U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Dorothy E. Messer
Dorothy E. "Ditty" Messer of Cutchogue died at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport on Memorial Day, May 26, 2003. She was 87.
Mrs. Messer was born in Oceanside on July 14, 1915 to Joseph and Bessie (nÉe White) Schroeder. She was raised in West Hempstead and was a graduate of Hempstead High School.
"Ditty" worked for New York Life Insurance Company until the birth of her first child, Patricia Ann. She returned to work several years later as a cook for the West Hempstead School District, having worked at George Washington Public School and West Hempstead High School. After nine years with the school district, she became associated with the tax office of O'Flynn and Verity.
Until moving to the East End in the early 1990s, she was a resident of West Hempstead and a communicant of the Lutheran Church of the Epiphany in Hempstead. Locally, she was active in the Shelter Island Nutrition Program and loved embroidery.
Predeceased by her husband, Walter, on March 17, 1980, she leaves her children, Patricia Ann Hansen of South Jamesport and James Messer of Shelter Island; her daughter-in-law Janalyn Travis-Messer of Shelter Island; her sister-in-law Amelia Schroeder and three grandchildren, Bruce Hansen, Glen (Shauna) Hansen and Alexandra Binder.
The family received friends on Thursday, May 29 at the DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Homes in Mattituck, where Lutheran services were held that evening by the Rev. George Summers of Advent Lutheran Church.
Those wishing to remember "Ditty" and her family may make a donation to the Lutheran Church of the Epiphany, 35 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, New York 11550.
Helene C. Schonberg
Helene Cornell Schonberg, wife of Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic Harold Schonberg of The New York Times, died on May 14, 2003 at her home in Manhattan after a long illness. She was 79. They had also long maintained a home on Little Ram Island and were active supporters of many Shelter Island organizations.
Born in Denver, Colorado, she attended local schools and graduated from the University of Denver in 1945 with a degree in speech and drama. After graduation, she went to New York City where she landed a role in the drama "Harvey," which was opening on Broadway and was written by Mary Chase, a friend of Helene's from Denver. Following that appearance she joined a USO troop and toured Europe during World War II.
She left the USO after suffering a leg injury in a Jeep accident. Following her return to New York City, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and enjoyed an acting career that included several appearances in Equity Library Theater productions and touring with her own company, "The Demi-Tasse Players." In later years, she worked as a production stage manager at Channel 13, the public broadcast station.
Following her marriage in 1960 to the late John Cornell, she maintained homes in Greenwich Village and Shelter Island. Together they bred and showed award-winning Bedlington terriers.
Mrs Schonberg is survived by her husband of 25 years, Harold.
Alice Dickerson Tybaert
A memorial service for Alice Dickerson Tybaert, who died on January 20, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia, will be held on Sunday, June 8, 2003 at 2 p.m. at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the service in Fellowship Hall.
Al Johnson
Al (Alton) M. Johnson of Shelter Island and New York City died peacefully on May 16, 2001.
Mr. Johnson was born on October 16, 1928. He spent summers on Shelter Island since 1972, and was well known to many local residents. He deeply loved Shelter Island and in recent years became a member of the American Legion Post.
Mr. Johnson was enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1944 to1949 and in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1969. He served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, the Army of Occupation in Germany, the Korean War and in Vietnam. He received numerous decorations including Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts.
After retiring from military service, Mr. Johnson became the national service manager of Cavitron Ultrasonics, Inc., from 1969 to 1979.
Much beloved by his life companion of 29 years, Louise S. Horowitz; stepchildren Marilyn, Roger and Diana Horowitz; and a grandchild, Jason Horowitz, he is also survived by his sister, Judy Summers and his nephew, Leo Shanks, of Grand Canyon, Arizona.
Mr. Johnson was laid to rest in Calverton National Cemetery with military honors.
Mary Griffing Hess
Mary Griffing Hess of Grand Rapids, Michigan died on May 12, 2001. She was 92.
Mrs. Hess, a true 'harelegger', was born on Shelter Island on November 21, 1908. She was the youngest daughter of Moses B. and Phebe Griffing.
Mrs. Hess was predeceased by her husband, Earl, and her son, William Scudder. She is survived by her daughter, Christine Hess of Grand Rapids; her sister-in-law Margaret Griffing of Shelter Island; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Shelter Island at the end of June.
George R. Bradley Jr.
George R. Bradley Jr., a full time resident of Shelter Island since the early 1970s, passed away at his residence on May 28, 2001. He was 92 years old.
Mr. Bradley was born in Beverly, Massachusetts on April 8, 1909, the son of George R. and Grace Williams Bradley. As a child, he summered on Shelter Island.
Mr. Bradley was a past member and officer of the Shelter Island Yacht Club and a member of the Gardiner's Bay Country Club. He worked for many years as an engineer for the telephone company and after retirement moved to Shelter Island permanently.
He was married to Elizabeth Stell in 1933. She predeceased him in 1998. He is survived by a son, George R. III of Cincinnati, Ohio and a daughter, Barbara Ann Platt of Rochester, New York. He also survived by six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 2, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church on Shelter Island. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Shelter Island or Cornell University, 55 Brown Road, Ste. 220, Ithaca, New York 14850.
Jane P. Wilkinson
Jane P. Wilkinson died May 22, 2001 at the Evergreen Woods Health Center in North Branford, Connecticut. She was 91.
Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, she was the daughter of Edith V. and Harry H. Pittinger. She grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, graduated from Ridgewood High School and lived there for many years before she and her first husband, Edward K. Dreier, who predeceased her, retired to Shelter Island and Longboat Key, Florida. She was also predeceased by her second husband, Maxwell P. Wilkinson.
An ardent gardener, Mrs. Wilkinson was an active member of the Garden Club of Ridgewood and the Garden Club of Shelter Island. She was a member of the Shelter Island Yacht Club.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jane Berkowitz of Norwalk, Connecticut and Nancy Dreier Dailey of Holderness, New Hampshire, and by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Ruth Pittinger Sieburg, of Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
There will be a memorial graveside service for Mrs. Wilkinson at a later date on Shelter Island. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Union Chapel, Shelter Island, the Garden Club of Shelter Island, or to a charity of choice.
Lily A. Januick
Lily A. Januick, a long-time resident of Shelter Island, died at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport on Wednesday, May 22, 2002. She was 90 years old. An obituary will appear in next week's Reporter.
Nicholas A. Mullin
Nicholas A. Mullin, 94, of Shelter Island, died on March 25, 2002 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan.
Mr. Mullin was a long-time resident and leading businessman in Brooklyn. Together with his father John, he established Mullin's Lumberyard in 1918, which he managed until his retirement to Shelter Island in 1996.
Mr. Mullin was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was an active member of the Coney Island VFW Post and Chamber of Commerce, the New York Timber and Lumberman's Association, and the Holy Name Society of Our Lady of Solace R.C. Church.
Mr. Mullin is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rose Aiello Mullin, a brother, William Mullin of San Antonio, sisters Louise Frazzitta of Jamesburg, New Jersey and Anna Morandi of Staten Island, a son, the Reverend John Mullin, S.J. of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Manhattan, daughters Margaret Doerr of Saugerties, New York, Susan Mikochik of Shelter Island, Marianne Kavanagh of Manhattan and Barbara Mullin of Albany, and grandchildren Barbara Jean, Jennifer and Michael Doerr.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 4th at Our Lady of the Isle Church at 6 p.m.
Vera Schroeder
Longtime Island resident, Vera Schroeder died on May 21 at Southampton Hospital after a brief illness. She was 85.
Mrs. Schroeder had a career at Esso Corporate Headquarters in New York City, where she was executive secretary to the vice president in charge of personnel. She and her husband Joseph, who predeceased her in 1998, were avid sailors, summering aboard their 32-foot sloop Morning Mist.
In the early 1970s, as a newly-retired couple, the Schroeders cruised along the shores of Long Island Sound in search of the perfect spot in which to settle down. In the spring of 1973 they dropped anchor off Skip Tuttle's boatyard and came ashore to check out the Island. Two days later, they decided this was where they would settle. They soon found a house to live in and never left.
In her 80s, Mrs. Schroeder served as a volunteer at the Office of Senior Services on Shelter Island. Her voice became familiar to several house-bound seniors -- many of whom were much younger than herself -- as the cheerful "Thursday morning caller" in the Seniors' daily Telephone Reassurance Program.
She is survived by one niece, Eileen Schiavetta and her husband Robert of West Islip; two great-nieces, Robin Gilchrest and Gina Marone; one great-nephew, Robert Schiavetta; and two great grand-nephews, Vincent and Anthony Marone.
Services were held on Wednesday, May 23, at the Presbyterian Church, Pastor William R. Grimbol officiating.
Margaret Nichols
Margaret Nichols of Shelter Island passed away at Eastern Long Island Hospital on May 13, 2001. She was 88 years old.
Mrs. Nichols was born on Shelter Island on May 27, 1912 to Emmerson and Mabel (Shaw) Mitchell. She resided in Baldwinsville, New York for 30 years before returning to Shelter Island in 1999 following an illness.
She is survived by her husband, Paul Nichols and a daughter, Patricia Scott of Shelter Island; a brother, Emmerson Mitchell of Lansing, New York; two grandchildren, Margaret Ann Scott of Shelter Island and Cathy Nichols of Penneville, New York; and three great-grandchildren, Gary, Samantha and Peter of Penneville, New York. She was predeceased by her son, Paul Jr.
A graveside service was held at the Shelter Island Cemetery on May 16, with Reverend William R. Grimbol officiating.
Rita C. Motley
Rita C. Motley of Shelter Island passed away in Wellington, Florida on the morning of May 10, 2001. She was 82 years of age.
Mrs. Motley had been a summer resident of Shelter Island since the age of three and moved to the Island full time in 1982. She attended Brooklyn College. She worked part time in retail sales and full time as a mother and grandmother.
Mrs. Motley was predeceased by her husband, Robert, a retired New York City police officer. She is survived by three children, Rob Motley of Edison, New Jersey, Ginny Oakley of Wellington, Florida and Eddie Motley of Shelter Island. She also leaves five grandchildren of whom she was very proud.
The family received friends and relatives on Monday, May 14 at the Shelter Island funeral home. Following a service on May 15 at Our Lady of the Isle Church, Mrs. Motley was buried at Our Lady of the Isle cemetery.
Members of the family, remembering what Mrs. Motley used to say and write in letters, said "She will be loved always and all ways."
