Longtime Cutchogue resident Jane J. Krupski died July 11 at San Simeon by the Sound in Greenport. She was 97.
The daughter of Adam and Mary Rusczkowsky, she was born Feb. 17, 1919, in New York City. She graduated from Riverhead High School in 1937. On June 17, 1944, she married Stanley Krupski at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. For more than 70 years she had lived in Cutchogue.
Ms. Krupski was a homemaker who loved gardening, baking and the New York Yankees.
Predeceased by her husband in 1999, her son Stanley in 2015 and her daughter-in-law Elizabeth in 2013, Ms. Krupski is survived by her son Stephen, of Florida; her daughter, Teresa (Stanley) Siejka of Southold; her daughter-in-law Maureen; her grandchildren, Greg Krupski, Michael Krupski, Lisa Krupski, David Siejka and Adam Siejka; and five great-grandchildren. She was also predeceased by her siblings, Raymond, Edward and Frank Rusczkowsky.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, July 14, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, July 15, at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.
Memorial donations may be made to Cutchogue Fire Department Rescue Squad.
Joseph Francis Todd of East Marion died June 26 at home. He was 80 and battling COPD.
Born in Brooklyn, he graduated from high school in Valley Stream in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army while studying accounting at Hofstra University’s School of Business, where he was also a tutor. He was honorably discharged in 1956, and completed his studies at Hofstra.
Specializing in logistics for military exchanges, Mr. Todd spent several years in Europe connecting businesses with military families. He retired from Downey Communications, where he was responsible for the advertising content of their Military Lifestyle and Military Grocer publications. A longtime scoutmaster and leader with the Boy Scouts of America, he loved skiing, sailing, fishing, tennis and golf, and was a member of the Triangle Yacht Club, East Marion Community Association and the American Logistics Association.
He is survived by his sons, Joseph Main and Addison Humes; his daughter, Natalie DePaul Todd; granddaughters, Katherine, Alexandra and Elizabeth Wilcenski; brothers, John Cook, Walter Francis, Michael Patrick Todd; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Todd will be interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn. Memorial visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, where military honors will be rendered at 10:15 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Mattituck.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Boy Scouts of America.
Norma (Clemente) Moeller of East Marion and Stony Brook died July 1 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. She was 91.
Family members said she was “a lover of the arts, a passionate teacher at Hofstra University and deep believer in the power of knowledge.”
She was predeceased three years ago by her husband of 66 years, Richard Moeller. She is survived by her children, Peggy, Albert Jesperson, Richard, Jean and Robert; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Diane Clemente, Aurelia Ronzetti and Isabel Clemente.
Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.
Joan W. Norkus of Laurel died July 12 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. She was born Dec. 20, 1936, and was 79.
The family will receive visitors from Monday, July 18, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, where a funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
The family will receive visitors Saturday, July 16, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Clinton Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Greenport, where a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m.
Arrangements are in the care of Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.
A memorial service and interment for Dorothy and Fred Yoerges will take place at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 31, at New Bethany Cemetery in Mattituck. A celebration of life will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Park community room in Mattituck.
Ms. Yoerges died in December 2015 and Mr. Yoerges died in April 2016. Both were former Mattituck residents.
Luther Schoen of East Marion died on July 14. He was 74.
The family will receive visitors on Sunday July 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Horton-Mathie Funeral Homecin Greeport, where a wake service will be held at 7 p.m. officiated by Pastor Garret M. Johnson. A 10 a.m. funeral mass will be held, Monday July 18, at St. Agnes R. C. Church in Greenport. Burial with honors will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
The family has requested that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Benedict S. Andruski of Southold died July 14, 2016, at Eastern Long Island Hospital. The lifelong North Fork resident was 71 years old.
“Geke” was born in Greenport May 4, 1945, to Benedict and Helen (Harris) Andruski. He attended Mattituck Schools and was a graduate of Southold High School.
Following his graduation, he served in the United States Navy for nearly four years.
In 1974, he married the former Melissa Stanton at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue and together they made their home in Southold.
“Geke” had worked through the years at Grumman and Agway, as a bartender at Fisherman’s Rest and for the Cutchogue Park District where he was credited in rehabilitating the building and grounds of the Pequash Park.
He maintained his own landscaping business for many years in addition to being a ferry boat captain for Plum Island and Baymen. More recently, he was a “houseman” for the Cutchogue Fire Department.
“Geke” had been a member of the Griswold Terry Glover Post 803 in Southold and a volunteer with the Southold Fire Department.
In his free time, he enjoyed tending to his gardens and tinkering around home.
He is survived by his wife Melissa; two children Nathan Andruski and Janessa Andruski both of Southold; two sisters Althea Sidor of Mattituck and Laurie Kujawski of Gloucester, Va. and two grandchildren Isadora Andruski and Tyler Burner.
The family will receive visitors Monday, July 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where Southold Fire Department services will take place at 7 p.m. Religious services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 19, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home with Father Mariusz Gorazd officiating.
Memorial donations to the Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1469, Southold, NY 11971 would be appreciated.
Carl H. Blasko Sr., a former longtime resident of Greenport, died July 17, 2016, at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was 87.
Born in Calverton, June 8, 1929, to Bruno and Fannie (née Orlowski) Blasko, he attended the local school until the sixth grade when he left to work on the family farm due to the war.
On Oct. 15, 1949, he married the former Elizabeth Capon and together they made their home in Greenport for 57 years. They moved to the Founder’s Village Community in Southold nine years ago.
Carl was a tractor trailer driver for Riverhead Building Supply for 36 years and was a union representative.
In the community, he was a 62-year member of the Greenport Fire Department Standard Hose Company.
He is survived by his wife Betty Blasko; four children, Carl H. Blasko Jr. of Cutchogue, Bruce Blasko of Greenport, Karen Blasko of Southold and Gary Blasko of Queensbury, N.Y.; two sisters Christine Blasko and Leona Smith, both of Riverhead and seven grandchildren, Tim Blasko of Cutchogue, Jayme Blasko of Greenport, Gabby Blasko of Queensbury, Will Blasko of Greenport, Carter Blasko of Queensbury, John Blasko and Matthew Blasko of Greenport and great-grandchildren Olivia and Charlotte Blasko both of Cutchogue. He was predeceased by siblings Albert, Steve, Frank, John, William, Bruno, Theresa Mountford, Amelia Bauer and twins Annie and Alec Blasko.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 20, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where Greenport Fire Department services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 21, at the funeral home, officiated by Father Thomas P. Murray. Interment will follow at Sterling Cemetery in Greenport.
Memorial donations to the Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, Greenport Fire Department Rescue Squad or Southold P.B.A. would be appreciated.
Douglas E. Pearsall of Southold, formerly of Bay Shore, died on July 17, 2016, at the age of 78. He was an ex-chief of Bay Shore Brightwaters Rescue Ambulance.
He is survived by his wife Benigna “Benita” Pearsall; daughters, Lorraine Marie Walker and Barbara Ann Pearsall and grandchildren, Brittany Marie Walker and Corinne Nicole Walker. He was predeceased by his brother, Eugene Arthur Pearsall.
Friends may call Monday, July 25, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Overton Funeral Home in Islip, where funeral services will be held at 8 p.m., officiated by the Rev. Karen Hybertsen. Cremation will be private.
DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Longtime East Marion resident Luther Leland Schoen died July 14 at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. He was 74.
The son of Ethel (Hohertz) and Erwin Schoen, he was born Jan. 16, 1942, in Hamilton, Texas. He received a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Texas State University.
Mr. Schoen served in the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1970, achieving the rank of lieutenant. He worked as a manager at Long Island Cauliflower Association in Riverhead for 23 years.
On Aug. 23, 1969, he married Virginia MacIntyre at St. Columbkille’s R.C. Church in Brighton, Mass.
Mr. Schoen was a member of the American Legion. Family members said he enjoyed gardening, sailing, golf, cooking, karaoke and spending time with family.
Predeceased by his father and his brother Wayland, Mr. Schoen is survived by his wife, Virginia, of East Marion; his sons, Brian of East Setauket and Travis of Weymouth, Mass.; his mother, Ethel, of Comanche, Texas; his brother Rodney of Blanket, Texas and his grandchildren, Georgia, Griffin, and Gillian Schoen of Setauket.
The family received visitors July 17 at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral service took place July 18 at St. Agnes Cemetery in Greenport, officiated by Pastor Garret Johnson and Father James Atkins.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Captain Ted Reiter, 91 years old, passed away peacefully July 15, 2016, at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Calabash, N.C.A lifelong resident of Greenport and a charter boat captain, he served in the U.S. Army and Air Force and was an avid fisherman, bayman, golfer, polka dancer and tomato grower.
He is survived by a son, Joseph Reiter of Cutchogue; a daughter, Jeanette Gilson of Calbash, N.C.; a brother, Bob Reiter of Shelter Island; two grandchildren Alyson and Joe Jr., two great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private cremation will take place followed by a Celebration of Life in his Hometown of Greenport in the fall.
Margaret Fardelmann Weidmann passed over on July 8, 2016, at the age of 91 years.
She will be dearly missed by her loving children, Reid Alexander Mahaffy Jr., Evann Sue Mahaffy, Anne Mahaffy Berman, Margaret Mahaffy Pizzarelli, and Susan Elizabeth Mahaffy, and her grandchildren, Jeffrey Reid and Kelly Elizabeth Stradinger, John James Jr. and Kate Anne Pizzarelli and Lara Margaret, Anna Reid and Charlotte Allison Mahaffy.
Mrs. Weidmann was born in Brooklyn to Dr. Adolph von Prief and Mildred Fisher Fardelmann and is survived by her brother, Dale von Prief Fardelmann, M.D. She was educated at Knox School, Tobe-Coburn Fashion Institute, Finch College and Packer Collegiate Institute.
Mrs. Weidmann raised her family in Cedar Grove and Montclair, N.J., then Orient and Southold. She survived her first husband, Reid Alexander Mahaffy Sr., the father of her children, and her second husband, Gustave C. Weidmann, with whom she spent many happy years in Peconic.
On Tuesday, July 19, 2016, Dr. Thomas Samuels, 87, of Fisherman’s Beach, Cutchogue died at home surrounded by his beloved family and caregivers. He will long be remembered as a part of the East End’s business, civic and boating communities.
Thomas Edward Samuels was born on July 21, 1928, in Brooklyn, to Alexander and Henrietta Samuels. He attended Brooklyn Tech, Fordham, and Columbia University, where he graduated with a degree in dentistry. He was also an avid athlete, swimming competitively.
On Dec. 27, 1952, he married Anita Marie Keim, and shortly after began service as a dental officer in the U.S. Air Force, stationed on Okinawa during the Korean War. Returning to the states, he set up a dental practice in Forest Hills, Queens, and lived in the Gardens. In 1955 son Peter Alexander (deceased) was born, in 1957 son Thomas Christian, and in 1959 daughter Nancy Ann.
An avid sports fan, Tom passionately loved the New York Giants, whose season tickets he held for over forty years. He closely followed the New York Rangers, the Brooklyn Dodgers, then New York Yankees, but would watch any ball game or sports event with insight and relish.
In 1962 the family purchased a summer house on Fisherman’s Beach, Nassau Point, Cutchogue, and would spent summers there on the beach and the water. Tom became an expert fisherman both inshore and off, catching swordfish, marlin, tuna, sharks, and whatever could be hooked, and campaigned his boat “White Wake” in numerous tournaments from Shinnecock to Cuttyhunk, Mass. Later, Tom took up sailing and local racing, achieving success around Robins Island, in the King of the Bays and numerous Peconic Bay Sailing Association events aboard “Skilligalee.”
In 1972 while having his boat slip reconstructed by local marine contractor, James H. Rambo, Tom Samuels decided to make a major life change, buying the business, giving up dentistry, and moving the family east full time. Together with his partner, Chuck Guilloz, he set up shop in Southampton, and, known as “Doc Samuels,” soon became a major player on the East End waterfront, building docks, revetments and piling foundations along the ocean and bays. His expertise in regulatory approvals and plain-spoken approach to problem solving led to political involvement, culminating in the chairmanship of the Southold Town Republican Committee in the early 1990s.
Tom Samuels is survived by Anita, his wife of 64 years; son Tom and daughter-in-law Nancy Steelman; daughter Nancy Kelley; son-in-law Sergio Codina and grandchildren, Kate and Erik Samuels, and Lindsey and Erin Kelley.
Visiting hours will be on Saturday, July 23, from noon to 3 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, followed by a memorial service at the funeral home, led by Richard King, pastor at Cutchogue Presbyterian Church. Burial will follow immediately after at Cutchogue Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Cutchogue Fire Department rescue squad.
Michael S. “Smoke” Boken of Cutchogue died July 19, 2016. He was 66 years old.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, July 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where religious services will be held at 5:30 p.m. followed by Cutchogue Fire Department services at 7 p.m. Closing prayers will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 22, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at St. Agnes R.C. Cemetery in Greenport.
Memorial donations to the Cutchogue Fire Department Rescue Squad would be appreciated.
Patricia Kiernan of Cutchogue died July 19. She was 63.
The family will receive visitors Friday, July 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.
A complete obituary will appear in a future edition of The Suffolk Times.
Patricia “Pat” Kiernan, who for more than a decade helped to raise millions of dollars for Eastern Long Island Hospital as a leader of fundraising and outreach efforts, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer, family members said.
She was 63.
Ms. Kiernan was well known and beloved as a “sparkplug” among hospital staff and community leaders, pushing to send a message that ELIH was a partner in the community, hospital leaders said.
“It’s hard to put into words what she’s done for the institution,” said Paul O’Connor, CEO of ELIH. “She was a relentlessly hard worker, probably to a fault. She was extremely dedicated and loyal.”
Ms. Kiernan joined the hospital in February 2001 and quickly energized the hospital’s community outreach. She also had a leading role expanding the hospital’s foundation fundraising efforts.
The hospital normally runs an operating deficit, Mr. Connor explained, so the medical center relies on outside donations and fundraising to keep a profit and continue improvements.
Ms. Kiernan also played a key role in the hospital’s 2005 emergency room expansion, which was paid for in part through a fundraising campaign.
Thanks to Ms. Kiernan, the amount of donations pulled in by hospital fundraising efforts like the annual golf outing and gala have nearly doubled, Mr. Connor said. In total, Ms. Kiernan’s work drew an estimated $25 million in donations for the hospital.
Eileen Solomon, the current director of community relations for ELIH, worked under Ms. Kiernan for 14 years.
Ms. Solomon called her a “role model” who encouraged others to do their best. Ms. Solomon recalled the hospital’s 100 year anniversary celebration, when Ms. Kiernan — sweating in the 110 degree heat — rushed around to make the event a success and never complained.
“You were excited to be there with her,” she said. “She was always in the moment.” Ms. Solomon praised Ms. Kiernan’s dedication to staying in touch with local community groups.
Ms. Kiernen met her husband, Jack Larsen, 14 years ago doing just that.
In an interview Wednesday, Mr. Larsen said the two became acquainted at a Greenport Chamber of Commerce meeting at Peconic Landing where Ms. Kiernan was representing the hospital.
Close mutual friends “knew we were both single so they pointed us in the right direction,” he said.
“I loved her energy. She had sparkle and a lot of life in her,” he said. The couple traveled a lot, he said, sailing around the Chesapeake Bay and the Bahamas in a catamaran. They were engaged one year after they met, after Mr. Larsen proposed in a restaurant high over Paris as the sun set behind the Eiffel Tower.
“As our one friend said, she was beautiful on the inside and the outside,” he said. “She was always ready for dancing or a party, just getting people together.” Though they didn’t marry at first, Ms. Keirnan became close with Mr. Larsen’s children from a previous marriage, treating them as her own.
Then, two years ago, Ms. Kiernan became ill. Mr. Larsen said cancer had spread in her body, and was caught too late to completely eradicate. Still, even while undergoing surgeries and cancer treatments, Ms. Kiernan still worked at the hospital. After she retired last year, Ms. Kiernan stayed on to help train her successor.
But her health took a turn for the worse this year, Mr. Larsen said. Last week, just days before she passed, Ms. Kiernan and Mr. Larsen were finally wed at her bedside by Town Clerk Elizabeth Neville.
“It was personal between Patty and I,” Mr. Larsen said. “That’s how we wanted it to end.” On Tuesday, Ms. Kiernan died in hospice, surrounded by her family.
“I feel a huge amount of sadness and a huge amount of relief,” he said. “It’s been two years that we’ve done this.”
Since her death, Mr. Larsen said something about their relationship has become perfectly clear.
“It was the best 14 years of my life,” he said. “Since she’s gone and passed, I realized I had not been lonely for the past 14 years.”
Visitation for Ms. Kiernan will be held tomorrow, Friday, July 22, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to noon at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.
As part of her final wishes, Ms. Kiernan’s family has asked any memorial donations be made to East End Hospice. And, of course, her family ask that donations can also be made to Eastern Long Island Hospital.
Photo caption: Patricia Kiernan and her then-finance, Jack Larsen, pose at one of Eastern Long Island Hospital’s Summer Galas at the Corso residence in this undated photo. (Credit: Eastern Long Island Hospital, courtesy)
Lifelong Greenport resident Eugene N. Mazzaferro died July 22. He was 91.
The family will receive visitors Monday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A 1:15 p.m. graveside service will follow at St. Agnes R. C. Cemetery in Greenport.
The family has suggested that memorial donations be made to Burton Potter American Legion Post 185, P.O. Box 125, Greenport, NY 11944.
Patrick Joseph Kilcommons of Southold died at his home July 21. He was 77 years old and a retired conductor with LIRR.
The family will receive visitors Sunday, July 24, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, July 25, at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. Interment, with U.S. Army honors, will follow at the church cemetery.
Memorial donations to East End Hospice or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.
Jerry Tuthill of Greenport died July 24. He was 69.
Mr. Tuthill was the owner of Crabby Jerry’s in Greenport.
The family will receive visitors Wednesday, July 27, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A funeral Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 28, at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport. Burial will take place at the church cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Southold Police Benevolent Association or Suffolk County Police Athletic League.
