U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Raymond J. McKee
Raymond J. McKee, 91, of Shelter Island and Orient died suddenly on March 16 at his winter residence in Jensen Beach, Florida.
He was born in the Bronx on February 16, 1911, to Edward and Lillian (Heim) McKee. He moved from Rutherford, New Jersey, to Long Island in 1955 and to Shelter Island in 1976.
Mr. McKee served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, and later regaled all with stories of his experiences in the China-Burma-India Theater. He also spent 18 months in San Francisco and pined to return there all his life. Thanks to the G.I. Bill he was educated at St John's University. He was an administrator and comptroller for the State Insurance Fund on Church Street in Manhattan for more than 40 years. He retired in 1976.
According to his daughter, Carol Gillooly of Orient, his later life "revolved around his love for his granddaughter Sarah. He lived to hear news of her activities." Something that no one knew about him, she said: He often grocery-shopped for a complete turkey feast and would drop it anonymously on the doorstep of someone who could use it, "even though he didn't know them. He always recalled how hungry he was at times during the war and thought no one should ever be hungry."
Predeceased by his wife Eloise (nÉe Holmes) in 1996, he is survived by two daughters, Ms. Gillooly of Orient and Janis Meyer of Manhattan, one grandchild and seven nieces and nephews.
A mass will be celebrated tomorrow, Friday, at St. Agnes Church in Greenport at 11 a.m., followed by burial at Orient Central Cemetery.
Because the desire that no one should be hungry was a focus in his life, the family asks that memorial donations be given to the North Fork Community Supper, P.O. Box 787, Southold, New York 11971.
Thomas S. Lord
Thomas S. Lord of Shelter Island and Clearwater, Florida died in Florida on March 13, 2003 at the age of 93. He was born May 21, 1909 in Barwell, England. His family moved to Florida when he was very young.
In the late 1920s, Mr. Lord first came to the East End of Long Island, spending part of the year in East Hampton playing semi-professional baseball. During that time, he acquired an affinity for golf, working part-time at the Maidstone Club.
Always recognizable for his colorful clothing, Mr. Lord was a manufacturer's representative for men's sportswear. He and his wife, Eileen, purchased their Shelter Island home in 1952. Nicknamed "Lord's Hideaway" for its location at the end of Hedges Road, it was the place he and Eileen often used to entertain their many friends.
Shortly after moving to Shelter Island, Mr. Lord joined Gardiner's Bay Country Club and had a profound influence on the golf club. He served on its board of directors for much of the 1950s and 1960s and also served as its president for two terms, 1959-60 and 1961-67.
During his terms as president, the golf course underwent many significant changes including the design of the signature fourth hole and the two-tiered ninth green. Mr. Lord was also the impetus for the expansion of the clubhouse to include the dining room and men's locker room.
On the golf course, Mr. Lord was always known for his sartorial splendor and good humor as well as his good golf. He was the championship runner-up in 1958.
He was predeceased by his wife, Eileen, and is survived by a sister, Dorothy Lord Moss, of Clearwater, Florida.
Cremation took place in Florida. At his request, his ashes will be returned to Shelter Island. A memorial service will be held in the late spring with details to be announced.
Norma Dalaker
Norma Dalaker of Shelter Island died on Sunday, March 4 at her home after a long illness. Born in Greenport on February 6, 1909, she was the daughter of Henry and Daisy Perriberton.
After high school in Greenport, she spent time in Palm Springs, California as a companion to Mrs. R. Thomas, formerly of Greenport.
On March 6, 1931, she married Fred Dalaker of Greenport. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year.
In Norfolk, Virginia during World War II, while her husband served in the Navy, she served as secretary to the lieutenant commander of the naval air base for the duration. Upon returning to Shelter Island, the couple opened Dal's Market and operated it until their retirement.
Norma was not only an accomplished organist, she was a talented artist.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a sister, Zola Peckham of Honeoye Falls, New York, and three brothers: Sherriel of Southold, Hector of Orient and Douglas of Biloxi, Mississippi.
Her service will be private at the convenience of the family. Those who would like to remember her may contribute to the Shelter Island Red Cross Ambulance Corps.
Isabel K. Wallace
A summer resident of Shelter Island since the 1930s, Isabel K. Wallace died on March 1, 2001 at the San Simeon nursing home in Greenport at the age of 97.
Born in Albany, Georgia, she grew up in Athens, Georgia. She moved to New York City as a young woman and worked in Manhattan. She lived in Jackson Heights, New York year-round and Shelter Island in the summers for more than 60 years. Her home here was one of the first summer residences on Big Ram Island.
Mrs. Wallace was predeceased by her first husband, George Wieda, with whom she built her home on Big Ram Island, and by her second husband, Dr. Jess T. Wallace.
She is survived by her nephew, William L. Kemp II of Athens, Georgia; her niece, Lou Strumpler of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a step-daughter, Marjorie Jean Cruickshank of Oxford, Mississippi, and numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial service was held on Monday, March 12 at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia and an additional memorial service will be held on Shelter Island in early June.
Ronald A. Brownlee
Ronald A. Brownlee died of a heart attack at his home on Shelter Island on March 7, 2002. Mr. Brownlee was 52.
Mr. Brownlee was born in September 23, 1949 in Newark, New Jersey to Dorothy and Edgar Brownlee. He moved to Shelter Island in 1977 and was self-employed as a carpenter on the Island for 25 years. He was a Vietnam veteran who served his country for four years.
He had many friends on Shelter Island, said his sister, Karen Tudor. "Everybody's been saying, 'He was my best friend,'" she said. "He had a big heart and he will be missed." A friend of his, Charlotte Moore said at a memorial service for Ron that he made the people around him feel "warm and fuzzy." He was fondly referred to by many of his friends as "the Bear."
Ron is survived by his mother, Dorothy, of Shelter Island; his only sister, Karen Tudor, of San Diego, California; his aunt and uncle, Jane and Douglas Brownlee of Belleville, New Jersey; and nephew Eric Tudor, formerly of Shelter Island and now residing in East Hampton and Eric's wife, Kim. His father, Edgar Brownlee, predeceased him.
A memorial service was conducted at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2002, Pastor William Grimbol presiding.
Jack Doenias
Jack Doenias, 64, a resident of Forest Hills and a Baldwin Road resident for more than 30 years, died on Saturday, March 9, 2002 after a year-long illness, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. Mr. Doenias is survived by his wife, Judy, and their children: Adam and his wife Anne, and Josh.
An owner of one of New York's most popular landmark restaurants, the Empire Diner in Chelsea, Mr. Doenias always welcomed Islanders and frequently invited them to be his guests at the diner -- including occasions when Island officials and their spouses were in the city for the annual conference of small towns.
In addition to being a motorcycle enthusiast, a sailor and a stargazer, Mr. Doenias was an avid pilot. Several years ago he purchased a small plane, which he kept at Frank Klenawicus' Cartwright Road airfield. During the annual Labor Day fly-ins that took place on the Island until about three years ago, Mr. Doenias gave countless rides to flying enthusiasts and was responsible for more than a few Islanders developing an interest in aviation. Nine years ago he teamed up with his friend and neighbor, Hoot Sherman, to fly with Mr. Sherman in his home-built open-cockpit biplane to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After several days of being stuck in Pennsylvania because of weather, the flying duo was forced to head back to the Island. But Mr. Doenias always claimed that his disappointment was lessened when they landed at "Klenawicus International Airport," to find fellow pilots and friends, Frank Klenawicus, Lou Toth and Scratchy Johnson standing beside a large sign that proclaimed: "Welcome to Oshkosh!"
A funeral service was held on Sunday, March 10, 2002, in Flushing, New York.
Jennie White
Jennie White, formerly of Shelter Island and Sarasota, Florida, died on February 20, 2002. She was 88 years old. She and her husband, Sam White, spent many summers on Shelter Island and later were full-time residents.
Mrs. White was a graduate of Girl's High School and her family was proud of the fact that she received a 99 on her geometry Regents. She put her math skills to work as an actuary for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. In 1934, she married Sam White in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. She devoted the rest of her life to her family and home.
She was an avid reader, well known for her great cooking skills and always a gracious hostess.
Mrs. White is survived by her husband of 67 years, her daughter Jean Grenning of Gaithersburg, Maryland and her son Stuart White of Osprey, Florida. She has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. On Shelter Island she leaves behind her granddaughter, Laura Kneeland, and her great-granddaughter, Katie Kneeland.
A private service was held in Sarasota, Florida for family members.
Blanche Gibson Sillay
Blanche Gibson Sillay, 93, widow of Frank I. Sillay of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, died Sunday, March 10, 2002. A private memorial service was held in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia at a later date. Arrangements are being made by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel.
Mrs. Sillay grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, a daughter of Thomas Jefferson Gibson and Martha McLaughlin Gibson. She was an executive secretary for Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia for 23 years. She was also a 20-year resident of LaGrange, Georgia and a four-year resident of Shelter Island.
Surviving are her daughter, Jeanne Sillay Jacobson and her husband, Bernie, of Shelter Island; her son, Frank I. Sillay Jr. of Wellington, New Zealand; sister, Sara Frances Callaway of LaGrange, Georgia; brother, Tom Gibson of LaGrange; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Methodist Children's Home, 500 South Columbia Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30030 or Alzheimer's Association, Coastal Carolina SC Chapter, P.O. Box 80459, Charleston, South Carolina 29416-0459.
Edward J. Walsh
Edward J. Walsh, 81, of Coram, recently of Shelter Island, died Sunday, March 9, 2003 at Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson of complications from pneumonia.
Born February 27, 1922 in Brooklyn, Mr. Walsh was a volunteer fireman for 50 years, serving in Commack, Hauppauge and finally the Shelter Island Fire Department, most recently as a captain in the fire police.
Prior to moving to Shelter Island in 1986, he lived in Smithtown for more than 30 years where he worked for the New York Telephone Company, retiring after nearly 36 years.
He served in the both the Navy and the Air Force during World War II and the Korean War.
Mr. Walsh, an avid recycler, was on the forefront of the budding ecology movement on Long Island during the early 1970s. He believed that education was the key to inspiring young people to recycle glass, newspapers, plastics and metal for the betterment of the environment.
Early on, he helped spearhead a recycling program with Hauppauge High School that helped fund student programs. He initiated the battery-saving program here on Shelter Island in the mid-1980s.
His generosity was felt by all who knew him and his loyalty to his comrades in the fire department and his friends was unmatched.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, of 55 years; daughters Mary Elizabeth Dugoniths of Coram and Debra La Ruffa of St. James; sons Peter of Shelter Island and New York City, Robert of Port Jefferson and Richard of Tampa, Florida; sons-in-law George and Roger; daughter-in-law Judy; and grandchildren Laurie, Keith, Christine, Braden, Kate, Casey and Joseph.
He was predeceased by his daughter Patricia Budd, and by his son, Edward.
Memorial services were held at Moloney's Hauppauge Funeral Home in Hauppauge on March 10 and 11, 2003. A funeral mass was held Wednesday, March 12, 2003 at St. Patrick's Church, Smithtown. Internment was to be private at the National Cemetery in Calverton.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Stony Brook Burn Unit.
Esther P. Walther
Esther P. Walther, one of a group of women who came to teach at the Shelter Island School in the 1920s and stayed to raise their families here, passed away at home on March 5, 2003 after a brief illness.
Mrs. Walther was born to the Reverend Herbert Pease, a Baptist minister, and Blanche Shelley Pease on December 23, 1905 in Halstead, Pennsylvania. She attended Keuka College for teaching and came to the Island's school in 1927. She taught English, Spanish and the fourth grade for 34 years until her retirement in 1972.
She married Roger Cartwright Walther in 1928 and raised three children, all of whom survive her: Roger B., Alan and Ann Clark, all of Shelter Island. She also is survived by grandchildren Donny Walther and Laurie Eckardt of Shelter Island; Debbie Burns of Alpine, California; and Kenneth, Richard, Roger, Joey and Shelley Clark of Shelter Island. Esther also had 18 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, four brothers and a sister.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church and the Shelter Island Public Library.
