U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentBUCHHOLTZ - Jeffrey, glass worker top skater 10/5/2001
It was probably only natural for Jeffrey Buchholtz, who worked in the family glass business, to live life on the edge.
Buchholtz, 44, who died Monday (Oct. 1, 2001) in his Buffalo home after a long illness, took part in sports in which a mistake could bring disastrous consequences, just as in his occupation as a glass worker.
He was a champion speed skater at the Lake Placid ice rink and others, winning the Eastern States and Adirondack championships in his class, as well as one of the quicker bicycle racers in Western New York.
When the in-line skating craze hit in the mid-1990s, Buchholtz again was far ahead of the pack in speed, and a good five years ahead of the trend.
"I was in the House of Wheels bike shop and I put on a pair of Rollerblades," he recalled in a Buffalo News feature on him. "Five minutes later and I was back in there: "Give me some of these.' "
Buchholtz was a familiar sight in Delaware Park, flying by in a pair of $1,000, red leather custom-made skates, one of the first to have five wheels on each skate instead of four.
Buchholtz also used his skills for others, working as a volunteer for the Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped. He was a torch bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
He was a graduate of Williamsville North High School, and attended both Hilbert College and the University of New Haven.
He worked in the family business, Buchholtz Glass, and was a member of the Glaziers & Glass Workers Union Local 660.
He is survived by his parents, Keith and Phyllis of Williamsville; a sister, Karen D'Angelo of North Tonawanda; and a brother, Gerald of North Tonawanda.
A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in Amigone Funeral Home, 5200 Sheridan Drive, Amherst. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, 800 Pine Ridge Road, Cheektowaga.
COOK - Jasper C., served Corps of Engineers 10/5/2001
Memorial and Masonic services for Jasper C. Cook, 90, a retired member of the Army Corps of Engineers who was active in community organizations, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Church of the Advent, 54 Delaware Road, Kenmore.
A Kenmore resident for 50 years until recently moving to Buffalo, he died in his home Sept. 28, 2001.
Born in Chateaugay, he was a graduate of Chateaugay High School and attended Adirondack Commercial School. After working at Paul Smith's Resort, he moved to Buffalo in 1939 and joined the Corps of Engineers.
During World War II, Cook served in the Army's Special Services in England and North Africa, then returned to the Corps of Engineers. He retired after 20 years and worked as a property-disposal officer at the Army base at Fort Niagara for nine years. He then worked for 10 years in the advertising department of the Tonawanda News.
Known as "Cookie," he was a member of the Highland/Ely Parker and Washington Masonic lodges and was also active in the Shriners. In 1994, he was named Man of the Year by its Legion of Honor.
He volunteered at Veterans Affairs Medical Center and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the Esprit de Corps organization of retired Corps of Engineers members.
He was a member of the vestry of Grace Episcopal Church and later joined the Church of the Advent, where he taught Sunday school and was a member of the Ushers Group.
He enjoyed gardening, traveling and spending time with his family.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth Secord Cook; a daughter, Linda Cook of Buffalo; a son, Kevin; and a grandson.
CZYZ - Joseph J. 10/5/2001
Joseph J. Czyz, 78, of Orchard Park, a retired steelworker, died unexpectedly Tuesday (Oct. 2, 2001) in Mercy Hospital.
Born in Lackawanna, he served in the Army during World War II as a military policeman.
He worked for Bethlehem Steel Corp. for 31 years and was a foreman in the coke ovens and the basic oxygen furnace. He retired in 1977.
Czyz served as president of the Polish Home Association in Lackawanna from 1981 to 1988. He was a service officer for 11 years at Matthew Glab Post 1477, American Legion. He also was a member of Post 898, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Active in Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, he served as an usher for 21 years.
He and his wife, the former Helen Ujvari, were married in 1948.
In addition to his wife, survivors include four sons, Joseph Jr. of Orchard Park, Eugene of Farnham, David of East Aurora and Paul of Lancaster; a daughter, Elizabeth Caughel of Arcade; seven grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday in Nativity of Our Lord Church, South Buffalo Street and Thorn Avenue, Orchard Park, after prayers at 9:15 in Colonial Memorial Chapel, 3003 South Park Ave., Lackawanna. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
DEGIULIO - Olga 10/5/2001
NIAGARA FALLS - Olga DeGiulio, 74, died Wednesday (Oct. 3, 2001) in Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center after a long illness.
Miss DeGiulio had been a patient in Niagara Geriatrics Center since the mid-1980s.
She was born in Niagara Falls and attended local schools.
Miss DeGiulio was a member of the National Blind Association and worked in its Niagara Falls center during the 1970s.
She enjoyed bowling and participating in activities at the nursing home.
She is survived by a brother, Joseph of Lewiston.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 14th Street and Pine Avenue, following prayers at 10 in M.J. Colucci & Son Funeral Chapel, 468 19th St. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery.
GRIMM JR. - Robert E., registered nurse 10/5/2001
Services for Robert E. Grimm Jr., 48, will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Joseph University Church, 3269 Main St.
Grimm died Tuesday (Oct. 2, 2001) in a motorcycle crash on the Scajaquada Expressway.
A Buffalo native, Grimm was a graduate of Bennett High School, where he was on the football and swimming teams. He studied at Ball State University in Indiana and the University at Buffalo, eventually graduating from the City Campus of Erie Community College with a degree in nursing.
He worked as a registered nurse for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center for many years and was working at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester at the time of his death.
Grimm's passions were history and sports.
Over the past year, he studied history and education at Buffalo State College, in anticipation of beginning a new career in teaching.
He enjoyed all sports, especially swimming and golf. He shared his love of sports with his son, Myles, and frequently attended his son's hockey, baseball and soccer games.
Survivors in addition to his son include his wife, Suzanne Trider Grimm of Buffalo; his mother, Lucille of Buffalo; two brothers, Daniel and Carl, both of Buffalo; two sisters, Gretchen Reefe and Pamela, both of Kent, Ohio; and a grandmother, Laura O'Leary of Williamsville.
HARTMANN - Franz, industrial film producer 10/5/2001
Graveside services for Franz Hartmann of Miami, a retired Buffalo industrial film producer, were held Wednesday in Slovak Catholic Cemetery, Johnson City.
Hartmann died Sept. 6, 2001, in Florida Club Care Center, Miami, after a long illness. He was 70.
Born in Binghamton, he was a magna cum laude graduate of Syracuse University with a bachelor's degree in English, then continued at Syracuse, earning a master's degree in radio and motion picture production.
He formed his own company, Academy Radio-TV Productions, in Syracuse in 1954. He moved his company to Buffalo in 1960, merging with a local company to form Academy-McLarty Productions. He first had offices and studios on Mesmer Street, then moved to 207 Delaware Ave.
He produced technical films for the Army, Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers. He also made industrial films for numerous companies, including Buffalo China, Curtiss-Wright, Eastman Kodak, Xerox and Carrier. He won many awards, including Industrial Photography magazine's award for "One of the Best 10 Films of the Decade."
He moved in 1977 from Orchard Park to Miami, where he joined Visual Productions and produced films for the Latin American divisions of Standard Oil, American Express, Dow Chemical, Pfizer and Eastern Air Lines. He retired in 1988.
He and Lois Dean were married in 1958.
In addition to his wife, surviving is a son, Scott Dean of Port St. Lucie, Fla.
HERDZIK - Lottie, active in community 10/5/2001
Lottie Herdzik, 77, of Elma, wife of retired Buffalo Deputy Fire Commissioner Arthur C. Herdzik, died Wednesday (Oct. 3, 2001) in Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, Amherst, after a short illness.
Born in Buffalo, the former Lottie Kowalczyk grew up on the city's East Side, where she attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School. She was a graduate of Fosdick-Masten High School.
A homemaker, she was a member of St. Stanislaus Church, St. Lawrence Church and St. Gabriel Church. She was a past president of the Mothers Club at St. Lawrence Church and the Bishop Turner High School Parents Guild.
She was a member of the Buffalo Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and the Elma Senior Citizens. Known for her warmth and willingness to help others, she was one of the founders of the Neighborhood Information Center on Buffalo's East Side, where she was in charge of transportation of elderly people.
She and her husband were married in 1947.
In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Arthur A. and Alan, both of Lancaster; seven brothers, Edmund Kowalczyk, Stanley Kowalczyk and Edwin Kowalczyk, all of Buffalo, Brownie Kowalczyk of Amherst and Leonard Kowalczyk, Joseph Kowalczyk and Daniel Kowalczyk, all of Cheektowaga; a sister, Irene Grzybowski of Cheektowaga; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, 123 Townsend St., following prayers at 8:45 in Kazmierczak Funeral Home, 3640 Clinton St., West Seneca. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga.
