U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Katherine Ball Newman
Katherine Ball Newman left this life on July 21, 2003.
She was born in a house on the south bank of the East River in Ravenswood, Queens, New York on October 27, 1908 to Albert G. and Minnie K. Ball. Her school years were spent at P.S. 6 in Astoria and she was graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst in 1926. She continued her education at the Central School of Hygiene and Physical Education, an affiliate of New York University.
In 1934, she was married to her late husband, Dr. Theodore C. Newman, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Bayside, Long Island and they moved to Orlando, Florida where he began his medical practice. After two years, they returned north and settled in Flushing, where they remained for 35 years.
In 1957, they built their house on Ram Island and spent summers here until they moved here permanently in 1975.
An ardent lover of wildflowers, Kay (as she was known by almost everyone who knew her) and Ted enjoyed them as a "his and her" hobby -- he as the photographer and she as identifier -- and hundreds of photos and several well-worn wildflower books attest to that. Kay's long-standing interest in conservation spearheaded the interest in forming the town's Conservation Advisory Council and she was its second chairman.
Joining the Garden Club in 1958, she introduced the Conservation Department and was chairman for eight consecutive years. In 1980, she was elected treasurer of the club, holding that position for 20 years until macular degeneration forced her retirement -- as an honorary member.
Kay and Ted, both of strong faith, were longtime members of St. Mary's Episcopal Church and served in various capacities over the years.
Also of great interest to both of them was the U.S. Power Squadron in which each attained the status of "navigator" -- always a family joke as our "craft" was a 16-foot outboard.
Surviving is her son, Ted Jr.; grandson, Ted III; daughter-in-law, Sandy; and nephews Arthur, Ralph and Matt Newman.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's on October 25 at 10 a.m. If so desired, memorials may be sent to St. Mary's or a charity of choice.
This has been a wonderful life, and this was only the beginning!
Mrs. Newman included the following poem with her obituary:
Putting Levity into Longevity
(Or: For heaven's sake, don't wear your glasses when you look in the mirror!)
Oh yes, this aging body wherein my spirit dwells,
Is getting a little shoddy and it really tells,
What everyone who passes by me, very clearly sees,
I'm not the young, brown-haired girl that I used to be.
Ah! But in spite of sags and wrinkles, eyes dimmed and hair turned gray,
My spirit keeps me happy, my heart feels young and gay.
And, there's a great fringe benefit, I didn't know I had,
Since I don't see so good anymore, I think I don't look so bad.
Frank L. Silvani
Flags were at half staff on the Island this week for former fire chief, fire commissioner and town Planning Board Chairman Frank L. Silvani, who died on Friday, July 12, 2002 at Central Suffolk Hospital's skilled nursing facility in Riverhead. He was 76 and died of heart failure after a long illness.
Born on Shelter Island, Mr. Silvani lived here all his life. More than 50 years ago, he founded his own plumbing business, which he continued to operate until illness forced him to retire.
Mr. Silvani served the town of Shelter Island in many capacities dating back to 1957, when the Town Board appointed him town constable. But his greatest interest was the local fire service, said his daughter Donna Bradnick of Shelter Island. Mr. Silvani was a chief of the department from about 1952 to 1964, a member and chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, on which he served for 15 years beginning in the mid-1960s, and he was active in the Suffolk County firematic service as a member of the county's Fire Advisory Board.
Mr. Silvani was chairman of the town Planning Board from 1996 until he resigned from the panel in January 2002 and had been a member of the board since 1977, serving as vice chairman for many years. He was known for his commanding presence and for exercising a firm hand as chairman.
Mr. Silvani also served the town as its constable for four years from 1957 until 1960; maintained the central fire alarm system beginning in 1964; served as official fire alarm custodian from 1967 until 1969; and when he was fire chief he also served as the town's fire warden. He also was a member of the town's Water Advisory Committee.
The Town Board recognized Mr. Silvani in February, a few weeks after he had left the Planning Board, with a proclamation thanking him for his "many, many years of diligent service to the Town of Shelter Island."
The son of Leonardo Silvani and Giovanna DeCola Silvani, he was a true harelegger -- a person born on the Island -- and was a graduate of Shelter Island High School. He married Beatrice Byington in 1946. Together they raised two children, Donna and Randall.
He is survived by his wife and children, all of whom live on Shelter Island, and by his sister, Ada Cacioppa of Forest Hills; three grandchildren, April of Massachusetts, Laureen, who is serving in the Navy in the Middle East, and Kendall, who is in school on the Island; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
Services, which included a fire department honor guard, were held Monday evening, July 15. A private burial service at the Emily French Cemetery was held on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
Edith Caddle
Edith Caddle, a long-time resident of Shelter Island, died on Friday, July 12 at Eastern Long Island Hospital. She was 83.
Mrs. Caddle was born on April 14 in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Otto and Catherine (Darragh) Heide. She graduated from Trenton State College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and for 30 years taught elementary school children in the Cranford, New Jersey school system. "She was extremely proud of the many first graders she taught to read," her family said.
On December 18, 1942 she was married in her hometown to William Caddle. They had two sons and for 50 years the family spent their summers on Shelter Island. They retired here as full-time residents 23 years ago.
Mrs. Caddle was a volunteer at Eastern Long Island Hospital and a member of the Shelter Island Women's Community Club. She was also involved in senior citizen activities. A member of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, she was active in the Young at Heart Club.
Mrs. Caddle is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Caddle of Dover, New Hampshire and Peter Caddle of Steep Falls, Maine and by four grandchildren, Mary Caddle and John Caddle of Dover, New Hampshire and Alyssa Caddle and Katharine Caddle of Steep Falls, Maine.
Mrs. Caddle was predeceased by her husband, William, and her two sisters, Ruth Wright and Dorothy Totin.
"She always enjoyed living on Shelter Island," her children said, "and the best weeks were when grandchildren visited and Camp Grandma was in session."
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 20 at the Presbyterian Church. The Reverend William Grimbol will officiate.
Evelyn M. Stahl
Evelyn M. Stahl, 71, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and formerly of Garden City and Shelter Island, died July 7, 2003.
Evelyn was born on July 15, 1931 in Brooklyn and was the daughter of the late Evelyn Murphy and John W. Muchow. She moved to the Hilton Head Island area in 1996 after vacationing there for many years.
Evelyn is survived by her husband Joseph J. Stahl II; four sons, Joseph J. Stahl III of Killingworth, Connecticut, John W. Stahl of Marietta, Georgia, Richard T. Stahl of North Brookfield, Massachusetts and Donald J. Stahl of North Brookfield, Massachusetts; two sisters, Marilyn Holt of East Northport and Joan McFadden of Fullerton, California; and five grandchildren: Jeffrey, Christopher, Joseph J. IV, Olivia, and John W. Jr.
Interment was July 14, 2003 at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Elizabeth Helen Dalton
Elizabeth Helen Dalton died at her home on Shelter Island on July 8, 2002. She was 94 years old. Betty, as she was known by her many friends and family, was born on August 16, 1907 in Plandome, New York and lived a very active and healthy life for 92 years.
On November 16, 1929, she married Charles E. Dalton. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in 1982. Betty and Charles visited Shelter Island for several years before purchasing a home in 1957 and retiring here 10 years later.
Betty loved gardening, her family said. She possessed an extraordinary ability to make all kinds of cuttings grow and flourish. She continued to rake, prune and care for her gardens well past her 90th birthday. Betty shared her green thumb as a member of the Garden Club of Shelter Island.
She traveled frequently to visit family, never missing the special moments in the lives of her children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Two years ago, she drove with family from Shelter Island to San Mateo, California and back, sightseeing along the way. While in California, she flew to Hawaii to attend the wedding of her granddaughter Samantha. Betty's travels took her beyond the United States to continental Europe. No matter where she traveled, Betty eagerly anticipated her return to Shelter Island to enjoy the warmth and beauty of her sun porch overlooking West Neck Harbor, her family said.
Betty was an avid reader and enjoyed both crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She played duplicate bridge twice a week and was chairperson of the Ladies Putting at Gardiner's Bay Country Club for many years and also was a member of the Eastern Long Island Hospital Auxiliary.
She loved to entertain family throughout the year at her home on Shelter Island. Her annual birthday party in August, attended by more than 30 members of the "Dalton Gang," was the highlight of everyone's year, the family said.
She was a devoted wife and beloved mother of six children, 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She will be missed by all who loved her, especially her son Charles (Pete) and his wife Ginny of West Chester, Pennsylvania, and their daughters Karen Perri, Barbara Panczner and Mary Beth Mahon; her son Bruce of Shelter Island; her daughter Dorothy and husband Michael Crossan Sr. of Hardy Virginia, their daughter Patti Patton and sons Michael Jr. and Jimmy; her daughter Edith and husband George of San Mateo, California and their daughters Beth Kathleen Boyse and Samantha Reid; her daughter Deborah and husband Jerry Childers of Malvern, Pennsylvania, their sons Chip and Tom and daughter Katie; and her son Richard and wife Julie of Marston Mills, Massachusetts and their son Drew. A 14th grandchild is due August 16, Betty's birthday.
She also is survived by six great- grandchildren: Carter Patton, Dalton and Trent Crossan, Jillian and Meredith Mahon and Jake Crossan. Two additional great-grandchildren are due this year.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, July 11, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a short funeral service at 7 p.m. at the Shelter Island Funeral Home followed by a reception at the Dalton home.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research.
George W. Helme III
George W. Helme III, 76, of Greenwich, Connecticut and a former summer resident of Shelter Island Heights from 1933 to 1988 died after a long illness at Greenwich Hospital on Saturday, June 29, 2002. He was born in New York City in 1926.
Mr. Helme was a retired fund-raising consultant and served in fund-raising campaigns or as director of development for Princeton University, Englewood Hospital, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, New York University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was formerly associated with Reynolds & Company in Philadelphia.
Mr. Helme was a graduate of the William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, class of 1944, and Princeton University, class of 1948. At Princeton he was a member of the varsity soccer team and rowed on the second varsity crew. During World War II, he earned his commission in the United States Navy and following his tour of active duty, he served six additional years in the active reserves.
From 1940 to 1985 he was a member of the Shelter Island Yacht Club and owned the star boat, Typhoon, and several larger handicap yachts. He and his younger brother, Jay, actively raced and sailed together for many years. His great-grandfather, Charles Small, was one of the original residents of Shelter Island Heights.
He is survived by his former wife, Rae Sargent; two daughters, Lisa Helme of Greenwich, Connecticut and Julie Helme Gordon of Highland, New Jersey; and two sons, Charles E. Helme of Greenwich, Connecticut and George W. Helme IV of Los Angeles, California. He leaves six grandchildren: Elizabeth, Allison and Christopher O'Farrell of Greenwich; Derck Gordon II of Highland, New Jersey and Stewart and Andrew Helme of Wilmington, Delaware.
He is also survived by his brother, Jay E. Helme of Cape Coral, Florida and formerly of Shelter Island Heights; Jay's wife, Bonnie, and their children, Elizabeth, Suzanne, Sandra and Jay Jr.
Mr. Helme is the oldest son of the late George W. Helme Jr. and the late Dorothy Ely Helme of Shelter Island and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A memorial service will be held at the Union Chapel in the Grove in Shelter Island Heights at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 13.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Shelter Island Chapter of the American Red Cross or the Union Chapel.
Margaret Ann Scott
Margaret Ann Scott died June 26, 2003 at her residence on Shelter Island. She was 37.
She was born March 13, 1966, to Lewis and Patricia (Nichols) Scott in Greenport. Besides her mother, Ms. Scott is survived by a grandfather, Paul Nichols of Shelter Island, and two half-sisters, Linda Reavis and Susan Trafford, both of Florida.
Funeral services were June 28 at the graveside at Shelter Island Cemetery, with arrangements by DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home of Shelter Island. Pastor Alan Krauss officiated.
