Ellen Cypher Ruffino ’31 of St. Petersburg, Fla., passed away Jan. 26, 2011, at the age of 99.
Marian Elder Eygnor ’34 of Wolcott passed away Jan. 25, 2011. She is survived by two children, a stepson, 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Audrey Dickinson Ferris ’39 of Cobleskill passed away Oct. 7, 2010. She taught in various schools in Oswego County, including one-room schoolhouses in North Scriba and Lycoming. She is survived by two sons, three daughters, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Marion Ottman Pohl ’40 of Valley Stream passed away Feb. 8, 2010.
Sarah Jones Stewart ’40 of Naples, Fla., passed away April 5, 2010.
Benjamin Brooks ’41 of Peekskill died July 19, 2007. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Benjamin earned a master’s degree from Cornell University in 1947. He taught industrial arts technology at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers.
Thomas Preston ’42 of Delmar passed away Dec. 15, 2009. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Tom taught for many years in the Bethlehem Central School District. He is survived by four children, including James ’73, and five grandchildren.
Roy Schoenberg ’47 of Bay Shore died Feb. 23, 2010. He had been a school district administrator and college professor. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; two children; and five grandchildren.
Joseph Braco ’48, Associate Professor Emeritus of Technology, of Oswego died Jan. 7. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Joe taught industrial arts technology in the Mohawk Valley area before joining the faculty at Oswego. He retired in 1983. He is survived by four children, Richard ’74, Robert, Ann and Thomas.
Rhoda Schulz Hildebrant ’48 of Toledo, Ohio, passed away March 14, 2011. Rhoda began her career in schools in Central New York. She moved to Toledo in 1949 and spent many years as a teacher and principal in Point Place. She earned a master’s degree at the University of Toledo. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert ’36, who died in 2002.
Alexander Bruni ’49 of San Diego, Calif., passed away May 15, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Ellen ’50.
Dean Darrow ’49 of East Setauket passed away July 8, 2010.
Charles Easterbrook ’49 of Oxford, Miss., passed away July 22. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Charles taught industrial arts for 36 years in Elmira Heights. Surviving are his wife, Lucile; two sons; and four granddaughters.
Thomas Stirrat ’50 of Bradenton, Fla., died May 18, 2008. He served with the U.S. Air Force during World War II and the Korean War. He taught industrial arts technology for more than 25 years in the Oyster Bay School District. Surviving are his wife, Patricia; four children; 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
Rita Cochran Fichtner ’51 of Rochester passed away July 16. Surviving are her husband, John; two daughters; three sons; and 10 grandchildren.
Lloyd Robinson ’51 of Front Royal, Va., died Feb. 13, 2011. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Lloyd taught industrial arts technology for 30 years at Warren County High School, retiring in 1982. He is survived by his wife, Sonia Prokopchuk ’51; three children; and six grandchildren.
Frank Giunti ’52 of Williamsburg, Va., died Feb. 2, 2011. He earned a master’s degree at Rutgers University. Frank was employed by the Department of Defense for 38 years. For 24 years, he worked with the U.S. Army’s first computer-based instruction project at Fort Monmouth, N.J. He transferred to Fort Eustis, Va., to work with the Army as chief of the communications education and training systems division, retiring in 1989. Surviving are his wife, Dolores; four sons; a step-daughter; and 11 grandchildren.
Frederick Reaver ’53 of Port St. Lucie, Fla., died July 20, 2011. He was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He spent his entire career in education in the Patchogue Medford School District, first as an industrial arts teacher, then as assistant principal and principal, and finally as assistant superintendent for personnel. He retired in 1982. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and three children.
Charles Abadie ’54 of Flushing died Feb. 1, 2010.
Ethel Anderson Bower ’54 of Tupper Lake died Aug. 15. She taught in the Spring Valley School District and later was a substitute teacher in the Ramapo Central School District for 24 years until her retirement in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Richard ’54; sons Richard ’80, Stephen ’82 and David ’83; daughter, Nancy; and 10 grandchildren.
Richard Kindl ’54 of Clifton Park died Oct. 18. He served with the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. Richard received his master’s degree from St. Lawrence University. He taught industrial arts technology in Gouverneur and later in Ballston Spa, retiring in 1986. Surviving are his wife, Dolores; six children; and six grandchildren, including Jenna Chamberlain ’08. Richard is also survived by his first wife, Marilyn LeRoy ’52.
Adeline Canale Sutton ’54 of Watertown passed away Jan. 2. She earned her master’s degree at Syracuse University. Adeline taught in the General Brown, Indian River and Watertown School Districts, and retired from the Copenhagen Central School Districts in 1991. She is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
H. Keith Banner ’56 of Weslaco, Texas, passed away July 14. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Keith taught in Central New York and the state of Washington for 30 years. He retired from the Oneida City School District. Surviving are his wife, Marian, and seven siblings, including Shelly Carapetyan ’71.
Richard Miller ’56 of Canton passed away Jan. 6. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Alfred University and a master’s degree at St. Lawrence University. Richard taught at SUNY Canton beginning in 1946 and later served as chair of the electrical technology department. He retired in 1983. Surviving are three daughters and four grandchildren.
Robert Hughes ’57 of Frankfort died April 26, 2010.
Nicholas Gallo ’59 of Port Chester passed away April 1, 2010. Prior to retirement, he taught technology in the Port Chester High School. Nicholas is survived by his wife, Patricia; three daughters; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
Walter Hill ’59 of Carlisle died March 10, 2011. He taught industrial arts technology for 28 years at Edwards-Knox High School. Walter is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three children and six grandchildren.
Kathleen Skeele Bedell ’62 of Canastota died June 29. She taught for 30 years in the DeRuyter Central School District, retiring in 2007. She is survived by her husband, Robert; two daughters; and five grandchildren.
Richard Perry ’62 of Victor died Nov. 25. He taught industrial arts technology in the Marcellus Central School District for more than 30 years. Dick was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Surviving are his wife, Darlene Terry ’65; two daughters; and two grandchildren.
Daniel Davis ’63 of Boston, Mass., passed away Oct. 19 while on a teaching mission in Udaipur, India. He earned a master’s degree at Brooklyn College and a doctorate at Ohio State University. He was the social studies department chair and principal at Stoughton High School for 30 years. He taught at Boston University for the past eight years. Dan is survived by his wife, Barbara; two children; and four grandchildren.
Dean Swift ’64 of Rochester died Aug. 10. He was a math teacher for 34 years and directed 25 musicals at Gates-Chili High School. Surviving are his wife, Kathy; a daughter; and two grandsons.
John Davis ’65 of Wilson passed away May 25. He is survived by his wife, Linda Scharf ’67.
Ellen Cypher Ruffino ’31 of St. Petersburg, Fla., passed away Jan. 26, 2011, at the age of 99.
Marian Elder Eygnor ’34 of Wolcott passed away Jan. 25, 2011. She is survived by two children, a stepson, 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Audrey Dickinson Ferris ’39 of Cobleskill passed away Oct. 7, 2010. She taught in various schools in Oswego County, including one-room schoolhouses in North Scriba and Lycoming. She is survived by two sons, three daughters, 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Marion Ottman Pohl ’40 of Valley Stream passed away Feb. 8, 2010.
Sarah Jones Stewart ’40 of Naples, Fla., passed away April 5, 2010.
Benjamin Brooks ’41 of Peekskill died July 19, 2007. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Benjamin earned a master’s degree from Cornell University in 1947. He taught industrial arts technology at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers.
Thomas Preston ’42 of Delmar passed away Dec. 15, 2009. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Tom taught for many years in the Bethlehem Central School District. He is survived by four children, including James ’73, and five grandchildren.
Roy Schoenberg ’47 of Bay Shore died Feb. 23, 2010. He had been a school district administrator and college professor. He is survived by his wife, Ellen; two children; and five grandchildren.
Joseph Braco ’48, Associate Professor Emeritus of Technology, of Oswego died Jan. 7. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Joe taught industrial arts technology in the Mohawk Valley area before joining the faculty at Oswego. He retired in 1983. He is survived by four children, Richard ’74, Robert, Ann and Thomas.
Rhoda Schulz Hildebrant ’48 of Toledo, Ohio, passed away March 14, 2011. Rhoda began her career in schools in Central New York. She moved to Toledo in 1949 and spent many years as a teacher and principal in Point Place. She earned a master’s degree at the University of Toledo. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert ’36, who died in 2002.
Alexander Bruni ’49 of San Diego, Calif., passed away May 15, 2010. He is survived by his wife, Ellen ’50.
Dean Darrow ’49 of East Setauket passed away July 8, 2010.
Charles Easterbrook ’49 of Oxford, Miss., passed away July 22. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. Charles taught industrial arts for 36 years in Elmira Heights. Surviving are his wife, Lucile; two sons; and four granddaughters.
Thomas Stirrat ’50 of Bradenton, Fla., died May 18, 2008. He served with the U.S. Air Force during World War II and the Korean War. He taught industrial arts technology for more than 25 years in the Oyster Bay School District. Surviving are his wife, Patricia; four children; 14 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
Rita Cochran Fichtner ’51 of Rochester passed away July 16. Surviving are her husband, John; two daughters; three sons; and 10 grandchildren.
Lloyd Robinson ’51 of Front Royal, Va., died Feb. 13, 2011. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. Lloyd taught industrial arts technology for 30 years at Warren County High School, retiring in 1982. He is survived by his wife, Sonia Prokopchuk ’51; three children; and six grandchildren.
Frank Giunti ’52 of Williamsburg, Va., died Feb. 2, 2011. He earned a master’s degree at Rutgers University. Frank was employed by the Department of Defense for 38 years. For 24 years, he worked with the U.S. Army’s first computer-based instruction project at Fort Monmouth, N.J. He transferred to Fort Eustis, Va., to work with the Army as chief of the communications education and training systems division, retiring in 1989. Surviving are his wife, Dolores; four sons; a step-daughter; and 11 grandchildren.
Frederick Reaver ’53 of Port St. Lucie, Fla., died July 20, 2011. He was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He spent his entire career in education in the Patchogue Medford School District, first as an industrial arts teacher, then as assistant principal and principal, and finally as assistant superintendent for personnel. He retired in 1982. He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and three children.
Charles Abadie ’54 of Flushing died Feb. 1, 2010.
Ethel Anderson Bower ’54 of Tupper Lake died Aug. 15. She taught in the Spring Valley School District and later was a substitute teacher in the Ramapo Central School District for 24 years until her retirement in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Richard ’54; sons Richard ’80, Stephen ’82 and David ’83; daughter, Nancy; and 10 grandchildren.
Richard Kindl ’54 of Clifton Park died Oct. 18. He served with the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. Richard received his master’s degree from St. Lawrence University. He taught industrial arts technology in Gouverneur and later in Ballston Spa, retiring in 1986. Surviving are his wife, Dolores; six children; and six grandchildren, including Jenna Chamberlain ’08. Richard is also survived by his first wife, Marilyn LeRoy ’52.
Adeline Canale Sutton ’54 of Watertown passed away Jan. 2. She earned her master’s degree at Syracuse University. Adeline taught in the General Brown, Indian River and Watertown School Districts, and retired from the Copenhagen Central School Districts in 1991. She is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
H. Keith Banner ’56 of Weslaco, Texas, passed away July 14. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Keith taught in Central New York and the state of Washington for 30 years. He retired from the Oneida City School District. Surviving are his wife, Marian, and seven siblings, including Shelly Carapetyan ’71.
Richard Miller ’56 of Canton passed away Jan. 6. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Alfred University and a master’s degree at St. Lawrence University. Richard taught at SUNY Canton beginning in 1946 and later served as chair of the electrical technology department. He retired in 1983. Surviving are three daughters and four grandchildren.
Robert Hughes ’57 of Frankfort died April 26, 2010.
Nicholas Gallo ’59 of Port Chester passed away April 1, 2010. Prior to retirement, he taught technology in the Port Chester High School. Nicholas is survived by his wife, Patricia; three daughters; 12 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
Walter Hill ’59 of Carlisle died March 10, 2011. He taught industrial arts technology for 28 years at Edwards-Knox High School. Walter is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three children and six grandchildren.
Kathleen Skeele Bedell ’62 of Canastota died June 29. She taught for 30 years in the DeRuyter Central School District, retiring in 2007. She is survived by her husband, Robert; two daughters; and five grandchildren.
Richard Perry ’62 of Victor died Nov. 25. He taught industrial arts technology in the Marcellus Central School District for more than 30 years. Dick was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Surviving are his wife, Darlene Terry ’65; two daughters; and two grandchildren.
Daniel Davis ’63 of Boston, Mass., passed away Oct. 19 while on a teaching mission in Udaipur, India. He earned a master’s degree at Brooklyn College and a doctorate at Ohio State University. He was the social studies department chair and principal at Stoughton High School for 30 years. He taught at Boston University for the past eight years. Dan is survived by his wife, Barbara; two children; and four grandchildren.
Dean Swift ’64 of Rochester died Aug. 10. He was a math teacher for 34 years and directed 25 musicals at Gates-Chili High School. Surviving are his wife, Kathy; a daughter; and two grandsons.
John Davis ’65 of Wilson passed away May 25. He is survived by his wife, Linda Scharf ’67.
Donna Capossela Johnson ’65 of Coshocton, Ohio, passed away Oct. 21. She earned her master’s degree at Ohio University. She began her teaching career at the Coshocton County Joint Vocational School District in 1980 and went on to become the adult education supervisor. Donna was named superintendent in 1999 and continued in that capacity until her retirement in 2007. She is survived by three children and eight grandchildren.
John Paxton ’65 of New York City died Nov. 7. Prior to his retirement, he taught in Mount Vernon and was the director of the high school choruses for 10 years. Donations in John’s memory may be made to the John Paxton Memorial Fund, c/o Oswego College Foundation, 219 Sheldon Hall, Oswego, NY 13126.
Kathleen Herrmann Pullman ’65 of Batavia, Ohio, passed away Oct. 28, 2010. She earned a master’s degree at Ohio University. She taught English, drama, journalism and radio at both the high school and college levels. Kathy is survived by her husband, David; two daughters; and five grandchildren.
Jan West ’65 of Rainbow Lake died Oct. 13. She worked as a chemist at Bristol Labs, then at SUNY ESF in Syracuse.
R. Edson Porter ’66 of Auburn died Dec. 14. Ed taught in the Weedsport Central School District followed by 30 years in the Southern Cayuga Central School District.
Mary Ellen Rector ’66 of Mexico passed away March 24, 2011. She taught at Leland and Gray Seminary in Vermont, Mexico Academy and Central School and South Jefferson Central School, retiring in 1981. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Laurence; six children, including Noreen Patterson ’75 and James ’74; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Michael Ovios ’67 of Vineyard Haven, Mass., passed away March 31, 2011. He received his master’s degree from Cambridge College. Michael taught at the Tisbury Elementary School for 35 years. He is survived by his wife, Janice Wood ’65; a son; and three grandsons.
Marjorie Schong ’67 of Poughkeepsie died April 6, 2010.
Osborne Gaines ’68 of Hoosick Falls passed away Dec. 11, 2010. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He taught industrial arts for many years at Mt. Anthony Junior High School and later worked at the Bennington Pottery. Osborne is survived by his wife, Harriet; a son; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
John Scofield ’68 of Fayetteville passed away Oct. 5, 2010. He served with the U.S. Army Reserve from 1967 until his retirement as a master sergeant in 1996. John is survived by his wife, Donna; a daughter; and a son.
Richard Broszeit ’69 of Shrewsbury, Mass., died July 5, 2010.
Sylvia Conroy Donnelly ’69 of Syracuse passed away Jan. 28, 2011. She is survived by her husband, Robert.
Saverio Mecca ’70 of Kings Park passed away June 21.
Nancy Seale Osborne ’70, Librarian Emeritus, of North Fort Myers, Fla., passed away Oct. 21. She earned a master’s degree at Syracuse University. Nancy joined the Oswego faculty in Penfield Library in 1980 and served in various roles as the art department liaison, head of special collections and coordinator of library instruction. She was also an assistant professor in the women’s studies department. Her work earned her recognition with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Librarianship. Nancy retired in 1998. She is survived by her partner of more than 40 years, Barbara Gerber, Distinguished Service Professor Emerita; daughter, Jean Ellen Osborne; stepdaughter, Jaime Gerber Baitsell ’91; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
David DeSantis ’72 of Binghamton died July 24. He was director of learning and development at BAE Systems. Previously he was the mathematics department chair in the Vestal Central School District. Dave is survived by his wife, Fran; a son; a daughter; a granddaughter; and three stepsons.
Susan Bury Difazio ’72 of Holtsville died Oct. 23, 2010. She taught in the Sachem School District for 30 years. Susan is survived by her husband, Santo, and two daughters.
Michelene Regan ’72 of Oswego passed away Nov. 11.
Edwin Schroll ’72 of Cape Vincent died Sept. 4, 2008.
Christine Casterton ’73 of Vestal died Mar. 23, 2011.
Maureen Smith Koval ’75 of Syracuse passed away Aug. 15. She was a nurse at Crouse Hospital for 21 years. Maureen is survived by three children and a granddaughter.
Mildred Matarazzo Swarts ’75 of Rome passed away Sept. 25. She served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. She graduated from St. Mary’s Nursing School in 1951, earned a master’s degree and doctorate at Rutgers University. She spent many years in education, serving as curriculum director for the Rome City School District, teacher at SUNY Oswego, assistant professor at SUNY IT, and health occupations and nursing instructor at Madison Oneida BOCES. Mildred is survived by her husband, William; seven children; six grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.
David Maggart ’77 of Albuquerque, N.M., passed away March 23, 2011.
John White ’77 of Hannibal died Nov. 13. He served with the U.S. Air Force. John was a senior systems analyst at Alcan/Novelis for more than 30 years. Surviving are his wife, Karen; two sons; two stepdaughters; and six grandchildren.
Maurine Hearn Paishon ’79 of Malta died Aug. 7. For the past 10 years, she had been the director of the creative arts at Adirondack Camp on Lake George.
Michele Baum Venizelos ’79 of Easton, Conn., died July 7, 2008. Surviving are her husband, George and a son.
Juliet Firlik Hurley ’80 of The Villages, Fla., passed away Oct. 29. She was a senior case manager coordinator in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florida. Juliet is survived by her husband, Harold, and a stepson.
John Sherlock ’80 of Langhorne, Penn., passed away Oct. 21. He earned his master’s degree at Rochester Institute of Technology. John was the design editor at the Philadelphia Daily News for 10 years and was a member of the launch team for USA Today. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and two sons.
Mary Ann Heindorf ’81 of Lansing, Mich., passed away
Oct. 3. Mary Ann earned doctorates in both chemistry and environmental toxicology from Michigan State University. She worked for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for 15 years and with her husband, John Grant, owned EZ Home Ownership Realty. She is survived by her husband.
James Shane ’83 of Georgetown, Mass., died Nov. 24. He received his master’s degree from Fitchburg State College. James taught in the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School District for 21 years. He is survived by his wife, Lynn, and a son.
William Borucke ’87 of Southampton died October 21, 2010. He had been a painting contractor for 23 years. Bill is survived by his parents, three brothers and a sister.
Mary Joan McCleery ’92 of Beaver, Penn., died April 1, 2009.
Jon Lachnicht ’93 of East Hartford, Conn., passed away Sept. 2, 2010.
Audrey Otis ’95 of Syracuse passed away Sept. 26. Prior to retiring, Audrey taught in the Syracuse City School District. She is survived by her husband, Edward; two daughters; a son; and four grandchildren.
Mary Hayes ’96 of Dexter passed away Aug. 12, 2010.
Brian Tancredi ’98 of Huntington died May 7. He is survived by his mother and three sisters.
James LeFlore, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, died Jan. 3. He served with the U.S. Army in Hawaii. Jim earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in anthropology at Syracuse University. He taught in Oswego’s anthropology department for 33 years, retiring in 2005. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia, of Oswego’s political science and communication studies departments; four daughters; a son; and 14 grandchildren.
Ernest Luongo, Professor Emeritus of Health and Physical Education, died Oct. 2. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He received his master’s degree at Cortland and his certificate of advanced study at Syracuse University. Ernie taught and coached baseball, soccer and basketball at Middleburgh Central Schools from 1953 to 1957. He taught at Oswego from 1957 until his retirement in 1985. Ernie coached the men’s varsity soccer team from 1957 to 1966. Surviving are two daughters, a son and five grandchildren. Donations in his memory may be made to the Ernest B. Luongo Memorial Scholarship c/o Oswego College Foundation, 219 Sheldon Hall, Oswego, NY 13126.
Owen Pittenger, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, died Nov. 19. He earned his doctorate at the University of Illinois. Owen taught at Oswego for 35 years. Surviving are his wife, Betty; five children, including Jeanette Kratz ’75; and grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
William Todd, Professor Emeritus of Technology died Dec. 21, 2011. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II and spent two years of active duty with the Naval Reserves during the Korean War. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University and his master’s degree at the University of Illinois. He taught industrial arts technology at Oswego for 30 years. Surviving two sons, Gary ’71 and David; daughters Doris, Marcia, Cheryl, Lisa and Susan; 20 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
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1 Comment
Darlene, I am so sorry that the first time I saw your name on this website is when you published that your husband died. I would love to communicate with you. My e-mail address is mltownsley@verizon.net. I am living in Flanders, New Jersey with a summer cabin in Windsor, New York. Please contact me. Mary Lynn Callahan Townsley