Thomas B. Wood Jr. of East Dundee, Ill., died unexpectedly on Aug. 20, 2020, at the age of 55 while vacationing in Greenport with his children. He was a former resident of the North Fork.

He was born March 30, 1965, in Yonkers, N.Y., to Thomas and Patricia Whalen Wood.

He was employed by the State of Illinois as a mental health technician and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

He is survived by his mother, Patricia Whalen Wood of Greenport, N.Y.; his children, Kailey, Madeline and Tommy of Elgin, Ill.; and his sisters, Maura Wood Maschinski of Elgin, Gillian Wood Pultz of Greenport and Kirstin Wood Carfagnini of East Dundee; along with many family and friends.

At the time of his death, Thomas was able to provide the gift of organ and tissue donation.

The family would like to thank the staff at Eastern Long Island Hospital and Stony Brook University Hospital for their care and compassion.

Please consider the gift of organ donation at organdonor.gov.

This is a paid notice.

The post Thomas B. Wood Jr. appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Charles Slama of Greenport, N.Y., passed away on Aug. 15, 2020, after reaching the age of 103. He died peacefully in his home at Peconic Landing. 

Charles was born June 25, 1917, in Astoria, N.Y. He served in the Army during World War II. A hardworking, active man all his life, he worked several jobs before applying his mechanical skills to his own tool-and-die-making machine shop. After retirement he enjoyed working with wood, metal and anything he could find to create many unique treasures.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Louise, and sisters and brothers Rose, Helen, Josephine, Carolyn, Anne, Stanley and Robert. He is survived by his children, Charles C. Slama (Susan) and Barbara A. Meyer (Bruce); and his grandchildren, Lisa and Jonathan Meyer.

A special thank-you to the staff of the Shores at Peconic Landing for their loving kindness and care of Charles.

Services will be private, with interment at Calverton National Cemetery.

This is a paid notice.

The post Charles Slama appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Mattituck resident Ronald J. Diachun died Aug. 21, 2020, at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was 61.

Born Nov. 13, 1958, in Greenport, Mr. Diachun was the son of Theodore and Ellie Diachun. He graduated from Mattituck High School in 1977 and worked as a landscaper.

Predeceased by his parents, he is survived by his daughter, Melanie Lorenz of Mattituck, and one grandchild.

Cremation was private. Arrangements were handled by Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cut­ch­ogue.

The post Ronald J. Diachun appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Allen G. Cox died Feb. 29, 2020, in hospice care arranged by Bishop’s Glen Assisted Living Facility in Daytona Beach, Fla. He was 94.

A longtime Mattituck resident, he was the son of Edgar and Ethel (Hazard) Cox. He was a World War II Army veteran, and received the Purple Heart after being wounded on Dec. 13, 1944, during the Rhineland Campaign in France.

Before retiring to Florida, he worked for Crabtree-O’Keefe Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Riverhead. He was an avid boater out of Mattituck Creek Inlet.

Predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Jean (Brown), his brothers, Benjamin, Robert, Wilbur and Vernon, and sisters, Doris Wolbert and Anna Cheshire, he is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were handled by Dale Woodward Funeral Home in Florida. A local, private memorial will be finalized when the COVID-19 situation allows. 

The post Allen Goldsmith Cox appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Joyce M. Wilkins of Southold, formerly of Glendale, N.Y., passed away Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. She was 78.

Joyce was born Sept. 26, 1941, in Glendale to Florence L. (née Beehler) and William J. Grimm. She graduated from Richmond Hill High School with the Class of 1959. After high school, she attended Berkeley Business School. 

In 1965, Joyce married Harold Wilkins and they resided in Glendale. After having summered in Southold since the early 1960s, they moved to Southold permanently in 1977 to raise their daughters. Joyce worked at Wetmore Real Estate in Greenport for a few years before she started working in the Southold Town Clerk’s Office. Joyce retired from the Town of Southold in 2005. 

She was a member of the Southold Homemakers Club and secretary for Southold Town’s Landmark Preservation Committee and Tree Committee for many years. She was also a member of St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. In her free time, Joyce enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, playing games, cooking and, most of all, spending time with her family. Her grandchildren were the light of her life. 

Joyce was predeceased by her parents; her brother, William Grimm of Cary, N.C., and formerly of North Merrick, N.Y.; and dear friend Helene. She is survived by her children, Eileen Jaklevic (John) of Southold and Lynn Eckhardt (Michael) of Southold; grandchildren Jennifer and Julia Jaklevic and Jeremy, Justin and Nicholas Eckhardt; sister-in-law Madeline Grimm of Cary, N.C.; nieces and nephews Michael, Jim, Lorraine and Lynn; and dear friends Marie, Gail, Doris and Fred.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. 

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold, with Father John Barrett officiating. The Rite of Committal will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to Southold Fire Department and Southold Animal Shelter, c/o North Fork Animal Welfare League.

This is a paid notice.

The post Joyce M. Wilkins appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Gisela Schmitz Durhan, age 97, of Manchester, Conn. (formerly of Southold, N.Y.), died peacefully on Aug. 21, 2020. 

Born in Germany in 1922, she came to the United States as a young child and grew up in Glendale, N.Y. Gig was an avid skier and met her future husband, Ernest Durhan, in the German Ski Club of New York. They raised two daughters in Roslyn, N.Y., and were active in the boating community of the Port Washington Yacht Club. After retiring, Gig moved to Southold, where she volunteered at the Southold library and at Eastern Long Island Hospital. 

Gig had many interests and was a passionate traveler, having visited over 30 countries and all seven continents. Along the way Gig made friends wherever she went, had many bridge partners and was always ready for another adventure. Gig had a great sense of humor and was always telling jokes. She frequently said how lucky she was to have had such a great life.

Gig was preceded in death by her parents, Hermann and Regina; her husband, Ernest; and her siblings, Hermann, Christel and Liz. Gig is survived by her daughters, Linda Durhan (John Opalacz) and Elizabeth Durhan (Tom Haynes); five grandchildren, Jennifer, Katherine, Kristin, Laura and Daniel; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind many great friends from her travels and from her time living in Southold and in White Oaks Retirement Community in Manchester.

Due to the current pandemic the family will host a celebration of life at a later date, when it is safe to do so.

The family would like to thank everyone who played a part in Gig’s life, especially the staff at White Oaks and the caregivers at Jefferson House in Newington, Conn. 

For online condolences, please visit www.mulryanfh.com.

This is a paid notice.

The post Gisela Schmitz Durhan appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Greenport resident Alfred A. Affenito died Aug. 24, 2020, at his home. He was 97.

The family will receive visitors from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cut­ch­ogue. Private inurnment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project.

The post Alfred A. Affenito appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of Steven Mark Norklun on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, at the age of 57 from complications of Diabetes Type 1. Steve was born in Orient, N.Y., and immigrated to Nova Scotia in 1988.

Steve leaves behind his wife, Mary Carver Norklun; his parents, Curt and Nancy Norklun of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia; and Kathy and Norman Conklin of Columbus, N.C. He also leaves behind numerous cousins with whom he was very close.

Steve was predeceased by his brother, Darren, and his grandparents, Tony and Eloise Norklun and Henry and Alice Jacobi. 

This is a paid notice.

The post Steven Mark Norklun appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Alba M. Milcetic of Ridge, N.Y., died at home Aug. 27, 2020. She was 82.

The family will receive visitors Monday, Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold. Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery.

The post Alba M. Milcetic appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Dorothy A. Oldani, a former resident of Mattituck, died Aug. 30, 2020, at The Commons at Brightmore in Wilmington, N.C. She was 88.

Born Nov. 8, 1931, in Nashville, Tenn., to Walter J. Norris, M.D., and Margaret (Swinburne) Norris, she later attended MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill.

A resident of Derwood, Md., from 1959 to 1995, she lived in Mattituck for 22 years. She was a member of the Catholic Church and a devoted homemaker.

She was predeceased Jan. 8, 2018, by her husband of 62 years, Charles M. Oldani, whom she married Oct. 22, 1955, in Corona, Queens, N.Y. She is survived by her three children, Margaret R. “Maggie” Stalfort of Wilmington, N.C., Carlo W. Oldani of New Bern, N.C., and David J. Oldani of Felton, Del.; and five grandchildren, Timothy Lynch-Oldani, Jaime C. Stalfort, Natalie A. Oldani, Mia J. Oldani and Charles W. Oldani. She was also predeceased by two brothers, John W. Norris of Garden City and William H. Norris of Mineola.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Sept. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck, with Msgr. Joseph W. Staudt officiating. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the caring staff and hospice staff at Liberty Commons in Wilmington, N.C., for their excellent care.

This is a paid notice.

The post Dorothy A. Oldani appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

David Carney Walker, 93, of Westhampton passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. 

David was born at Southampton Hospital, the son of David and Marion (Carney) Walker. He was married to his loving wife, Annamae (Brown) Walker, for 64 years. 

David grew up during the Great Depression and told many stories of difficult times his family faced. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and his visit to Ireland. He attended Westhampton High School and left to join the United States Navy during World War II. He attended electrician’s school in the Navy and after being honorably discharged he joined International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 25, where he was a member for 72 years.

In his early years, he worked as an electrician during the day and in the evenings as a teacher in the electrical apprenticeship program. He lived in Sayville when his eight children were young and moved to Cut­ch­ogue in 1970. He was a member of both Sayville and Cut­ch­ogue fire departments. He was the last surviving member of Cut­ch­ogue Fire Department’s “Over the Hill” racing team. 

In retirement, David and Annamae loved to travel. They bought a motor home and traveled the continental U.S. extensively and even drove to Alaska. In addition, they traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and made many trips to the Hawaiian Islands. He also earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying as a hobby. The couple settled in Florida for 10 years before returning to Long Island in 2012. He spent part of his retirement playing golf, but he really loved playing dominoes and kings in the corner with his family.

David was predeceased by his wife, Annamae; his sister, Elizabeth Dryburgh; his son David J. Walker and his grandson Kyle A. Boyd. He is survived by his children Therese Bodenstein, Mary George, Irene Smith, Jean Pliakas, Robert, Ann Marie Mulvihill and Edward; 10 grandchildren, Michelle Weston, Michael, Robert and Ryan Walker, Meghan Bodenstein, Haley and Colin Mulvihill, Elena and Tessa Pliakas, and Emily Walker; three great-grandchildren, Luke and Lauren Weston and Keegan Power; two nephews, Steven Walter and John Brown; and one niece, Barbara (Brown) Markell.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Sept. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cut­ch­ogue. A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cut­ch­ogue. Burial with military honors will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.

This is a paid notice.

The post David Carney Walker appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Sabina A. Ferenc of Warsaw, Poland, died Aug. 30, 2020, on the North Fork. She was 92 years old.

Sabina was born Jan. 30, 1928, in Poland to Kieronika and Kiincenty Kuskowski. She was a laboratory technician in Poland. 

She is survived by her son, Andre Ferenc (Marie), and two grandchildren.

Mrs. Ferenc will be returned home for burial in her native homeland. May she rest in peace.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home is serving the family.

This is a paid notice.

The post Sabina A. Ferenc appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Alerio A. Cardinale of Laurel and Florida died Sept. 2, 2020, in Florida. He was 102.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck, followed by interment at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.

Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 1930, Lindale, TX 75771.

The post Alerio A. Cardinale appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Dorothy M. Caggiano of Southold died Sept. 1, 2020. She was 96.

Dorothy was born May 12, 1924, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Frances (née Kaz-mierczak) and Leonard J. Kowalski. She was raised in Bay Ridge, N.Y., and moved to Bayside, Queens, N.Y., eventually moving to Southold full-time in 1998. She enjoyed reading and playing the card game Canasta with her close group of friends.

Predeceased by her husband, Rudy, on Oct. 15, 2004, Dorothy is survived by her children, Rich Caggiano (Susan) of Southold, Kathryn Caggiano (Bob) of Frisco, Texas, and Dianne Melilta (Joe) of Great Neck, N.Y.; grandchildren, Nick (Melissa), Sarah (Mike), Victoria, Christine (Rick), Joseph, Michael and Angela; and great-grandchildren, Ricky and Mia Louisa.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 12:45 p.m. at St. Patrick Cemetery in Southold, with the Rev. Dr. Peter J. Kelley officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Southold Fire Department or Community Action Southold Town would be appreciated.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold is serving the family.

This is a paid notice.

The post Dorothy M. Caggiano appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Alerio A. Cardinale, son of Sicilian immigrants, real estate investor, attorney, veteran and beloved patriarch of a large family, died peacefully in Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 2, 2020, at age 102. His wife, Flory Davidoff Cardinale, was at his side when he suffered a cardiac arrest after a busy morning conferring with his investment brokers.

Born Jan. 26, 1918, Alerio grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. His business career began during the Depression at age 12, when he got an after-school job with a real estate office showing properties to prospective tenants. By age 16, he had saved enough to make his first investment, purchasing a house in his aunt’s name for just $50 and quickly finding a tenant. Alerio worked every day until the day he died. He started his first full-time job in real estate Aug. 19, 1934, and celebrated his “Working Anniversary” every year for the next 86 years.

Over the next two decades, Alerio worked alongside his father, managed a growing portfolio of Brooklyn properties, completed St. John’s College and Law School at night, served in the Army during World War II, opened a Brooklyn real estate office and started a family with his first wife, Louise. In 1946 Alerio and his parents and family started spending summers at their second home on Peconic Bay in Laurel. 

Alerio’s life was ripped apart April 14, 1956, when his father and first-born son (both named Joseph) were killed when a train struck their car at the railroad crossing in Laurel. After this, Alerio and Louise focused on keeping their family together. “Looking back,” Alerio wrote in his 2017 autobiography, “it seems that after the sorrows of 1956, we all became much closer as a family. I’m very thankful for this, and I hope it continues after I’m no longer here.” 

Louise died suddenly on April 14, 1975. Alerio moved full-time to Laurel and opened an office in Jamesport in 1980. He married Flory in 1986 and the couple began spending a part of each year in Palm Beach. 

After retiring from real estate, Alerio invested in municipal bonds and stock options and watched the financial markets closely. Throughout the years, he dispensed wise advice to his family and friends and gradually composed his autobiography, which was published for the occasion of his 100th birthday celebration. 

Alerio leaves four children, sons Alan and Philip Cardinale and daughters Adelinda Catalano and Louise Busch; 14 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cut­ch­ogue. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery in Middle Village, Queens.

Memorial donations may be made to Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 1930, Lindale, TX 75771.

This is a paid notice.

The post Alerio A. Cardinale appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Eileen L. Haggerty, born Oct. 3, 1921, in Flushing, N.Y., to parents John and Loretta Moriarty, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, surrounded by family in Greenport, N.Y., and virtually in Georgia, Massachusetts and New York, as well as in the loving care of staff and friends of Peconic Landing continuing care retirement community in Greenport. 

Eileen was raised in Astoria, N.Y., along with her sibling, Jack Moriarty, whom she lost tragically to a car accident in 1939. She graduated from Julia Richman High School in Manhattan along with classmate and friend Lauren Bacall and always had a great love of movies and music, studying piano from an early age (played “The Blue Danube” by heart). She met her future husband, Charles J. Haggerty (“Charlie”) on a double date with the “other guy.” She and Charlie soon married in January 1944, right before he left for service in World War II as a B-24 flyer of 50 missions in the European theater. During that time, she worked at the Federal Reserve Bank in Manhattan until starting a family in the Veterans Projects in Jackson Heights, N.Y., after the war. 

Following more than five years in the Veterans Projects in Jackson Heights, the family moved to Floral Park, N.Y. She also worked for many years at Abraham and Straus Department Stores in Garden City, N.Y., and Hempstead, N.Y., while at the same time involving her children in school and community activities to enrich their lives. Eileen and her family spent parts of every summer on the North Fork of Eastern Long Island and moved permanently in 1977 to Orient Point, N.Y., on the street they described as “the last left-hand turn before France.” Eileen entered Peconic Landing in Greenport as one of its first residents in 2003, at the time of Charlie’s passing. 

She loved golf at Island’s End Golf Course (especially the 16th hole, where she always hoped to get a hole-in-one) and everything about the North Fork. She also loved to swim, go on outings and enjoyed boat rides and water-skiing (even slalom). Her favorite card game was double solitaire and she would always encourage other players to join in. Of course, she also enjoyed a double each evening with Charlie as well as with their dear friends Ed and Doris Linker and family. In her later years, she avidly played “Words With Friends” on her iPad — her 90-year-old birthday gift!

Surviving children are John (“Jack”) and wife Susan and their sons, Michael and David; Dennis and wife Sonia and their children, Thomas, Martin and Jacqueline; Eileen and husband Tony and their children, Anthony, Brian and Dana; and Patricia and wife Shelley and their children, David and Alexandra. Also surviving are the grandchildren’s spouses and nine great-grandchildren who came to know and love their “Nana/GG.”

Eileen leaves both a legacy of love and laughter and noteworthy instruction to all her family and friends to always first love themselves in order to be able to share their love and talents with others. She wanted NO wake and only a Mass at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport Friday, Sept. 11, at 11 a.m., which will be limited to 66 congregants due to the need for social distancing. Burial will be after the Mass at Calverton National Cemetery with her husband, Charlie. Due to strict social distancing requirements, the burial will be attended only by immediate family members. Similarly, there will be no repast or gathering after the interment. 

Arrangements were entrusted to Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cut­ch­ogue.

To honor her memory and wishes, charitable donations can be made to St. Agnes R.C. Church, 523 Front St., Greenport, NY 11944. She would also love (as she would say, “Listen to what I’m saying!”), if you prefer, to send something edible, like cookies or pastries, a tray, a box or a package, or whatever you can, no matter the size, to the direct caregivers at Peconic Landing, with a simple note with your name and reference that “This is from Mrs. Haggerty!” She’ll be smiling! Address to: Peconic Landing Retirement Community, Attn: Caregivers at The Shores, 1600 Brecknock Road, Greenport, NY 11944.

This is a paid notice.

The post Eileen L. Haggerty appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Father Bruno F. Swiatocha, a native of Cutchogue, died Sept. 5, 2020. He was 93.

Fr. Bruno was the first and only priest ever ordained from Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. For many years, he served as Pastor of Our Lady of Poland R.C. Church in Southampton.

Funeral arrangements for visiting hours and Liturgy of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Ostrabrama are pending at this time. Interment will be in the family plot at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck is serving the family.

The post Father Bruno F. Swiatocha appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

Angeliki Spanos of East Marion died Sept. 7, 2020. She was 85.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Sept. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Antonopoulos Funeral Home, 38-08 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria, Queens.

Interment will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. at Sterling Cemetery in Greenport.

The post Angeliki Spanos appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

On June 9, 2020, Ms. Virginia Foster Martin — aka “Stella out East” or “Aunt Ginnie” — passed from her earthly paradise in Greenport, U.S.A., to her eternal one. 

She was born on Oct. 17, 1923, and lived to the wonderful age of 96 and a half. Although she spent the last 85 or so years of her life here in New York, her heart belonged to San Francisco, where she was born. She was the only child of Marie and Bert Foster, who treated her like the princess she was from the day they welcomed her to the world. One of her earliest memories was of her nanny mashing avocados for her baby food. 

Ginnie traveled extensively throughout the United States in her youth, from the mountains of Maine to the clubs in New Orleans to the parks and campgrounds in California. She settled down somewhat to attend Syracuse University, where she met her true love and future husband, Richard Martin, who had enlisted in the Army. They had a joyful courtship and married in February 1942. Sadly, just months later, Richard died in France fighting for our country in World War II. Ginnie mourned his loss until her dying day. 

Her life did go on and she spent a great deal of it with her childhood friend Doris Sonner, whom she met at the age of 13. They ultimately worked together in the Baldwin school district as librarians and lacrosse and field hockey coaches. When Doris was 28, she had a heart attack, which was a turning point in both their lives. Ginnie accompanied Doris to a friend’s home in Mattituck as she convalesced. It was on one of their many drives throughout the North Fork that they came upon the fishing shack in Greenport that would ultimately become their home. They named it “Gull Cottage.” Ginnie and Doris spent many, many happy years there fishing, clamming, boating, barbecuing and partying their heads off with family and friends. 

Doris passed away peacefully in the sunroom of Gull Cottage in 2009. Ginnie carried on, spending time with her “Breakfast Club” Sunday mornings at Hellenic, volunteering at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and involving herself in events associated with the maritime museum in Greenport (where she was an early commodore) and the North Fork Women for Women Fund (NFWFWF). It was at an NFWFWF event — at the tender age of 90 — that Ginnie met her next life partner, Kathy Collins. Kathy is an author of fiction, nonfiction and poetry who brought boundless love and great joy to Ginnie’s later years. 

Ginnie is also survived by her great-niece and -nephew, Sue and Dan Diviney; their children, Meg, John, Michael and Ryan; their grandchild, Danny; and many friends and their families who grew up enjoying Ginnie’s company, beautiful beach and nearby jetty. 

If you ever had the good fortune to spend time with Ginnie, you know that there was Virginia’s way or some other misguided direction you might decide to take. Nevertheless, to know her was to love her and if you were lucky enough to have known her, you are better for it. Her favorite saying: “I love fun — it’s one of the best things I do!” 

May Ginnie rest in peace — the other saints in Heaven will forever be on their toes!

Memorial donations may be made in Ginnie’s name to NFWFWF.

This is a paid notice.

The post Virginia Foster Martin appeared first on The Suffolk Times.

A. Ralph Bartolacci, a resident of Upper Nyack, N.Y., and Laurel, N.Y., passed away at his home in Laurel on Sept. 7, 2020, at the age of 86 after a valiant fight with prostate cancer and congestive heart failure. 

Born on Feb. 12, 1934, in Phillipsburg, N.J., he was the son of August and Elvira Bartolacci. Ralph attended St. Philip and St. James School in Phillipsburg and Lafayette College (Class of 1955) in Easton, Pa., where he served in the ROTC. After earning a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Lehigh University, Ralph went to work for IBM as an engineer, and worked there in various roles for his entire career of 37 years.

Ralph was married to his wife, Valerie A. Wissler, for 55 years. Ralph and Valerie lived for 46 years in Upper Nyack, where Ralph served as a village trustee for 22 of those years. They also maintained a pied-à-terre in New York City, where they loved dining out, going to Broadway plays and visiting museums.

Ralph’s career with IBM took the family to France for four years and England for two. Their time in Europe sparked a lifelong love of traveling for Ralph and Valerie, and they visited over 50 countries together, including many with the whole family.

Early in his married life, Ralph gave up his weekend days on the golf course to embrace the more family-friendly pastime of motor boating. He took Valerie and their three children boating up and down the Hudson River. Later, after purchasing a summer home on the North Fork, the family enjoyed boating on the waters of the East End. Ralph and Valerie enjoyed taking their boat on trips to Block Island and Connecticut, and Ralph loved deep-sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean with his two sons. Ever the devoted grandparents, Ralph and Valerie regularly took their grandchildren on fishing and tubing outings on Peconic Bay.

Ralph picked up skiing as an adult, and while never quite mastering the sport, he imparted his love of it to his children, starting all of them at a young age. They have only recently begun to appreciate his heroic achievement of taking three children under the age of 9 skiing, as they try to do so with their own. 

Ralph was a true engineer, always embracing the challenge of figuring out how things worked. He could fix anything and everything, often with some epoxy and a soda can, and applied these expert skills to maintaining his boats, his homes and his children’s and grandchildren’s boats and homes. His workshops were brimming with tools for every task, including “building projects” with his grandchildren. 

Ralph is survived by his sister, Philomena Azzalina of Easton, Pa.; his three children, Susan Bartolacci Dahiya (Sandeep), Peter Bartolacci (Suzanne) and Gary Bartolacci (Heidi); his eight grandchildren: Asha, Pria and Julian Dahiya; Anna and Brendan Bartolacci; and Abigail, Eliza and Matthew Bartolacci; and his devoted cockapoo, Maggie. 

The family received family and friends Sept. 10 at Coffey Funeral Home in Tarrytown, N.Y. A funeral Mass took place Sept. 11 at Church of the Transfiguration in Tarrytown. An interment ceremony followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue, Long Island.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Ralph’s name to the Courtney Anne Diacont Memorial Foundation (648 Bok Road, Nazareth, PA 18064) or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Office of Development, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087).

This is a paid notice.

The post August Ralph Bartolacci appeared first on The Suffolk Times.