U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Marie Keller
Riverhead resident Marie Keller died at Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead on July 12, 2004. She was 98 years old.
Ms. Keller was born in Czechoslovakia on Sept. 20, 1905, to John and Anna Mitacek. She came to America when she was 17 and married John Keller in the mid 1920s. She was a homemaker until 1997, when she moved into her daughter's Manorville residence.
Ms. Keller enjoyed reading and gardening, according to family members.
Surviving Ms. Keller are her daughter, Adele Estherson of Manorville; and 12 grandchildren.
Visitation was July 14 at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead, where funeral services were held July 15. Interment followed at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Raymond Blackmore
Raymond D. Blackmore of Riverhead, New York, died suddenly on July 4, 2004, at the age of 61.
The son of Robert Blackmore and Theresa Blackmore, neÉ Pecha, he was born in the Bronx on Dec. 4, 1942. He moved to Long Island in 1966.
In the 1960s and 1970s, he was an avid race car enthusiast. His family and friends watched him collect the checkered flag on many a Saturday night at the Riverhead Raceway.
His most recent love was that of the water. He worked as a Bayman out of Greenport, New York, trapping conch.
He is survived by six children, Debora Nemer, neÉ Blackmore, Robert Blackmore, Raymond Blackmore, Andrew Blackmore, Douglas Blackmore, Rachel Blackmore, and three grandchildren, Joseph Graziano, Matthew Graziano and Melissa Blackmore, all of Riverhead; as well as his companion of 18 years, Carla D'Esposito, and her daughter, Rosemary. Three brothers, Robert Blackmore (Bronx, N.Y.), Richard Blackmore (Patchogue, N.Y.), Russell Blackmore (Calverton), and a sister, Cecil Pfleshinger (Pennsylvania), also survive.
Funeral arrangements were held at F.J. McLaughlin Funeral Home in Riverhead. Raymond's ashes will be scattered over the Great Peconic Bay.
Richard A. Lomicka
Richard A. Lomicka of Shoreham died suddenly on May 3, 2007 at Stony Brook Hospital. He was 79 years old.
Mr. Lomicka, the son of Joseph and Evelyn (Miller) Lomicka, was born Nov. 17, 1927. He was an Army Air Force veteran, having served from 1946 through 1949. He later worked as a salesman for Rheingold Brewery.
Mr. Lomicka, who was predeceased by his wife, Bridget, is survived by his daughters, Eileen Tambone and Karen Calace; son, Richard; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and sisters, Thelma Conlon and Barbara Marawa. Mr. Lomicka was predeceased by his brother, Walter.
Prayer services were held Tuesday at Alexander-Tuthill Funeral Home in Wading River. Interment with military honors followed at Calverton National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be sent to the American Heart Association, 2550 US Highway 1, North Brunswick, NJ 08902-4301.
Catherine Murtha
Catherine Murtha of Wading River died April 8, 2007. She was 80 years old.
Born in Queens on March 5, 1927, to Thomas and Catherine (Stefan) Denninger, she was a telephone operator for Little Flower Children's Services in Wading River.
Ms. Murtha is survived by two sons, John and Glenn; and three grandchildren.
Visitation was held April 11 at Alexander-Tuthill Funeral Home in Wading River. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered April 12 at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church in Wading River. Interment followed at Wading River Cemetery.
Barbara Dwight Schriever,
founding member of CAST
Longtime Orient resident Barbara Dwight Schriever, recently of Peconic Landing in Greenport, died Dec. 21, 2006, at Eastern Long Island Hospital. She was 85.
She was born in Manhattan on April 25, 1921, to Kirby and Genevieve (Ketchum) Dwight. Ms. Schriever attended The Spence School and graduated in physics from Smith College. She was a graduate assistant at Wesleyan University, teaching science to those in the military during World War II while earning her master's degree in physics. She later worked at in the radiation laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, editing a book on radar. In 1947, she entered the physics Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois, where she met William Schriever. They were married on Oct. 10, 1953.
The couple moved to Tulsa, Okla., and later to Chestnut Hill, Mass., where Ms. Schriever became involved as Girl Scout leader. In 1960, the couple moved to Orient, where Ms. Schriever had summered her entire life. She led a Girl Scout troop in Orient for many years and served as neighborhood chairwoman.
Ms. Schriever was on the board of directors of Smith Haven Ministries for over 30 years. She was elected to the Democratic Committee of Southold Town, serving as its treasurer for many years. She also sat on the board of directors of BOCES I in Westhampton Beach and was a founding member of CAST, which she served as a board member and volunteer. She also worked for the North Fork Housing Alliance from its inception.
In addition to her community volunteer efforts, Ms. Schriever was a longtime member of Orient Congregational Church, where she taught Sunday school and served on various boards and committees. In April 2005, she was recognized by the church for 50 years of service in the choir, serving as director, member and soloist at different times.
Ms. Schriever is survived by her husband of 53 years. She was predeceased by her brothers, John and Kirby Dwight.
Services were Dec. 28 at Orient Congregational Church, the Rev. Ann Van Cleef officiating. Interment was at Orient Central Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.
Memorial donations may be sent to CAST Inc., 74365 Main Rd., Greenport, NY 11944.
Edward James Stepnoski
Edward James Stepnoski of Southold died on Jan. 4 at Eastern Long Island Hospital. He was 74 years old.
Know as "Juny" to family and friends, Mr. Stepnoski was born in Greenport on July 25, 1932, to Edward and Josephine (Slavonik) Stepnoski.
After graduating from Greenport High School, he served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He played semi-pro baseball in Japan during his Army service, and played for many years in the Greenport Softball League. On May 25, 1958, he married the former Jean Gadomski at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue.
Following his honorable discharge, Mr. Stepnoski became a commercial fisherman. He later became a construction worker with Union Local 66, later leaving the union to start a construction business with his brother, Alexander.
His retirement years were spent playing cards with his friends, dancing the polka with his wife and enjoying endless hours with his grandchildren, according to family.
Mr. Stepnoski is survived by his wife, Jean; his children, James, of Cutchogue, Cheryl Brown of Shelter Island, Marilyn Winters of Southold and Allison Kraebel of New Suffolk; four grandchildren; and his sister, Maria Murray of Greenport. He was predeceased by his siblings, Alexander ("Babe") and Elizabeth VonHassel, and most recently by his mother, who died Dec. 10, 2006.
Visitation was on Jan. 7, at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold, where vigil prayers were recited. The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 8 at Our Lady of Ostrabrama by Father Walter Rudnicki. Interment with military honors was at Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery in Cutchogue.
Memorial donations may be made to the Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, 55135 Main Rd., Southold, NY 11971.
Donald R. Meredith
Former North Fork resident Donald R. Meredith of Levittown, Pa., died Nov. 27, 2006, at the Vitas Hospice House in Philadelphia. He was 87.
He was born in Peconic and lived in Yardley, Pa., before moving to Levittown. A veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, he was a retired captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Mr. Meredith was also a retired chief of aircraft maintenance for Pfizer Inc. Here, he was a member of the American Legion in Southold.
Mr. Meredith was predeceased by his wife, Jocelyn, and is survived by his daughters, Leslie Parent, Penny and Laurie, all of Levittown, Pa.; his son, Mark, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and four grandchildren.
Services will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home, Yardley, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to Vitas Hospice, 1740 Walton Rd., Blue Bell, PA 19422.
