U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentJoseph A. Keleher
Active member of Knights of Columbus
Joseph A. Keleher, age 79, of North Tonawanda, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002 at DeGraff Memorial Hospital after a long illness. Born in Albion, NY, he was the son of the late John L. and Catherine (nee Smith) Keleher and was a lifelong resident of the Tonawandas. An Army veteran of WWII, he was employed at Spaulding Fibre, where he was captain of the Fire Brigade, for more than 40 years before retiring,. Mr. Keleher was a member of the Knights of Columbus Twin City Council #413, Msgr. Nelson Baker Fourth Degree K of C, American Legion, Stephen Sikora Post No. 1322, Forever Young Seniors, AARP Seniors, Ascension Holy Name Society, Ascension Seniors, and North Tonawanda Senior Citizens. He was also a member of the K of C bowling and golf leagues. Joseph was the brother of the late Thomas, James, Clement, and George Keleher, and Margaret "Peggy" Holler.
He is survived by his wife, Dolores (nee Miller) Keleher; two sons, Patrick (Virginia) Keleher and Daniel (Janet) Keleher; three daughters, Amy (Timothy) Klaes, Joanne (David) Vanderheite, and Linda (Tracey) Wankasky; two brothers, John Keleher and Frank (Lo) Keleher; a sister, Mary Markel; brothers-in-law, Raymond Holler and Thomas (Dorothy) Miller; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn Keleher. Also surviving are 21 grandchildren, Barbara, David, Katherine, MaryBeth, Erin, Jill, Brian, Nicholas, and Joseph Keleher; Daniel, Julie, Laura, and Sara Klaes; Jeanette, Carrie, and Molly Cox; Victoria and Adam Vanderheite; Jacob, Joshua, Jordan, and Jessica Wankasky; 6 great-grandchildren, Marcus, Dylan, Rion, Jason, Gavin, and Emily Rose; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 7-9 PM Wednesday and 2-4 & 7-9 PM Thursday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM Friday at Ascension R.C. Church on Robinson Street in North Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
John V. Clark
John V. Clark, a former Erie County legislator and personnel commissioner, died April 12, 2002, in Chandler Regional Hospital, Chandler, Ariz. He was 85.
A longtime City of Tonawanda resident, Clark served for 10 years on the Erie County Legislature and its predecessor, the Erie County Board of Supervisors. He later served for eight years as county personnel commissioner and two years as director of Erie County Central Services before retiring in 1983.
After his retirement, Clark maintained a home in North Tonawanda and spent winters in Florida. He had been living in Chandler since November.
As a legislator, Clark strongly opposed the proposed dome stadium project in Lancaster and led an unsuccessful grass-roots movement to force a countywide referendum on the multimillion-dollar project. He also was one of only two legislators to vote against the project when it was initially proposed in the late 1960s.
Clark's daughter Nancy of Mesa, Ariz., recalled that during the many months the Legislature wrangled over the dome stadium, Clark received numerous telephone threats, and there were periods when a police cruiser would check their house every 15 minutes.
"It was a very difficult time for our family. My father's view on the stadium issue was not a popular one. But it was probably my family's proudest moment of him," she said.
A Republican, Clark was a member of a search committee appointed to find a candidate to succeed the late Thomas MacKinnon as Erie County GOP chairman. In that role he cast the deciding vote for Victor Farley, who went on to serve as party leader for more than 11 years.
Prior to his appointment as county personnel commissioner, Clark was an insurance salesman and secretary of Crown Agency, a North Tonawanda insurance firm.
An enthusiastic sports fan, Clark for many years had season tickets for the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. He also was a Boston Red Sox baseball fan.
His daughter said he loved to tell about the time he and some friends went to a Bills-Jets football game in New York's Shea Stadium. Clark was carrying a large black suitcase and was questioned about it as he passed through the gates.
"He told them it was his typewriter and that he was covering the game for the Tonawanda News," she said. "It actually was his portable bar, filled with the makings for whiskey sours."
A World War II Navy veteran, Clark was assigned to oceangoing tugboats that guided convoys of American ships through the North Atlantic. He received a Bravery Commendation.
He was a past president of the Tonawanda Kiwanis Club, a former member of the Tonawanda Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Eldridge Club and the Tonawanda Post, American Legion.
Born in West Medford, Mass., Clark was a graduate of Medford High School.
His wife, the former Mae Acford, died in 2001.
Survivors include another daughter, Pamela of Milan, Italy; two sons, Robert of Palo Alto, Calif., and John Jr. of Las Vegas; and two granddaughters.
The family will receive friends on Friday, May 24, from 10 AM until Noon at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam & Seymour Streets, Tonawanda.
Madeline Saluzzo
Former Election Inspector
Madeline (nee Gallina) Saluzzo, age 73, of Tonawanda, died Tuesday, April 23, 2002 at her residence after a long illness. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Genevieve (nee Giammonco) Gallina and had been a resident of Tonawanda for more than 45 years. Mrs. Saluzzo was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, the DeGraff Hospital Auxiliary, and a volunteer at DeGraff Skilled Nursing Unit for 10 years. She was an election inspector in Tonawanda for more than 35 years and was the wife of the late Samuel R. Saluzzo, who died in 1988.
She is survived by a daughter, Ceil (Elmer) Artman, Jr. of Tonawanda; a son, Anthony (Bonnie) Saluzzo of Clarksville, TN; a sister, Margaret Terranova of Eggertsville, NY; and two grandsons, Erik Artman and Thomas Saluzzo. Also surviving are two nieces, Linda Terranova and Jane (Robert) Vanhise; and a nephew, Charles (Susan) Terranova.
Friends may call from 7-9 PM Thursday and 2-4 & 7-9 PM Friday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM Saturday at St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at Elmlawn Cemetery. If desired, memorials to a charity of your choice are preferred by the family.
Gerald F. Gardner
Very active at St. Francis Parish
Gerald F. Gardner, age 90, of Tonawanda, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at DeGraff Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Elk County, Pennsylvania, he had been a resident of Tonawanda since 1941. Mr. Gardner was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish where he was an usher and volunteer for Catholic Charities. He was a member of the Holy Name Society and the Forever Young Group at the Church, and received the St. Joseph the Worker Award from the Diocese of Buffalo in 1985. Mr. Gardner was employed at Columbus McKinnon Corp in Tonawanda for more than 30 years before retiring. As a young man, Mr. Gardner was a promising amateur boxer, but he gave up boxing at the request of his future wife, Gertrude. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed huting and fishing with his sons. He was the brother of the late Dolores Bunn.
He is survived by his wife, Gertrude (nee Russell) Gardner; three sons, Allan (Donna) Gardner of Tonawanda, Gerald E. Gardner of Pennsylvania, and John (Christine) Gardner of North Tonawanda; a daughter, Carol (Harold) Nelson of Lewiston; and a brother, Bernard A. Moore of Pennsylvania. Also surviving are 9 grandchildren, Mary (Jeffrey) Grimm, Susan (David) Hojnowski, David (Maria Alana) Gardner, Patricia (Timothy) Burns, Cindy Wisor, Kathy (John) Cammarano, Karen Nelson, Michael (Lisa) Nelson, and Daniel Gardner; 19 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1 PM on Saturday, May 4, 2002, at St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited. If desired, memorials to St. Francis Church are preferred by the family. Arrangements by the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda.
John S. Ambrusko, MD
Age 88 of Bradenton, Florida died April 25, 2002. He was born on May 3, 1913 in North Tonawanda, NY and moved to Manatee County in 1978 from Eggertsville, NY. In 1988, the Manatee County Commission honored him by dedicating the Dr. John Ambrusko Health Center. Dr. Ambrusko was a surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota from 1940 to 1948; chief of surgery at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in the Town of Tonawanda, NY; professor at University of South Florida Medical School in Tampa, FL from 1979 to 1989; and executive director at the Manatee County Public Health Department from 1977 to 1990, when he retired. Dr. Ambrusko was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bradenton and was the husband of the late Phyllis (nee Eusterman) Ambrusko who died in 1998, and father of the late Sara Tokars.
He is survived by daughters Therese of San Francisco, CA; Gretchen Schaeffer of Newport Beach, CA; Mary Bennett of Shrewsbury, NJ; Joni and Krissy of Bradenton, FL; and Karen Wilcox of Buffalo, NY. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren.
Friends may call from 4-8 PM Friday, May 10, at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam & Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. Friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM Saturday, May 11, 2002, at St. Benedict R.C. Church at Main & Eggert in Williamsville, NY.
Roberta A. Zasimowick
Employed at Taylor Devices
Roberta A. Zasimowick, age 42, of Kenmore, died unexpectedly Monday, May 20, 2002 at her residence. Born in North Tonawanda, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Dorothy (nee Archibald) Zasimowick and was a resident of Tonawanda for the greater part of her life. Ms. Zasimowick was employed at Taylor Devices in North Tonawanda. She was the sister of the late John A. Zasimowick.
She is survived by a niece, Tricia (David) Hedrich; a sister-in-law, Kathleen Zasimowick; two great nephews, Adam and Zachary; and her grandmother, Martha Russell. Also surviving are several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends may call from 4-8 PM Thursday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam & Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where a prayer service will be held at 8 PM Thursday. Friends invited. Interment will be cared for privately at Acacia Park Cemetery, Town of Pendleton, NY. If desired, memorials to Camp Good Days and Special Times, 2440 Sheridan Drive, Suite 401, Tonawanda, NY 14150, are preferred by the family.
William H. Lickers
Member of Sons of American Legion
William H. Lickers, age 44, of Tonawanda, died Thursday, June 6, 2002, at his residence. Born in Buffalo, NY, he was the son of Howard "Les" Lickers, Jr. and the late Alice (nee Urbaniak) Lickers who died in 1990. A lifelong resident of Tonawanda, Bill was a proud member of the Sons of the American Legion at Post No. 264 in Tonawanda. Bill had been employed at Premium Tire Company in Tonawanda until they closed, and recently had been working for the Marriott Hotel chain. He enjoyed hunting and the outdoors.
He is survived by his father, Howard "Les" Lickers, Jr.; two brothers, Mark Lickers and Scott Lickers; a sister, Patricia (David) Grimaldi; and a grandmother, Edna Lickers. Also surviving are aunts, uncles, a niece, and several cousins.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Sunday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 11 AM Monday. Friends invited. Interment will be cared for privately at Acacia Park Cemetery, Town of Pendleton. If desired, memorials to the American Legion are preferred by the family.
