Laura Plimpton

Laura Plimpton died Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut. The cause of death was a complication from a brain aneurism. She was 59.

Laura Dorothy Kostyra, the youngest of six children, was born March 4, 1955, in Jersey City to Martha and Edward Kostyra. After growing up in Nutley, N.J., Laura moved to Florida and then to Westport, Connecticut, where she began to work in catering with her sister, Martha Stewart.

At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, an actor, Kim Herbert, demanded to meet the person who made the delicious lemon bars served by Ms. Stewart’s then-fledgling catering company. That person was Laura. The two were married in 1979. Their first child, Christopher, a Grammy-nominated musician and scholar of Middle Eastern studies, was born in 1980 in New York City. They moved to New Jersey in 1983, and their daughter, Sophie, a yoga teacher and therapist, was born the following year. In 1985, Kim was diagnosed with terminal lymphoma and passed away a few months later.

Laura and her children moved to Weston, Connecticut, and were joined by her mother, Martha Kostyra. Ms. Kostyra, known as “Big Martha,” filled the home with Polish cuisine, passing on recipes for classic dishes such as pierogi (dumplings), golumpki (stuffed cabbage), and babka (Easter cake).

Laura worked alongside her sister for four decades, mainly as a writer for the popular AskMartha radio program and the acclaimed The Martha Blog. In 1989, during a photo shoot, Laura met her second husband, Randy Plimpton, now a real estate agent with William Raveis in Westport and an independent property manager. Laura and Randy were married in 1990. She and Randy cared deeply about the environment and enjoyed summers in Cutchogue on the North Fork of Long Island, where Randy’s grandfather built a house in 1925. Their son, Charlie, a prolific birdwatcher majoring in wildlife and conservation biology at the University of Rhode Island, was born in 1992.

Laura was celebrated for her curious and loving spirit, as well as her warmth, sensitivity and sense of humor. She was a superb chef, master seamstress and wonderful mother. She made many of her children’s clothes and always sent them to school with a homemade lunch. Her holiday feasts — fish chowder and French bread on Christmas Eve; Yorkshire pudding and rib roast on Christmas Day — were renowned.

Two nights before her stroke, Laura prepared dinner for her husband, three children and two sons-in-law. Lamb kebabs marinated in yogurt and mint; and, for dessert, a lemon-blueberry cream pie. It was a beautiful dinner, full of laughter, during which her eldest son, Chris, a polyglot, recited a recent speech in Dutch, Mandarin, and German. The family, which had been apart for much of the summer, will remember the evening forever.

Laura is survived by her husband, Randy Plimpton; her children, Christopher Dylan Herbert, Sophie Martha Herbert Slater and Charles Edward Plimpton; and her sons-in-law, Timothy Long and Dan Slater. She lives on in the hearts of all she touched.

A memorial service will be planned in September, location and date not yet confirmed. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Westport Public Library, 20 Jesup Rd., Westport, CT 06880; Weston Public Library, 56 Norfield Rd., Weston, CT 06883; or Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library, 27550 Main Rd., Cutchogue, NY 11935.

This is a paid notice. 

Mary T. Geller of Greenport died Aug. 7, 2014 at Peconic Bay Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility. She was 89. 

She was born June 7, 1925, to Florence (Cashman) and Louis Thode and was a graduate of St. Agnes High School and Empire College.

On Sept. 3, 1949, she married George C. Geller and together they made their home in Aquebogue from 1964 until his passing in 1996. The following year she moved to Greenport.

Surviving are her children Eileen Szczepanik of Riverhead, Susan Deerkoski of Greenport and Georgia Geller (Edward Brandow) of Mattituck; four grandchildren, Michael Scott, Suzanne McLaughlin, Jilian Deerkoski and Evan Brandow and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, George C. Geller in 1996 and a daughter Virginia Bossung in 1989.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Aug. 15, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Aug. 16, at 9 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, with Father Larry Duncklee officiating. Interment will be at St. John’s R.C. Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Veterans Administration.

Janet Brigham Arnott, 96, of Rutherford, N.J. passed away May 17, 2014. 

She was born in New York City to Theodore and Edith Brigham in 1917. Janet was raised in Greenport, before moving to Rutherford in 1938. She attended Trapphagen School of Design, currently known as Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) while working under Henri Bendel; the first retailer to bring design to Coco Channel. Later, Janet was employed at Fairleigh Dickenson University Rutherford Campus.

Her generous efforts as a volunteer included Rutherford Community Chest, Presbyterian Woman’s Guild, The Red Cross and Food Pantry.Janet was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Rutherford for 67 years. She was especially interested in creative arts.

Janet is predeceased by her first husband, John Quincy Adams; and second husband, William Arnott. She will be deeply missed by her sons, Douglas Adams, William and Kenneth Arnott; and daughter, Virginia Young; her beloved 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Friends and loved ones are invited to gather for a memorial service Sunday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Greenport,

Arrangements were handled by The Collins Calhoun Funeral Home in Rutherford, N.J.

This is a paid notice.

Former Mattituck resident James E. Cooper Jr. of Marina, Calif. died Aug. 12 after a long battle with cancer. He was 58. 

Mr. Cooper is survived by his wife, Donna; his mother, Julie Cooper; his sister, Judy Doroski and niece, Julie.

All services will take place in Marina, Calif. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

This is a paid notice. 

Joseph Snyder Wickham of Simi Valley, Calif. and formerly of Glen Arm, Md and Cutchogue died suddenly Aug. 16, 2014. He was 50. 

Services will be held Sunday, Aug. 24, at 1:30 p.m at Cutchogue Presbyterian Church officiated by the Rev. Bob Griffin. Interment will take place at Cutchogue Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were handled by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes.

A complete obituary will follow.

An informal graveside memorial gathering for longtime Cutchogue resident Gertrude M. Ali will take place Saturday, August 30, from 9:15 – 10:00 a.m. at Cutchogue Cemetery. Ms. Ali died June 4 at the age of 89. Coffee will follow at North Fork Country Club from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Friends of Ms. Ali are welcome to attend to share memories and stories.

Katherine Clark

Katherine A. Clark of Folcroft, Pa., passed away peacefully Aug. 4, 2014, at home surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Hazelton, Pa., and grew up in Greenport and Cutchogue. 

Katherine married the love of her life, Clarence “Whistle” Clark, and soon after moved to Folcroft, Pa., where they began a lifelong adventure raising four beautiful daughters.

Katherine was a past president of Ladies Auxiliary of American Legion Post #507 and a lifelong member of both the Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #7213. She was also a member of the Legion of Honor of the Chapel of the Four Chaplains in Philadelphia.

Katherine was a fabulous homemaker and an accomplished seamstress, making all of her daughters’ wedding dresses as well as many of the uniforms and flags for the 507 Hornets Drum & Bugle Corps. She loved to crochet and had a passion to travel the world, particularly sunny Aruba.

Katherine is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, “Whistle,” along with her children: Laura and Steve, Kipper and Frank, Valerie and Kevin, JoAnn and Jim; and 10 grandchildren: Tim, Ken, Erin, Katie, Jaime, Scott, Kim, Nate, Jera, and Mandolin. In addition, Katherine has 11 amazing great-grandchildren: Flynn, Aubrey, Kevin, Andre, Erik, Markus, Nathan, Ava, Abby, Jaylen, and Jace.

As Whistle always said, “Katherine is “MyTweeter,” the love of my life.”

Services took place in Pennsylvania. Interment took place at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill, Pa.

Memorial donations may be made in Katherine’s name to American Legion Post #507 or VFW post #7213, both in Norwood, PA 19074. Condolences may be sent online to griffithfuneralchapel.com

Estelle S. Berne of Greenport died Aug. 5 at Eastern Long Island Hosptial. The Peconic Landing resident was 88. 

She was born Jan. 12, 1926, in Philadelphia to Marye (Epstein) and Morris Smith and graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Family members said Ms. Berne was an avid reader who enjoyed tennis and theater.

She was predeceased by her husband, Alfred, in 2003 and her son Robert in 2012. She is survived by her son Richard of Falmouth, Maine; her daughter Andrea and son Timothy, both of Brooklyn; her daughter Betsy of New York City; and three grandchildren.

Arrangements were handled by Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Burial was private.

Donations may be made to Americans for African Adoption, 8910 Timberwood Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46234, in memory of Estelle Berne.

William T. Comber of Greenport died Aug. 15. The Peconic Landing resident was 89. 

He was born Nov. 20, 1924, in Brooklyn to Florence (Wilson) and William J. Comber and married Carmel Tavernese March 28, 1948, at St. Fortunata Church in Brooklyn.

Mr. Comber served in the U.S. Army for three years, achieving the rank of private. He founded Grade A Petroleum Corp. of Valley Stream in May, 1948.

He is survived by his wife, his sons, William of Punta Gorda, Fla., Thomas of Atlantic Beach and Joseph of Sag Harbor; his daughter, Nancy Amato of Oceanside; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family received visitors Aug. 18 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral Mass took place the same day at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport. Interment was at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to John’s Place at St. Agnes or St. Agnes R.C. Church.

Pindar Vineyards proprietor “Dr. Dan” Damianos (in purple sweater) hosts a barrel tasting and behind-the-scenes tour for Pindar Wine Club members. (Credit: Courtesy photo)

Herodotus Damianos, a medical doctor, North Fork wine pioneer and the founder of Pindar Vineyards, Long Island’s biggest wine producer, died on Monday, according to a family spokesman. He was 82.

Read more about his life on northforker.com.

A memorial service for Helen Warner Bicking will take place Saturday, Aug. 23, from 3 to 5 p.m. in the basement of Mattituck-Laurel Library. Ms. Bicking died Jan. 16. at the age 0f 75. 

Ms. Bicking served as president of Friends of Mattituck-Laurel Library from 2005 to 2009. Those who would like to celebrate her life are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

John LaGrego

Southold resident John F. LaGrego, formerly of North Bellmore, died Aug. 20 at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was 83. 

He was born June 22, 1931, in North Belmore to Michael and Agnes LaGrego and married Kathleen (Mastrogiovanni) June 19, 1955.

Mr. LaGrego worked as a foreman for Verizon. Family members said he enjoyed photography and sailing.

He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, of Southold; his children, Chris (Wendy), of East Northport and Patricia DiGregorio (Tom Troy), of Southold; and three grandchildren, Ryan DiGregorio, and Sam and Ben LaGrego.

The family will receive visitors Sunday, Aug. 24, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place Monday, Aug. 25, 10 a.m. at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

Kaitlyn D. Doorhy of Mattituck died suddenly at the age of 20.

She was the beloved daughter of Joseph and Darla Doorhy; the loving sister of Carly A. Doorhy; and the cherished granddaughter of John and Joan Doorhy and Denis and Marilyn Nankervis.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, August 28, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes in Mattituck. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will take place Friday, August 29, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church in Mattituck.  Interment will take place at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.

Memorial donations to Kappa Delta Sorority at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn. would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the Funeral Home.

The family requests that attendees please wear bright, festive clothing to celebrate her life.

Walter Millis III

Longtime Orient resident Walter Millis III died Aug. 25. He was 81. 

He was born Dec. 26, 1932, in New York City. After graduating from Amherst College and serving in the U.S. Army, he worked in television journalism, mainly as an assignment editor and  field producer for NBC News. After 20 years in New York, he spent almost 20 years in London, where his work included travel to Iran, the former Soviet Union, India, Jordan, Afghanistan, Australia, Somalia, and many places in the British Isles and the rest of Western Europe.

Family members said Mr. Millis was an avid sailor who for many years kept a sailboat in Orient Harbor. They said he took his sons on many long and memorable boat trips down the East Coast from Orient in his own boat and to the west coast of Scotland, the canals of England and on charter boats in the Caribbean. He retired to Orient and spent his time sailing the waters he loved and serving as treasurer of the Orient Yacht Club. Family members said he will be deeply missed by family, friends and the Orient community.

Mr. Millis is survived by his wife, Alison; his sons, Andrew, Peter and Robert Millis; and one granddaughter.

Cremation was private. Memorial donations may be made to Oysterponds Historical Society.

A memorial service for lifelong Southold resident Edna Mae Montgomery will take place Saturday, Sept. 6, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Southold. 

Ms. Montgomery died Dec. 10, 2013, at the age of 97.

James Klein

James E. Klein of Mattituck passed away at State University of New York Stony Brook Medical Center Aug. 25, 2014. He was 70.  

He was born September 16, 1943, in Jamaica, N.Y. and was the son of Kathryn and Edward J. Klein. He was raised in Bound Brook, N.J. and spent summers in Mattituck where he built a home in 1992 and lived full time.

Jim received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University where he was on the wrestling team. He worked at Fiduciary Trust International in Manhattan for 35 years, retiring in 2000 as senior vice president of Human Resources. He helped to plan and design the firm’s space as the World Trade Centers were being constructed.

Jim was an avid sailor, boater, fisherman, reader, and photographer. His favorite photography subjects were family and nature. Jim enjoyed spending time at their second home on Man O’ War Cay, Abacos, Bahamas and traveling, particularly in the Caribbean and Italy. Two accomplishments he was proud to check off his “bucket list” were sailing transatlantic to deliver a boat to the Cowes race in England and flying in a glider. He was a connoisseur of cheeseburgers but did not care for blueberries. Jim was a true renaissance man, and was loved by all who knew him.

Jim leaves his loving wife, Fran, of 35 years and four children and their spouses, Tom and Kimberly Marcus, Scott and Kathy Marcus, Jennifer and Ray Moore, and Kimberly and Kevin Mulvehill. He also leaves two beautiful granddaughters, Grace and Lindsay Mulvehill.

A memorial service will be private and held at the family’s convenience. Donations in Jim’s memory may be made to The Nature Conservancy, Long Island Chapter, 250 Lawrence Hill Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724 www.nature.org/longisland

Funeral arrangements are entrtusted to DeFreiest-Grattan Funeral Homes. Online condolences may be left at www.defriestgrattan.com.

This is a paid notice. 

Joseph Snyder Wickham

Joseph Snyder Wickham of Simi Valley, Calif., and formerly of Glen Arm, Md. and Cutchogue, died suddenly Aug. 16, 2014. He was 50. 

He was the son of John L. “Jack” and Mary Lou Wickham, and the grandson of John S. and Anne L. Wickham, former owners of Wickham’s Fruit Farm in Cutchogue.

Joseph spent summers in Cutchogue as a child, and from the time he was 12, he was actively associated with growing fruit on the family farm. Beginning in 1975 he also participated in the restoration of the National Historic and New York State Historic Tuthill Landmark Farmstead on New Suffolk Road in Cutchogue.

While in residence on the North Fork, Joseph always attended the Cutchogue Presbyterian Church and recently assisted in setting up a website for them. He was also on the board of directors of the (now-defunct) Robins Island Preservation Fund.

Joseph Graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree, and from University of California Los Angeles with an Master of Business Administration. He was instrumental in the structuring and financing of The J. L. Wickham Company in Baltimore in the 1980s. Later he held several executive positions in California which benefitted from his unique financial expertise. Shortly before his death he was chief financial officer at Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Throughout his life Joseph always maintained a keen interest in agriculture which he first developed on the North Fork. In the early 2000s he founded Robotic Harvesting, LLC, a corporation which produced a prototype robotic strawberry harvester, a pioneering design in its field. It was demonstrated in field trials in Oxnard, Calif. in 2010.

Joseph is survived by his wife, Yonghong “Diana” Wickham; a daughter Joanna Wickham; and his parents, as well as two brothers and their wives, Benjamin and Wendy Wickham, and Barnaby and Kathryn Wickham; and a sister and her husband, Daniel and Prudence Wickham Heston of Cutchogue; and six nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were handled by funeral homes in California and Maryland, and by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.

Anna Marie Cosimano

Anna Marie Cosimano passed away peacefully at her Southold home Sept. 1, 2014. She was 76. 

Anna loved being with people and made lasting friendships with many. She was the first to laugh at a joke and the first to offer a helping hand. She loved music, dancing, traveling, and for a long time, being first mate to her husband Barney on their boat. Anna loved life and excelled in its enjoyment. A truer friend and spouse would be hard to find.

For 12 years Anna tirelessly volunteered her time and effort to the North Fork Animal Welfare League in Peconic. She served two terms as president of NFAWL where she established a firm financial base for achieving her singular goal of building a new animal shelter. She fearlessly lobbied everyone involved and her goal eventually became a reality.

Anna is survived by her husband, Barney; sister, Patsy; nephew, Eddie; and grand nephew DJ.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. A church service will be conducted Thursday, September 4, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church in Southold. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

The family requests that tributes be donated to East End Hospice.

This is a paid notice. 

Albert Randolph Boergesson of Southold died Aug. 30, 2014. He was 92. 

Al was born Aug. 17, 1922 in Southold to Margaret (Jones) and Carl G. Boergesson and attended local schools.

On Aug. 7, 1943, he married Gloria Ruth (Jacobs) and together they made their home in Greenport Village from 1960 to 1997. He had also lived in Churchville, N.Y. and more recently in Colonial Village in Southold.

Al had been a farmer for Judge Hill’s property, a carpenter for Goldsmith Construction and a maintenance man for Mattituck Shopping Center.

Predeceased by his wife Gloria on Sept. 27, 1996, he is survived by his companion, Joan Corbett of Southold; a son, Kevin (Karen) Boergesson of Southold; a granddaughter, Amy Melissa Boergesson; an adopted daughter, Corinne Bednoski of Peconic; three adopted grandsons, Kevin, Joel and Jayme Bednoski and extended family at Mattituck Shopping Center including the entire Cardinale Family; James and Brian McKinnon; Jillian Stahler; and Barbara and Tony.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Sept. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Services will be held at 7 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Dr. Peter J. Kelley. Interment will take place at Southold Presbyterian Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad or East End Hospice.

This is a paid notice. 

Sharon A. Koehler of New Suffolk died Aug. 30 at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. She was 69. 

She was born Sept. 14, 1944, in Rockville Centre to Frederick and Agnes Wilmott and married Frederick “Bud” Koehler in 1986 in Farmingdale.

Family members said Ms. Koehler was a homemaker who enjoyed spending time with family, scuba diving, books, playing cards and traveling to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos. She was president of Marian Council Columbiettes in Cutchogue.

In addition to her husband, Ms. Koehler is survived by 12 children; 31 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Claudia Jacobson and Kathleen Smith.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Sept. 2, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Ostrabrama Church in Cutchogue. Cremation was private.