U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentHenry W. Edwards
Ret. Slinger, 70
Henry W. Edwards of Walden, a retired slinger for the former Orange County Packing in Chester and an area resident since 1981, died Monday, September 24, 2007 in Middletown after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 70.
The son of James Edwards and Eunice Scott Cuttler, he was born March 15, 1937 in Livingston Manor.
Henry had also worked at Clemsen Brothers Equipment, Middletown Psychiatric Center and the New Hampton Training School. He was a member of AARP, and loved hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Starr Coy Edwards, at home; two sons, Henry Edwards and companion Karen Radivoy of Montgomery, and Andrew Edwards of Walden; three daughters, JoAnne Vail of Wurtsboro, Michelle Leonard and husband Rebel of Parksville, and Jannette Munoz and husband John of Loch Sheldrake; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Alfred Cuttler and wife Sandy of Youngsville; three sisters, Grace Spevak of Hackettstown, NJ, Euphemia Gongelosi of Wurtsboro, and Eva Munoz of Livingston Manor; and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a son, James Henry Edwards; a daughter, Robin Edwards; and three brothers, Sam, George and Charles Cuttler.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 28 at Millspaugh Funeral Home, 22 Bank St., Walden with the Rev. James Van Houten officiating. Burial will be made in Wallkill Valley Cemetery, Walden.
Michael Galligan Sr.
Ret. Ass’t. Manager, 72
Michael E. Galligan Sr. of Forestburgh, a retired assistant manager of the Motor Vehicle Office at the Sullivan County Clerk's Office in Monticello and a lifetime area resident, died Monday, September 24, 2007 at his home. He was 72.
The son of the late Vincent C. Sr. and the late Florence Bushweller Galligan, he was born August 17, 1935 in Port Jervis.
Since his mid-20s, Michael fought a courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served from 1955-1959 and was stationed in Germany as an air traffic controller. He enjoyed hunting and ice fishing, and his secondary interest was building patios, sidewalks and stone walls which dot the county, of bluestone taken from the quarries of the Galligan estate.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia J. Starr Galligan, at home, whom he married January 28, 1967 in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Forestburgh; a son, Michael E. Galligan Jr. of Cuddebackville; a daughter, Theresa Wolf of Mahwah, NJ; three brothers, John W. Galligan and his wife Gerry, Vincent C. Galligan Jr. and his wife Kathleen, and James P. Galligan and his wife Ellen, all of Forestburgh; a sister, Kathleen Greco and her husband Gerard of Rockville, Md.; three grandchildren, Michelle Galligan of Cuddebackville, Molly Wolf and Thomas Wolf of Mahwah, NJ; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by his loving and devoted aunt Margaret “Mimi” Galligan, who retired from teaching in the Monticello Schools.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 27, with a Mass of Christian Burial held at St. Thomas Aquinas R.C. Church. The Rev. Ivan Csete officiated.
Burial was made in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Forestburgh.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.
Berverly Isberg
Ret. Health Care Aide, 66
Beverly Isberg of Woodridge, a retired home health care aide and longtime area resident, died Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla. She was 66.
Beverly was born January 27, 1941 in Brooklyn, the daughter of Joseph and Betty Mednick.
She was a member of Hadassah, and volunteered at Catskill Regional Medical Center where she was also in the Adult Day Care Program.
She is survived by her daughter Lisa Mednick at home in Wood-ridge; her son, Michael Holley of Villa Rica, Ga.; her one granddaughter, Abigail Holley; her sister, Blanche Mednick of Mass; two brothers, Marvin of Georgia and Murray Mednick of Ca.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello. Burial was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty.
Dr. Jacob Goldblatt
Retired Dentist, 86
Dr. Jacob Goldblatt, a longtime resident of Monroe, passed away on September 22, 2007. He was 86.
Jacob was born April 20,1921 in Brooklyn to Ruth and Emil Michael Goldblatt. He was raised in a loving family with his twin brother, Aaron, and sister, Beatrice.
Always a gentleman, Jack was a devoted and loving husband to his beloved Ethel, the most important and cherished person in his life. He was an amazing father to his three children, who have great admiration, respect and endless love for him.
Jack graduated from the University of Vermont and College of Medicine in 1943, where he was active in ROTC, athletic endeavors, and music and theatre productions.
Jack completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Pittsburgh while enrolled in an accelerated program through the U.S. Army Reserves. It was during this time he fell in love with and married Ethel in 1945. They were stationed at Fort Dix, where Jack completed his residency at Grasslands Hospital and began their family. Upon reenlistment in the U.S. Air Force, Jack practiced dentistry as a Major while stationed at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. In 1954, his family moved to Monroe, where he practiced dentistry with his brother, Aaron, until 1975.
Jack spent a lifetime pursuing knowledge, striving for self-improvement and enrolling in professional seminars at New York University to learn innovative techniques in dentistry. Following his retirement from private practice, he worked part-time at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility as a dentist.
Jack had a love for nature and many outdoor activities: hiking, skiing, golfing, tennis, swimming and horseback riding. He was an avid fly fisherman and an enthusiastic bicyclist. He had a gift working with his hands and gained pleasure tying fishing flies and creating beautiful wooden bowls and candlesticks on his lathe. He was an accomplished photographer and a member of the Muddywater Creative Theater Group as a talented actor who thoroughly enjoyed the many local community theater productions he starred in.
Jack was very active in the Civil Rights Movement. He proudly marched in Washington, D.C., with a group from The Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism and was a strong advocate of equality for all. Jack held high principles and ethical standards while always maintaining his ideals.
Surviving are his son, E. Michael Goldblatt and life partner Celia Kingsbury of Burlington, Vt.; his daughter, Janis Goldblatt and husband Russell Sanders of Fort Collins, Co.; his daughter, Donna Gillis and husband Hudson Gillis of Loch Sheldrake; his granddaughter, Rachel Leilani Gillis of Boulder, Co.; his two step-grandchildren, Jennifer Sanders Cykoski and Craig Sanders; his sister, Beatrice Goldblatt of California; and many nieces and nephews.
In a familiy statement it was said, “Jack will be deeply missed by family and friends. He will forever be in our hearts.”
Memorial services will be held on Friday, September 28 at 1 p.m. in The Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism with Rabbi Garry Loeb officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice, The Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism, or to the charitable organization of one’s choice.
Jay B. Case
Custodian, 60
Jay B. Case of Goshen, died Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at Orange Regional Medical Center Horton Campus, Middletown. He was 60.
Jay was born November 6, 1946 in Nyack, the son of the late Jay B. Case II and the late Mary (Boars) Case.
Jay served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was employed by Valley Central High School in Montgomery as a custodian, and he was a member of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Montgomery.
He is survived by his wife, Marline I. (Davis) Case; sons, Timothy Spears of Middletown, Thomas Spears of Middletown, Leroy Spears of Pine Bush, Albert Spears of Middletown, Leonard Spears of Middletown and Jay M. Case; daughters, Brenda Spears of Goshen, Rebecca Ditzaur of Lake Sheldrake, Christine Kaminski of Goshen, Irene Case, Kathleen Case of Mastic Beach and Jennifer Case; sisters, Terry Parks of California and Merril Case of California; 24 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many niec-es and nephews.
Funeral services will be on Friday, September 28, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Donovan Funeral Home, 82 South Church St., Goshen.
Burial will follow in the Orange County Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Goshen.
Contributions may be made in Jay's name to an animal shelter of one's choice.
Arrangements made are under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home, Goshen.
Michael Purcell
Teacher, 53
Michael Purcell of Walden, a physical education and classroom teacher for 32 years in the Washingtonville School District and a lifelong area resident, died Saturday, June 4, 2005, in Newburgh. He was 53 years of age.
The son of Thomas and Theresa Bruschi Purcell, he was born September 18, 1951, in Newburgh.
A graduate of Valley Central High School, he received his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Manhattan College in 1973. He attended Lady of the Lake Chapel in Newburgh.
Mr. Purcell was a baseball coach for Walden Little League, Valley Central School District, Washingtonville School District, Montgomery Cardinal’s, the Newburgh Cannons, Mount St. Mary’s College and the Newburgh Nuclears. He was also a coach for the Walden Rotary Soccer Club and Washingtonville Girl’s Varsity Basketball Team.
In a family statement, it was said, “Mike was a loving and devoted son, brother, husband, father and grandfather. His passion for baseball was shown through his many years of teaching and coaching. He was devoted to his players both on and off the field.”
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Ruth Conklin Purcell, at home; three children, Trevor Michael, at home, and his girlfriend, Melissa Picone, Brady Thomas, at home, and Kelly Marie of the Town of Newburgh and her fiance, Al Guidice; a grandson, Parker Guidice of the Town of Newburgh; his parents of Walden; two brothers, Daniel Purcell and his wife, Eileen, of Campbell Hall, and John Purcell and his girlfriend, Maria Lambros, of Oneonta; a sister, Linda Fox of Spring Glen and her boyfriend, Sheldon Dishner of Kiamesha Lake; his mother-in-law, Marie Conklin of Wappingers Falls ; two sisters-in-law and their husbands, Helen and Charles Goetschius of Wurtsboro and Lynda and Doyle Kimmel of Poughkeepsie; a brother-in-law and his wife, Charles and Eileen Conklin of Flanders, N.J.; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beagle, Shiloh. Mr. Purcell was predeceased by a brother-in-law, Barry Fox.
Friends may call on Tuesday at the Millspaugh Funeral Home, 22 Bank St., Walden, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m on Wednesday at Lady of the Lake Chapel, Route 52, Town of Newburgh, with Monsignor John Budwick officiating.
Burial will be made in the Wall-kill Valley Cemetery in Walden.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Research for Pancreatic Cancer, 95 Schwenk Dr., Kingston, N.Y. 12401.
Vincent Cortese Jr.
Retired Driver, 77
Vincent J. Cortese Jr. of Narrowsburg, a retired driver for the Villa Roma in Callicoon and for Lang Industries in Narrowsburg and a longtime area resident, died Tuesday, June 7, 2005, at the Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale, Pa. He was 77 years of age.
The son of Marie Monaco Cortese and the late Vincent J. Cortese Sr., he was born June 5, 1928, in Brooklyn. He was the widower of his first wife, Sylvia Cortese.
Mr. Cortese was a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member and past commander of the Tusten-Highland Post #6427, Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus, all in Narrowsburg.
In a family statement, it was said, “He was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather. He enjoyed meeting new people. Everyone will miss his keen wit.”
Mr. Cortese is survived by his wife, Marion Neumeyer Cortese, at home; his mother; a daughter and son-in-law, Marie and Dennis Dietrich; three step-children, Gladys, Gemma and Phil Oliva; two sisters, Margurite Schroeder and Delia Cortese; two granddaughters, Analey and Shannon; a great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 90 Main St., Narrowsburg, on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 to 9:30 a.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church in Narrowsburg with the Rev. Anthony Moore, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial will be made in St. Francis Cemetery in Narrowsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tusten Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764.
