U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentRoberta M. Bobst
Homemaker, 88
Roberta Molusky Bobst of Orlando, Fla., a homemaker and a former resident of Callicoon, died Monday, May 31, 2004, in Florida. She was 88 years of age.
The daughter of the late George and Clara Sparling Molusky, she was born in Callicoon.
She was a graduate of Callicoon High School.
Mrs. Bobst is survived by her husband, Dale Bobst, at home; three sons, Robert, Michael and Thomas, all of the state of Florida; two brothers and sisters-in-law, George and Irene Molusky of Naples, Fla., and Donald and Jean Molusky of Callicoon; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers, Carl F., Robert and Vernon Molusky, and a sister, Adelaide Crockett. She was predeceased by her first husband, Edmund Hoffmann.
Services and burial were held in Florida on Thursday.
Susan C. Johnson
Homemaker, 92
Susan Carey Johnson of Orlando, Fla., a former resident of Bloomingburg, died Monday, May 31, 2004, in Orlando, Fla. She was 92 years of age.
The daughter of the late Fred Evans and Grace Caveney Wood, she was born November 21, 1911, in New York City. She was the widow of Earnest J. Johnson who died May 15, 1986.
Mrs. Johnson was a member and past president of the Bloomingburg Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, a member of the Bloomingburg United Methodist Church and the Orlando (Fla.) United Methodist Church.
In a family statement, it was said, "She will be dearly missed by many."
She is survived by a brother, John Wood of the Bronx; a sister, Grace Marburger of Kingston; four sons and three daughters-in-law, George M. and Julia Johnson, Frank F. and Linda Johnson and Russell E. Johnson, all of Bloomingburg, and Benjamin B. and Judy Johnson of Kissimmee, Fla.; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Fred Wood; a sister, Pat Gallagher, two daughters-in-law, Kathleen A. Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson; and a foster son, Wayne M. Arnold.
Friends may call at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan St., Wurtsboro, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. on Saturday with the Rev. Betty Beach officiating.
Burial will be made in the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bloomingburg Fire Co., P.O. Box 192, Bloomingburg, N.Y. 12721.
Anne Laven
Ret. Puppeteer, 88
Anne Goldfarb Laven of Aventura, Fla., a retired puppeteer, died Wednesday, May 26 at the Aventura Hospital. She was 88 years of age.
The daughter of the late Reuben and Eva Masters Goldfarb, she was born February 1, 1916, in New York City. She was the widow of Paul Laven who died in 2001 after 51 years of marriage.
Mrs. Laven was a former resident of Manhasset and Merrick, L.I., and Woodridge.
She worked as an actress, writer, dancer and puppeteer and was committed to using the arts as a vehicle for social change. In the 1930s, she participated in New York City's Theater of Action and other progressive theater groups that presented plays concerned about workers' rights, racism, anti-Semitism and other social justice issues. Performing under the stage name of Anne Gold, she was recently interviewed for a documentary film about left-wing theater. Her first husband, Al Saxe, was well-known in Broadway and off-Broadway theater.
Mrs. Laven studied Hindu dance with Nala Najan and performed frequently under her adopted Indian name of Amitra. She wrote and performed puppet shows, primarily for children in public schools and Catskill Mountain resorts, frequently collaborating with her daughter, Cora, and her second husband, Paul Laven. She featured puppetry during her work as a counselor at the Miss Ingalls creative arts camp. Her writings included short stories, poetry and plays, some of which were published.
She enjoyed exploring Eastern religion and philosophy as well as human potential movements including Silva Mind Control. She had been a member of Mensa. An avid Socialist in her youth, her views evolved over the years and she became a strong supporter of the Democratic Party, being especially enthusiastic about Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Mrs. Laven is survived by a daughter, Cora McKie of Ipswich, England; a brother, Leon Goldfarb of McFarland, Wisc.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
There were no services. Following cremation, her ashes will be scattered by The Neptune Society.
Francis Sheridan
Wood Importer, 66
Francis S. "Frank" Sheridan, a longtime summer resident of the Basket in Long Eddy, died Wednesday, May 5, 2004, doing what he had a passion for, fighting for the wood industry. He was 66 years of age.
Born in the Bronx in 1937, he lived and worked his entire life in the New York City metropolitan area.
Mr. Sheridan was a lifelong advocate for the wood products industry. He believed sustainable forestry was a key component to creating wealth in developing countries. He founded Afrasian Woods, Inc., with Bob Gross of Gross Veneer Sales, in 1979. Prior to Afrasian Woods, Mr. Sheridan was a sales manager for A.J. Monnin Co.
He was elected president of International Wood Products Association (IWPA) in 1993 and served as chairman of CURE, the public outreach and education committee of IWPA. More recently, he served as chairman of the Government Affairs Committee. He represented IWPA and served as an official U.S. Government representative at many international forums, being recognized as a fair, but tenacious negotiator.
A prominent figure in the imported plywood products industry, Mr. Sheridan received IWPA's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 2000, in appreciation of his tireless efforts and dedication to the Association and the industry.
Mr. Sheridan's humanitarian efforts were recognized by the conservation community. Dr. Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, hailed him at a 2003 U.S. State Department event commemorating Earth Day as instrumental in creating initiatives and forging partnerships to conserve tropical forests.
He served on the Board of Directors for the Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association, where he played a leadership role. He served as chairman of the Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF) Nominating Committee, helping to diversify the HFF Board to include representation from many segments of the forest products industry. He also served on the Tropical Forestry Foundation and was an active and outspoken member of the HFF Project Review Committee, identifying and selecting quality hardwood planting projects with strong educational opportunities. Mr. Sheridan was also a former president of Alley Pond Apartments Cooperative Association. Early in his life, he was an active member of the Republican Club and had served in the U.S. National Guard.
In a family statement, it was said, "Frank leaves a vast network of friends and associates. He developed many close and lasting relationships with foreign dignitaries, industry leaders and government officials."
He is survived by his wife, Beth Sheridan, at home; four children, Brian, Linda, Barbara and Sam; three step-children, Raymond, James and Lisa; seven grandchildren, Taylor, Savanna, Serene, Cody, Veronica, Madeline, Ellie and the new edition, Chloe.
No information was provided pertaining to services and burial.
John Witzeman,
Ret. Pkg. Engr., 62
John Stephen "Steve" Witzeman, a 3 1/2-year resident of Hidden Lake Estates in Hawley, Pa., a summer resident of Lake Anawanda for 15 years, and a former resident of Rivervale, N.J., and Stoney Point, died Tuesday, June 1, at his home, following an illness. He was 62 years of age.
The son of John L. Witzeman and the late May Harrington Witzeman, he was born in Manhattan.
A graduate of Rutgers University, he was a packaging engineer of food for Kraft/General Foods, retiring in 1996.
Mr. Witzeman is survived by his wife of 40 years, Florence R. DiBerardino Witzeman, at home; three daughters, Donna Witzeman of Los Angeles, Calif., Debra Thorner of Highlands, N.J., and Denise Witzeman-Mecionis of New York City; his father, of Walden; and a sister, Charlotte Daily of Walden.
No information was provided as to services and place of burial.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Wayne Unit, 627 Main St., Honesdale, Pa. 18431.
Betty H. Green
Retired RN, 79
Betty H. Green of Umatilla, Fla., a former resident of Woodbourne and a retired registered nurse in the operating room for both Community General Hospital in Harris and its predecessor, the Monticello Hospital, died January 8, 2004, at her home in Florida. She was 79 years of age.
The widow of Peter Green, she was born January 1, 1925, in Frederick, Okla.
Mrs. Green was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Woodbourne and the New York State Nurses Association. She was active for many years in the Cub and Boy Scouts in Woodbourne as well as the Fallsburg Little League. She and her late husband enjoyed square dancing in Grahamsville and around Sullivan County.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a devoted mother."
Mrs. Green is survived by a daughter, Joanne Ozolins of Woodbourne; three sons and two daughters-in-law, James and Judy Green of Boynton Beach, Fla., Stephen Green and his companion, Mary Hall, of Milford, and Richard and Laura Green of Tampa, Fla.; a sister and brother-in-law, Rae and Morris Helm of Camby, Minn; two sisters-in-law, Ruth Cross of Grahamsville and Josie Green of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a son, Thomas, who died in 1968; and a son-in-law, George Ozolins.
Graveside services and burial of the cremains of both Mrs. Green and her late husband will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 14, at the Rural Cemetery in Grahamsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange/Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.
Margaret Hust
Retired Nurse, 89
Margaret Hust of Sidney, a retired nurse, died Friday, June 4, 2004, at the Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City. She was 89 years of age.
The daughter of the late Albert and Zanetta Treese, she was born December 19, 1914, in Altoona, Pa. She was the widow of Dr. Philip Hust who died in 1988.
Mrs. Hust graduated from a nursing school in Pennsylvania.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, William and Joan of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Hust of Kenoza Lake; five grandchildren, including Dan Hust of Damascus, Pa., and Rebekah Failla and her husband, Louis, of Alfred; two great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Philip Hust.
A gathering commemorating Mrs. Hust will be held at noon on Tuesday at the United Methodist Church Hall in Sidney.
Private burial will be made in the Kenoza Lake Cemetery.
Rosemarie Nitschke
Ret. SCCC Teacher, 76
Rosemarie Nitschke, a 45-year resident of Grahamsville and a retired 20-year teacher at Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, died February 14, 2004, at Hope Hospice House in Ft. Myers, Fla., where she volunteered for many years. She was 76 years of age.
The daughter of the late Ernst and Lena Lieblich, she was born March 2, 1927, in Vienna, Austria. She was the widow of Jacques "Jack" Nitschke.
Mrs. Nitschke earned a B.S. degree in Science from St. Lawrence University. She moved to Grahamsville in 1959 and was a dedicated member of the United Methodist Church and the church choir in Grahamsville, which was a great source of strength and fellowship throughout her life.
In a family statement, it was said, "Rosemarie will be greatly missed by all who knew her gentle and caring spirit. She was an extremely giving person who always thought of those around her first. She loved her family and friends, attending the theatre, traveling near and far and working any and all mediums with her hands."
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Michele Nitschke; a daughter, Julie, and her partner, Pierre; two granddaughters, Jaime and Corinne; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at the Grahamsville Methodist Church.
No further information was provided.
