U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentAlice M. Smith
CENTER - Avid reader and cat fancier
Alice M. (nee Bocko) Smith, age 85, of the Amberliegh Retirement Community, formerly of Tonawanda, died Saturday, Januaary 11, 2002 at the McAuley Residence in the Town of Tonawanda after a brief illness. Born in Oswego, NY, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Alice (nee Miller) Bocko and had been a resident of Tonawanda for the greater part of her life. Alice was an avid reader, music lover, flea marketer in Niagara County, and cat fancier. She was the wife of the late Audrey "Tex" Smith, who died in 1974, and mother of the late Michael J. Smith, who died in 1985.
She is survived by her son, Peter (Dori) Smith of Canton, OH.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Tuesday (Jan 14) only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where a prayer service will be held at 8:30 PM Tuesday. Interment will be cared for privately at Elmlawn Cemetery.
Edna Ruth Failing
Former Dental Assistant
Edna Ruth (nee Slater) Failing, of Tonawanda, died Monday, January 20, 2003, at her residence after a brief illness. Born in Tonawanda, she was the daughter of the late Jerome and Ruth (nee LaFleur) Slater and was a lifelong resident of Tonawanda. Mrs. Failing had been employed as a dental assistant for Dr. Michael Grupka for more than 25 years, before retiring in 1997. A member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, she loved gardening and being with her family and friends. She was the wife of the late Donald C. Failing, who died in 1978.
She is survived by three children, Daniel (Carol) Failing of Tonawanda, Kathleen (Richard) Ruszkowski of Grand Island, and John J. Failing of Tonawanda; five grandchildren, Sammy and Donnie Failing, and triplet granddaughters, Kelsey, Katelyn and Rachael Ruszkowski; her beloved companion, Robert House; and a sister, Mary Lou Hastings. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 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 St. Francis Chapel on Adam Street in Tonawanda. Friends invited.
Laura L. Fisher
Lifelong Tonawanda Resident
Laura (nee Sattelberg) Fisher, age 96, of Tonawanda, died Thursday, January 23, 2003, at Northgate Health Care Facility. Born January 27, 1906, in Tonawanda, she was the daughter of the late William and Minnie (nee Holzhaiser) Sattelberg and was a lifelong resident of Tonawanda. Mrs. Fisher belonged to the Tonawanda Senior Citizens, and loved to be involved with her grandchildren. She was the wife of the late Fred Fisher, who died August 18, 1973, and grandmother of the late Russell Fisher and great-grandmother of the late Kyle Fisher.
She is survived by a son, Fred (Rose) Fisher; four grandchildren, Linda Foels, Gregory (Cathy) Fisher, Brian (Janice) Fisher, and Karen (David) Dalke; and a granddaughter-in-law, Cynthia Fisher. Also surviving are 18 great-grandchildren and 3 great, great-grandchildren.
Friends may call from 2-5 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. Rev. Alice McDermott of Salem United Church of Christ will officiate. Interment will be cared for privately at Elmlawn Cemetery. If desired, memorials to St. Francis Outreach Committee or the Salem Youth Group are preferred by the family.
Lawrence E. Sparks
Retired Assistant Chief NTFD
Lawrence E. Sparks, age 78, of North Tonawanda, died Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at Lockport Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Tonawanda, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Mary (nee Mitler) Sparks and was a lifelong resident of the Tonawandas. A graduate of North Tonawanda High School, Mr. Sparks was a Navy Veteran of WWII and the Korean War, and then served with the North Tonawanda Fire Department from 1954 until he retired as assistant chief on May 31, 1981. He was a member of Ascension R. C. Church, the Knights of Columbus Madonna Council 2535, Rescue Fire Company #5, WNY Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association, North Tonawanda Professional Firefighters' Benevolent Association, the Volunteer Firemen's Benevolent Association, and the Veterans’ Association of the U.S.S. Iowa. He was the husband, for nearly 50 years, of the late Janet R. (nee Black)Sparks, who died on January 21, 1995.
He is survived by two sons, Lawrence (Cindy) Sparks, Jr. and Peter (Nancy) Sparks; five grandchildren, Amanda, Lawrence, Sarah, Peter, and Melissa Sparks; two sisters, Marion (Robert) Dolpp and Jean (Glenwood) Boddy; and two brothers, William (Mary) Sparks and Marvin (Elsa) Sparks. Also surviving are a great-grandson, Tyler Sparks, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 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 Ascension R. C. Church on Robinson Street in North Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment will be cared for privately at Acacia Park Cemetery. If desired, memorials to the USS Iowa Organization are preferred by the family.
Clemenceau J. Simon
Local Newspaper Editor
Clemenceau "Kelly" J. Simon, age 83, of North Tonawanda, died unexpectedly Tuesday, February 4, 2003, in DeGraff Memorial Hospital.
His half century as a newspaperman included 28 years as an assistant city editor of the Buffalo News, where he was known as the longest serving assistant city editor in anyone's memory. Simon was also a former city editor of the Tonawanda News and the Hornell Tribune, and a former assistant city editor of the Corning Leader.
He was an Army veteran who served in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and the Panama Defense Command during World War II. Simon was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery following Army basic training and Officer Candidate School. He was company commander of an anti-aircraft battery, was promoted to captain and also served as a command intelligence officer before his discharge in 1946.
A spare, friendly man whose eyes often sparkled with humor, Simon was a legend in the News city room both before and after his two retirements - one from full-time editing in 1981, and one from part-time editing in 1988. The late News columnist Ray Hill wrote in 1988 that Simon had also made it his job to nurture young reporters "who had received their first assignments from him, and were now the newspaper's senior staffers." Paul MacClennan, a retired News reporter who worked under Simon for many years, remembered him as "a self-effacing editor" with a "wry sense of humor," adding: "But when he came to your desk, you knew you had made a mistake, and you didn't argue about it." Writing in 1981, Murray B. Light, then editor of The News, recalled: "In his many years as a prominent newsroom figure, Simon earned respect for his professional prowess and stabilizing influence on the staff. A calm, methodical person, he performed his duties coolly, giving guidance to reporters and correspondents."
Born in Olean, Simon began his newspaper career as a senior at Hornell High School, serving as a correspondent for the Hornell Tribune - which, he liked to recall, paid him five cents an inch for his work. He then spent three years in Gannett's Hornell Bureau, writing for newspapers in Elmira and Rochester, and was a reporter for the Hornell Evening Tribune before being inducted into the military in 1942, proudly serving until 1946. Simon was a reporter, sports editor and city editor at the Hornell Tribune from 1946 to 1953, when he went to the Corning Leader as assistant city editor. A year later, he was named city editor of the Tonawanda News, where his brother, the late Lou Simon, was sports editor.
He joined the then-Buffalo Evening News in 1959, serving as a copy editor for about a year before being named an assistant city editor, a position he kept until his retirement from full-time work in 1981. He filled in as assistant city editor once a week, or as needed, for the next seven years. During his last years on the job, he was in charge of The News' suburban bureaus, stringers and correspondents.
Simon was a dedicated member of the Buffalo Newspaper Guild, serving as unit chairman and a member of the union's contract negotiating committee for several years. He was also an international convention delegate for two years. He was honored by the Guild in 1980 for "dedicated and excellent service."
Simon was inducted in 1994 into the Hornell High School Alumni Association Sports Hall of Fame, both as a founder of the association and for his dedication to high school and other amateur athletics. During his years working in Hornell, he was a founder and officer of the Hornell Little League, and managed a basketball team of former Hornell High School players. He also promoted amateur boxers and wrestlers.
In the late 1940s, Simon did a nightly sportscast for WWHG-FM in Hornell. He also did play-by-play for PONY League baseball and high school sports.
Since 1954, he had lived in North Tonawanda, where he was a parishioner of Ascension Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carmella (nee Colamarino) Simon; three daughters, Kellyann Simon of Amherst, Mary (Karl) Buryta of Pendleton, and Rita (Richard) Penque of North Tonawanda; two brothers, Raymond (Virginia) Simon of Olean and Salem Simon of Williamsville; and five grandchildren, Shelley, Katie and Cody Covey and Anthony and Carla Penque. Also surviving are a great-grandson, Marc Eberz, Jr. and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 7-9 PM Thursday and 2-4 and 7-9 PM Friday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12 Noon Saturday at Ascension R.C. Church on Robinson Street in North Tonawanda. Friends invited. Interment at White Chapel Cemetery. If desired, memorials to Hornell High School Alumni Association or Ascension Church are preferred by the family.
John B. Bainbridge, Jr.
Army Veteran of Korean War
John B. Bainbridge, Jr., age 73, of Cheektowaga, died Friday, February 7, 2003, at his home after a long illness. Born April 19, 1929, in Buffalo, he was the son of the late John B. Bainbridge, Sr., and had been a resident of Cheektowaga for almost 50 years. An Army Veteran of the Korean War, he had worked as an auto body mechanic at Holiday Oldsmobile in Williamsville, before retiring. He was a member of Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, the American Legion, George F. Lamm Post, and the Aero Club.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne (nee Amann) Bainbridge; a daughter, Cheryle (Brian) Olson; two sons, Kenneth (Liz) Bainbridge and Mark A. Bainbridge; a sister, Celene Cadmus; and a brother, Gregg (Sandy) Bainbridge. Also surviving are 7 grandchildren, 3 aunts, and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may call Sunday from 2-6 PM Only at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM Monday at Our Lady Help of Christians Chapel on Union Road in Cheektowaga. Friends invited. If desired, memorials to Hospice Buffalo, Inc., or the American Cancer Society are preferred by the family.
Jane E. Rusert
Member of Daughters of America
Jane E. (nee Holland) Rusert, age 78, of North Tonawanda, died Wednesday, February 12, 2003 at the DeGraff Skilled Nursing Facility. Born March 20, 1924 in Buffalo, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Ellen (nee Grisenthwaite) Holland and had been a resident of the Tonawandas since 1985. She was a secretary for the law firm of Moot & Sprague in Buffalo and also was employed at the former Sieck & Mast Funeral Home on Kensington Avenue in Buffalo. She was a member of the Daughters of America, and was the wife of the late James H. Rusert, who died in 1968.
She is survived by three sons, James (Diane) Rusert, Thomas (Margaret) Rusert, and Mark A. Rusert; three grandchildren, Thomas J., Britt M. and Lindsay B. Rusert; and a niece, Joanne (Dan) Kruszka.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Friday at the Hamp Funeral Home, Inc., Adam and Seymour Streets, Tonawanda, where funeral services will be held at 9 AM Saturday, Rev. Linda Heffley officiating. Friends invited. Interment at White Chapel Cemetery. If desired, memorials to the Grand Island Lions’ Club or the Exchange Club of the Tonawandas are preferred by the family.
