Obituaries

ITHACA - Herma S. Moiseichik, age 96, of Ithaca, died Tuesday morning at Hospicare. Herma was born in Nazareth, PA on May 18, 1910, a daughter of the late Edwin and Stella Kern.

She was a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagle Auxiliary #1253 and a member of the Moose Lodge #592, VFW #961 in Ithaca and the American Legion of Trumansburg. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling and having a good time with family and friends. She will be always remembered as an excellent homemaker and cook who enjoyed gardening and planting flowers. With her little three wheel cart, she would walk daily behind Titus Towers and feed the ducks. Prior to her retirement she was a cook at Immaculate Conception School for many years.

Pamela Gillespie passed away on the evening of Tuesday, August 29, 2006. Pamela was born on March 26, 1958 in Reigate, Surrey, England to Oliver William and Euteen Khoo Wolters. She moved with her family to Ithaca in the early 1960s when her father accepted a position at Cornell University. Pamela attended Ithaca schools until age 13, when she enrolled at Walthamstow Hall, Kent, England. She received her diploma in 1976 and returned to Ithaca to attend Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Upon graduation in 1980 with a B.A. degree in Geology, she moved to New York City. There, she worked for the civil engineering firm of Mueser, Rutledge and DeSimone, performing geotechnical analysis and fieldwork on many notable projects for the Northeast Corridor Transportation Development, Battery Park City and the South Street Seaport.

Pamela returned to Ithaca in 1983 to marry Graham Gillespie and raise a family. Her son Graeme MacPherson was born in 1985 and daughter Heather Khoo in 1988. While the children were young, Pamela retrained as a nurse, completing the curriculum at Tompkins Cortland Community College in 1993 and receiving her RN. She has been employed in the Intensive Care Unit at Cortland Regional Medical Center from that time.

GROTON: Eugene Philip Moon, Jr., fondly known as "Charlie", age 22 of 601 Auburn Road, Groton, New York died suddenly Tuesday morning, August 29, 2006 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Funeral services will be 11:00am Friday at The Lansing United Methodist Church, 32 Brickyard Road, Lansing, NY. Rev. William Gottschalk-Fielding will officiate. The family will receive friends at The Lansing Funeral Home, Inc., 32 Auburn Road, Lansing on Thursday, between the hours of 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

Marian Edith Thaine Thompson, 89, of Lansing, New York passed away on August 24 at the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, New York from heart and lung failure.

Marian had lived most of her life in the Ithaca and Lansing areas. She was active in the North Lansing Grange serving many years as Secretary and Musician as she played the piano. While living the past 25 years at Woodsedge Senior Home in Lansing she was the LOAP bus dispatcher for several years and was honored for her service in that volunteer position. She also helped her friend Eileen Cundy and her daughter-in-law Helen Thompson make many bonnets for cancer patients. She was an avid letter writer and crossword puzzle fan. She enjoyed the many painting and ceramics classes provided for residents. She was a member of Lansing United Methodist Church where she enjoyed Bible study.

HOMER, NY - Our beloved mother, Isabelle McCraine passed away peacefully to be with our Lord as she was surrounded by family at home on Saturday, August 5. Born in Gourock, Scotland, July 4, 1921, she emigrated with her family to the states in 1928 as her Dad, a naval architect and an emissary at the United States Embassy was relocated. She grew up in Staten Island, went to school for broadcast journalism. During World War II, Belle worked as a nurses aide for the American Red Cross. Later on, she took a job with WMEL Radio in Washington, DC.

Isabelle married Peter Young and settled in Copaigue, Long Island to raise a family. Isabelle then moved up to Cortland in 1963 and began working for SUNY Cortland in the Admissions Office, where she remained for twenty years until her retirement in 1983. After retirement from the college, she remained active with her children, volunteering for the Red Cross, and working part-time at several jobs, including Park Communications and Treeforms. In 1985, Isabelle made it back to her beloved Scotland for a visit with family members.

GROTON: Stephanie Ames, 77 of 674 Van Ostrand Road, Groton, New York, died Sunday, June 25, 2006 at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca.

Stephanie was born in Tampa, Florida on May 22, 1929, the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (nee Kurej) Sinda. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Spencer, the Order of The Eastern Star, Spencer, and the Tropical Fruit Club, Melbourne, Florida. Stephanie loved gardening, camping, fishing, and the many cruises she and her husband took throughout the years. The Ames family has resided in the Groton-Lansing community since 1971 and had previously resided in Spencer, New York, for 20 years.

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina: Helen H. Kelly, 76 of 243 Tindall Street, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, a former Lansing resident ,died suddenly, Sunday morning, June 18, 2006 at Wilkes Regional Medical Center, North Wilkesboro, NC.

Born in Ithaca, New York on January 5, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Ivan and Alice (nee Whiting) Harris. Mrs. Kelly was a lifetime Soldier in The Salvation Army and was active in the brass band and the Songsters. She and her husband owned and operated B. Kelly and Sons Carpet Company, Lansing for many years and while residing in North Carolina, she was employed as a Receptionist at Our House.

ITHACA - Joel Porte, 72, Ernest I. White Professor of American Studies and Humane Letters, Emeritus at Cornell, died of esophageal cancer on June 1, at the Hospicare residence in Ithaca. An internationally renowned scholar of American literature and Emerson specialist, Professor Porte came to Cornell in 1987, and retired in 2004. He spent his earlier career at Harvard, where he resigned as Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature and Chair of the Department of English to join Cornell as the Frederick J. Whiton Professor of American Literature. In 1989, he became Director of American Studies and Ernest I. White Professor. This year, he received the national Emerson Society's Distinguished Achievement Award.

Professor Porte earned his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1962, when he also was awarded the coveted Bowdoin Prize (established in 1791) for an essay on Emerson. In 1969, at the age of 36, he became one of the youngest persons in the history of the English department to be promoted to full professor. He was appointed a Rockefeller Scholar in Residence in Bellagio, Italy (1979), and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellow (1981-82). He served as a visiting scholar and lecturer around the world; as scholarly consultant for publishing companies, universities, professional associations, and media groups; and on the editorial boards of key academic journals.

Caissa Joan Willmer, 75 of North Aurora Street, Ithaca, New York died at 1:06am., Saturday, June 3, 2006 at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca.

Born December 10, 1930in New Rochelle, New York,she was a daughter of the late William C. and Carin (nee Bismark) Weber and the wife of John Willmer of Cortland, NY.

STEPHEN ELWOOD GARNER
January 21, 1946 – May 27, 2006

Steve Garner was a man of utmost honesty, integrity, and commitment. He was a dedicated family man, a passionate business leader, and a friend and mentor to countless people. Steve was a tireless worker and was committed to building relationships with his family, within the organizations he worked with and supported, and throughout the communities he served. He had a playful spirit, and a wonderful sense of humor. Of Steve’s many gifts, he will be remembered as a remarkable leader. He cared deeply about the personal and professional development of his family, friends, and business associates. Nothing made Steve as happy as seeing the people around him grow to their full potential. Steve also possessed a competitive team spirit. When asked by a reporter how to “beat the competition,” he responded by saying that first you must “respect the competition.” From the basketball court to the boardroom, Steve always had a deep respect for both his competitors and his teammates. Steve was also a gifted communicator, individually, and in front of the many groups with whom he spoke. His humor, presence, and genuine affection for others will be dearly missed.

CAYUTA - Herbert S. Mack, 53, of 6140 Route 13, Cayuta, New York, died Monday afternoon, May 22, 2006, at his residence.

Born May 31, 1952, in New York, New York, he was a son of the late Wilbert and Janet (nee Saunders) Mack. Mr. Mack was employed as a Graphic Artist for Distributor Data Forms, Cortland, NY, and Cornell University Press, Ithaca.

May 21, 1928 – May 23, 2006

Florence H. PrybylITHACA - Florence H. Prybyl, of Ithaca, NY, homemaker and world traveler, passed away in Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City, NY, on May 23, of complications after open heart surgery, her second in six months.

The former Florence H. Kolber was born and raised in Buffalo. She attended Buffalo State College until marrying Richard Prybyl in 1949. Florence and Richard were faithfully married for 56 years. Over the course of their marriage, they lived in Western New York, the Boston, MA area, Williamsport, PA, Oxnard, California, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and most recently Ithaca.

ITHACA, NY—Betty Pomponio, 90, formerly of Palmyra and Fairport, died peacefully at the Hospicare residence in Ithaca on Friday night, April 21, 2006.

She is survived by her daughter Rosemary Pomponio and grandson Jesse, of Belmont, MA; by her daughter Elizabeth (Betty Ann) Hillbrand and son-in-law John, of Springdale, AR, and granddaughters Rose, Anna, Selena and Elana Hillbrand; by her son, Arthur Pomponio and daughter-in-law Diane, of Fairport, granddaughter Christy Giancursio and her husband, Jim, of Macedon, and grandson Mark Pomponio, of Fairport; and by her daughter Dorothy Pomponio and son-in-law Joel Rabinowitz, of Groton, NY. Betty was predeceased by her husband, Arthur, by her sister, Mary Miller, and by her brother, Eugene Thomas. Sadly, Betty did not live to see the birth of her first great-grandchild, due in May.

LOCKE: Betty L. Spry, 80 of 12 Locke Road, Locke, New York died at 12:30am, Friday, April 7, 2006 at the Groton Nursing Facility, after a long illness.

A life long resident of the Groton and North Lansing communities, Mrs. Spry was born in Groton, New York on April 25, 1925, a daughter of the late William and Nellie (nee Swartwood) Lisdell and was the widow of Frederick James Spry, Jr. who died in June of 1991. Mrs. Spry was a member and Past President of the North Lansing Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, a member of the Carrington Fuller Lodge Ladies Auxiliary, Groton and had served as the dog enumerator for the Town of Lansing for many years. She was an avid New York Yankees fan and will be remembered as a devoted Mother.

GROTON - Agnes "Nancie" Mader, 80, of 63 West Groton Road, Groton, New York, a former resident of Longview of Ithaca and long time resident of Bergenfield, New Jersey, died at 11:58 a.m. Saturday, March 25, 2006 at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca.

Born February 18, 1926, in North Bergen, New Jersey, she was the only child of the late William and Margaret (nee Selkirk) Savage and the widow of Major Carl B. Mader who died March 5, 1995. Mrs. Mader moved to the area in December of 2000 and enjoyed two years living at Longview where she was known as "The Dog Lady." The Maders resided in Bergenfield, New Jersey for more than 50 years and on most weekends, during good weather, enjoyed boating and the special friendships at The Palisades Boat Club on the border of Hastings and Yonkers, New York. She was a retired Sales Consultant at Rad's Jewelry Store where she became passionate about fine jewelry. A longtime member of The Church of The Good Shepherd in Bergenfield, New Jersey, she was active in their Mizpah Circle. Some of her other interests included being an avid reader, a fondness for watching old movies late at night, buying shoes and raising African violets. To celebrate her 80th birthday, she enjoyed a party with pizza and beer.

ITHACA, NY - Ellen M. Hitchcock-Sinn, formerly of Camptown, Pennsylvania, died at the age of 87 on March 18th, 2006 from pneumonia, causing her heart to fail. Ellen was a resident at Northwoods Nursing Home in Moravia, NY, when she passed away.

Ellen was born on September 29, 1918. She was the daughter of William T. Vinson and Debra Benjamin Vinson.  Ellen attended Camptown, PA, schools. Throughout her life, she worked as a cab driver for Yellow Cab of Ithaca, NY, worked as a nurse at The Odd Fellows and The Reconstruction Home, and worked at the Montessori School in Ithaca as a janitor.

SPENCER:Mrytle Irene Mastroberti , 81 of 800 Comfort Road, Spencer, New York passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, March 19, 2006.

Myrtle was born Mrytle Irene Eith, Sept. 21,1925, on Staten Island, NY, a daughter of the late August and Eleanor ( nee Cox) Eith. She worked hard on the family vegetable farm. She loved school and learning. She started her career right out of High School working as a typist/receptionist in New York City. She married Michael J. Mastroberti on August 20, 1949 and they built their first home. While raising three sons, she and Mike enjoyed some long camping trips around the country. They ultimately bought land in Danby where they built their home and enjoyed gardening and raising livestock. Mrytle began working at Ithaca College in 1973 and continued until her retirement in March of 1985; where she worked in the President's Office. After retirement, Mrytle continued to enjoy working around the yard, taking care of her home, being a grandmother and feeding and watching the birds. She was a member of the Spencer Federated Church where she had many friends.