Margaret V. Hinman
January 4, 2001

Mrs. Margaret V. Hinman, 83, formerly of Gloversville, died Wednesday at Wells House Nursing Home, Johnstown. She was born on Jan. 18, 1917 in Gloversville, the daughter of Frank and Tresa Harris Van Dusen. Mrs. Hinman was a 1935 graduate of Gloversville High School and was a lifelong area resident. She was employed for more than 10 years at the former Littauer Adult Home, Gloversville. Mrs. Hinman was a member of North Main Street United Methodist Church, Gloversville. Survivors include her husband, John C. Hinman Sr., whom she married on June 3, 1937; two sons, John C. Hinman Jr. and Dennis W. Hinman, both of Gloversville; one daughter, Jeanne Iavarone of Amsterdam; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and cousins. She was predeceased by one brother, Keith Van Dusen; and two sisters, Ruth Van Dusen and Edith Van Dusen. Calling hours will be 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Hollenbeck Funeral Home, 4 Second Ave., Gloversville. A service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Dr. Alan Rhodes, pastor of North Main Street United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will take place in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown.

Emil A. Mason
January 4, 2001 Mr. Emil A. Mason, 89, of Mayfield, died Wednesday at home after a brief illness. He was born on Aug. 30, 1911 in Amsterdam, the son of Charles and Lena Mason. Mr. Mason attended Amsterdam schools and was a 1927 graduate of Amsterdam High School. He lived in several communities around the world before returning to Amsterdam. He served in the Army during World War II. He was the owner and operator of the former Tower Inn Restaurant, Cranesville, for 17 years. He previously worked and managed many resorts and restaurants around the world. He was employed first as a bartender at Higby Club, Old Forge, Herkimer County; was general manager of Royal Palms, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Sea Shore, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Camelback Inn, Phoenix, Ariz.; Colonial Inn, Harbor Springs, Mich.; Sky Room, Tucson, Ariz.; British Colonial Inn, Nassau, Bahamas; Grand Hotel, Mackinaw Island; and Topaz Restaurant and Antlers Country Club, Amsterdam. He later was a bartender at the Johnstown Holiday Inn, retiring in 1997 at the age of 86. Mr. Mason was a communicant of St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Church, Amsterdam. Survivors include his wife, the former Marguerite Lisicki, whom he married on Aug. 11, 1967; one son, Robert Mochrie of Amsterdam; three daughters, Barbara Reller of Schenectady, Virginia Brooks of Perth and Helena Bradfield of South Carolina; one sister, Frances Calvano of Schenectady; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A calling hour will be 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Church. Burial will take place in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Amsterdam.

Emmeran A. Arnst
January 5, 2001

Mr. Emmeran A. Arnst, 81, of Caroga Lake, died Thursday at Nathan Littauer Hospital after a short illness. He was born on April 4, 1919 in Caroga Lake, the son of William and Theresia Leppert Arnst. Mr. Arnst was a 1937 graduate of Gloversville High School and was a lifelong area resident. He served in the Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He worked for the late building contractor Henry Lenze, also for a railroad company delivery service, then at Hansen Fence Co. and last at A. Frederick Concrete, Gloversville, where he retired in 1976. Mr. Arnst was a member of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Gloversville; Caroga Volunteer Fire Department; Veterans of Foreign War Post 7097; Tryon Amateur Radio Club; and a charter member of Caroga Historical Association and Museum. He was an avid ham radio operator. Survivors include his wife, the former Grace Mowrey, whom he married on April 24, 1961; one sister, Catherine Sheffield of Nokomis, Fla.; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his first wife, the former Inez Trumbull; two brothers, Clinton "Chink" Arnst and Francis Arnst; and one sister, Edna Oare. Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont St., Gloversville. A prayer service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Donald Czelusniak, pastor of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, will officiate. Burial will take place in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gloversville.

Lee W. DeGraff
January 5, 2001

Mr. Lee W. DeGraff, 72, of Mayfield, died Wednesday at Nathan Littauer Hospital after a short illness. He was born in Glen Cove, Nassau County. Mr. DeGraff lived in Fort Johnson and Altamont before moving to Mayfield. He graduated from Union College and attended Cornell University for post-graduate studies. He served in the Navy during World War II. He held the title of senior wildlife biologist for New York State Department of Environmental Conservation before he retired in 1983 after 33 years of service. His career started by planting trees, digging ponds and making marshes for the Game Management Department. He then became very involved with migratory birds (mostly ducks and geese) and their management. In 1963 he began leading the Upland Game Project, which was instrumental in bringing the nearly extinct wild turkey back to New York, where they continue to flourish to this day. He was the author of 12 scientific papers and was a freelance writer with published articles concerning the environment and natural resources. He was also an avid amateur photographer. Mr. De Graff was of the Protestant faith. Survivors include one son, Lee S. DeGraff II of Charlton; one daughter, Christie L. DeGraff of Ithaca; one sister, Jacky D. Severinghaus of Edinburg; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A calling hour will be 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at White Funeral Home, 264 N. Ballston Ave., Scotia. A service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Chuctanunda Cemetery in the spring.

Rev. Theodore Emanuel Hammer
January 5, 2001

The Rev. Dr. Theodore Emanuel Hammer, 82, of Guilderland, a former resident of Canajoharie, died Tuesday at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, Guilderland. He was born on Dec. 2, 1918 in Greenport, Long Island, the son of Emanuel W. and Marie A. Ringen Hammer. Rev. Hammer received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Bucknell University in 1942. He was ordained from Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pa. in 1948; received a master's degree in education and counseling from SUNY Oneonta in 1977, and a doctor of ministry from Drew University, Madison, N.J. in 1985. He lived in Canajoharie from 1956 until he moved to Guilderland in February 1999. He worked as an electrical engineer for Radio Corporation of America, Camden, N.J., from 1942 to 1945. Rev. Hammer's first parish was in Fountain Hill, Pa. in 1948. His second parish was in Saugerties, Ulster County, in 1951. He was pastor of both St. John's-St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Canajoharie, and Trinity Lutheran Church, Stone Arabia, from 1956 until he retired from active ministry in 1985. He was assessor of the town of Canajoharie in the 1990s. Rev. Hammer was a member of St. John's-St. Mark's Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a charter member of the Mid-County Volunteer Volunteer Ambulance Corporation since 1969 and served for 25 years. He received his first amateur radio license in 1931 and obtained his first-class radio telephone license in 1935. He was a member of the Lutheran Synod's Task Force on Aging and Social Concerns of Upper New York, and dean of Palatine District during the mid 1960s. He was active in the area Mid Singles, Tri Singles, and Parents without Partners during the mid-1980s through the late 1990s. He was a member of the Philadelphia Masons' St. John's Lodge since mid-1940s. Survivors include two sons, Craig T. Hammer of Schenectady and Keith M. Hammer of Mohnton, Pa.; one daughter, Dr. Gwendolyn P. Hammer of San Francisco, Calif.; one sister, Gloria M. Sandelin of Andersonville, N.C.; one step-granddaughter; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. On June 13, 1948, he married the former Barbara Jeanette Freydberg, who died in January 1977. Calling hours will be 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the chapel of Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, 20 Otsego St., Canajoharie. A service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5430 Route 10, Palatine Bridge. The Rev. Gail Wolling, pastor of St. John's-St. Mark's Lutheran Church and the Rev. Charles D. Lindholm will officiate. Burial will take place in Grandview Cemetery, Allentown, Pa.

Cmdr. John F. O'Toole Jr.
January 5, 2001

Cmdr. John F. O'Toole Jr., 43, of Fredericksburg, Va., a former resident of Northville, died Tuesday at home. He was born in Queens and was a 1976 graduate of Northville Central School. He was commissioned in 1980 through the Naval ROTC program at Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received a bachelor's degree in building construction. He attended the Navy's Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, R.I. and served aboard the USS Belknap until 1984. He was a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. with a degree in mechanical engineering and earned a engineering duty officer qualification in submarines following sea duty aboard the USS Georgia. He also served in Groton, Conn. and in Norfolk. He was repair officer on the USS Emory S. Land, Norfolk, in 1997. During his tour, the tender changed its home port to La Maddalena, Italy and deployed to the Mediterranean. He was chosen to be the assistant program manager for construction in the Virginia Class Submarine Program, where he served until February 2000. His military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal. Survivors include his wife, the former Anita Rasmanis; one daughter, Kathleen "Katie" O'Toole of Fredericksburg; two sons, Brendan O'Toole and Michael O'Toole, both of Fredericksburg; his parents, John F. and Mary Ann O'Toole of Northville; one sister, Mary Ann Caraco of North Bennington, Vt.; two brothers, Timothy O'Toole of Scituate, Mass. and Michael O'Toole of Lynchburg, Va. Arrangements are by Laurel Hill Funeral Home, Spotsylvania, Va.

Viola Castle Taylor
January 5, 2001

Mrs. Viola Castle Taylor of Wakefield, Mass., a native of Gloversville, died Monday at the Center for Optimum Care, Wakefield. Mrs. Taylor had resided in Wakefield since 1936. She was a longtime member of Melrose Highlands Congregational Church, Melrose, Mass., where she served as deacon. Mrs. Taylor was a member of Melrose Highlands Women's Guild. Survivors include two sons, Richard S. Taylor Jr. of Scotia and David M. Taylor of North Reading, Mass.; one sister, Charlotte J. Davey of Ballston Lake, Saratoga County; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard S. Taylor. A service was conducted today at Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose.