception Church. She was a very musical person who was an avid dancer and enjoyed square dancing and bowling. She was a member of the Salvation Army Golden Age Club.

She is survived by a son, Robert F. (Jinnie) June of Groton; two daughters, Lorraine (Jack) Hamilton of Newfield, and Karen (Richard) Wilson of Lansing; seven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; one great-great grandson and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Lansing - Viola L. Christofferson, 108, passed away July 13, 2008, at home after a brief illness. Her daughters Sarah and Ethel were with her.

Born Viola Lorraine Newton on July 5, 1900, on Light Street in Baltimore, Maryland to John Spotswood and Sarah Ella (Purks) Newton, Viola was better known over the years by her family and friends as Bilo. Her father was a merchant marine, later working for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and her mother was a seamstress and owned a variety store. Among her neighbors on Light Street was George Herman Ruth for whom her mother would occasionally babysit and in later years Viola would watch as he and the neighborhood boys would play craps on the doorsteps. In those early days she had no way of knowing that George Herman Ruth would grow up to be Babe Ruth, the legendary Yankees' baseball player. Bilo liked to tell people that she was older than electricity because she remembered as a child when the gas lights were lit on the streets of Baltimore -- that she was older than airplanes -- and automobiles. She had the unique experience of viewing the periodic Comet Halley, visible only every 76 years, twice; once while at a circus in Fredericksburg, Virginia in 1910 and again in 1986 from her home in Tompkins County.

Virginia T. Larison, 84, of North Lansing, NY, passed away on Tuesday July 1, 2008, at Groton Nursing Facility, where she had been residing. She is survived by her four sons and daughters-in-law, Grey R. and Judy Larison, Grand Rapids, MI, James R. and Elaine Larison, Philomath, OR, Kenneth A. and Maryann Larison, Tucson, AZ, Douglas B. and Renee Larison, Cortland, NY; her grandchildren, Michael and Sara Dunn, Grey W. "Bill" and Erika Larison, John and Ellie Larison, Ted and Sarah Larison, Megan and Mark Pasierb, Tim Larison, Kelsea, Nickolas, Erik Koustic, Bryan and Heather Larison, Nicholas Larison; her great granddaughter, Navah Larison; her brother and sister-in-law, George and Iona Tanner, Odessa, NY; brother-in-law and his wife, Glenn and Pat Larison; many nieces, nephews; and also her former husband, Grey T. Larison, North Lansing, NY. She was predeceased by her parents, Warren and Ethel (Jobe) Tanner; and her brother, Warren Tanner, Jr.

Sherry Jones Traphagen, 27, of Freeville, NY, passed away on Tuesday July 1, 2008. She was born in Tampa, Florida on December 5, 1981.Sherry is survived by her husband, James Traphagen; her son, Nathaniel; daughter, Ashlyn; mom and dad, Marian and Bob Traphagen; her biological mother, Tonya Stephens Jones; her sister, Angelina Jones; her brothers, Michael Stephens, David and Matthew Traphagen; her grandmother, Cleta Jones; Grandma Stephens; several aunts, uncles; and many special friends, especially Glenn Christofferson and Becky.

She was predeceased by her father, James Jones. Sherry worked for HyGear Motorsports in Lansing, loved her job, and always took great pride in her work. She enjoyed creating artistic abstract paintings and growing her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens. Sherry loved nature walks, music, and cooking, and above all, she cherished her children and the time she spent with them.

Paul P. Perkins, age 86, of 15 Evergreen Street, Dryden, NY passed away peacefully Friday, June 20, 2008 at his residence after a one year illness. Mr. Perkins was born May 25, 1922 in Cortland, NY, the oldest son of Ernest and Josephine DeWitt Perkins. Paul was graduated from Dryden High School in 1940 and served in the US Navy in World War II at various continental stations and aboard the U.S.S. Beckham APA 133 in the South Pacific. The Beckham saw duty at Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was at sea for 10 months. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy as a Pharmacist's Mate First Class, Paul pursued studies at the Simmons School of Embalming and became associated with his father and mother at Perkins Funeral Home.

It was an honor for him to serve the community in the family funeral business until 2007. He operated the Perkins Ambulance Service until 1976. Paul was a member of the national, state and local funeral directors organizations. On April 21, 1946 he was married to the former Joyce McKinney also of Dryden. Mr. Perkins was a seventy-three year member and an Elder of The First Presbyterian Church of Dryden, a member of the Dryden Fire Department, a member and Past Commander and Past County Commander of the Leonard T. Spaulding Post #1134, American Legion and a member of the Dryden Township Post #8158, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was one of the founders of the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home Ritual Team. Paul was proud to be a sixty-five year member and a Past Master of Dryden Lodge #472 F.&A.M. and served as Treasurer for more than fifty-five years. He was appointed by the Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York as the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Brazil.

ITHACA - Mitta M. Bennett, age 92, of Ithaca, died Thursday afternoon, June 12th, at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca. Mrs. Bennett was born in Interlaken, the daughter of the late Arthur and Bessie Gibbs VanOstrand.

Mrs. Bennett worked many years prior to retirement as an assembler for NCR in Ithaca. She enjoyed spending her time crocheting and timing race cars throughout the East Coast. Mrs. Bennett was also an avid bowler and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the VFW and the Eagles Club in Ithaca.