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John Mednansky
LAURENS — John Mednansky, 72, of Laurens died unexpectedly Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2004, at his home.
He was born on June 7, 1931, in Burlington, Conn., the son of Paul and Eva (Kovacovic) Mednansky. They moved to Laurens in 1940.
He served his country for two years in the United States Army, having been stationed in Germany.
He retired from Amphenol of Sidney, in 1992, after 40 years of service.
He was interested in farming, having raised stock all of his life. He also enjoyed hunting in his younger years, as well as attending farm shows and riding his ATV.
John is survived by his two sisters and brothers-in-law, Emily and Albert Timer and Matilda and Jack Kostbar, all of Laurens; his two brothers and sister-in-law, Paul and Sally Mednansky of Otego, and Steven Mednansky of Laurens.
He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and several cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents; and by a sister, Ellen in 1999.
Calling hours will be on Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at the Johnston Funeral Home in Morris, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Johnston Funeral Home in Morris.
Burial will be in the Spring at the Laurens Village Cemetery.
Edward A. Sienicki
WILMINGTON, Del. — Edward A. Sienicki, Ph.D. of Sedgley Farms, passed away on Feb. 7, 2004, in the St. Francis Hospital.
He was born in Franklin, on July 4, 1919, to the late Alex and Veronica Sienicki.
Dr. Sienicki was a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Illinois with a Ph.D. in Chemistry.
He was employed by the State of Delaware as Director of the Division of Environmental Control.
Dr. Sienicki also worked as a chemist for DuPont Company and Thiokol Chemical as Group Head in rocket experiments. He was a member of several scientific associations, and an Air Force pilot in World War II.
Surviving him are his wife, Mary A. Sienicki; one daughter, Deborah A. Schiffer and her husband, Michael, of Coronado, Calif.; one son, Robert E. Sienicki and his wife, Myrna W., of Sedona, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Michael Schiffer Jr., Caroline Schiffer, Michael R. Sienicki and A.J. Aurit; one sister, Francis Baker of Oneonta.
Funeral services and burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to your favorite charity.
Arrangements are by McCrery Funeral Home.
John P. Ballo
UNADILLA — A gathering of friends to celebrate the life of John P. Ballo will be held on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, 425 Main St., Franklin.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, 101 East Main St., Sidney, NY 13838.
Gail Hall Zarr
MANHATTAN — Gail Hall Zarr, a former managing editor of the Zagat Surveys series of restaurant, hotel and travel guides, died Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at home in Manhattan due to complications from uterine cancer.
Gail was born Jan. 14, 1954, at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown to Linda and Earl Hall of Jefferson.
Gail was Valedictorian of the Jefferson Central School Class of 1971. She received a scholarship to New York University. A 1975 graduate of NYU, she received her master's degree in English literature there in 1985.
She was married to Gary Zarr on May 30, 1979, at St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Brooklyn.
Former director of publications for the fund-raising campaign at Barnard College, she was also at one time public relations associate at the New York Public Library. She loved books. Gail and her husband, Gary, also spent one year teaching at the University of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
She began working at Zagat in 1994, rising to managing editor from senior editor. She developed new guides and oversaw the publication.
"She was responsible for more than 60 books and was one of the key people in building our editorial group," said Tim Zagat, the company's publisher.
After leaving Zagat in 2001, Gail wrote a Barnes and Noble guide, "Getting into College," in 2003.
A nature lover, she especially liked trips back to her country home where she would take long walks with Gary. She so enjoyed breakfast on the front porch, watching all the birds and squirrels running around the lawn.
Gail is survived by her husband, Gary; a son, Daniel; and a daughter, Emily; and her sister, Debra, all of New York City; her mother, Linda Hall, of Jefferson; aunts, uncles, cousins; her mother-in-law, Marie Zarr, of Brooklyn; three sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law.
Gail's father, Earl, predeceased her in 1995.
Funeral services were held at St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Brooklyn. Burial took place in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn.
Margaret T. Morrell
ONEONTA — Margaret Theresa Morrell, 92, of Oneonta, passed away on Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, at the A.O. Fox Hospital Nursing Home.
She was born in Oneonta on Nov. 19, 1911, the daughter of Louis and Catherine (O'Neil) Morrell.
Margaret worked in the dietary department at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital for a period of 30 years, retiring in 1982.
She was a member of St. Mary's Church.
Margaret is survived by several friends, including Kitty Loucks of Maryland.
A committal will take place in the spring in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Frederick McGown Jr.
COOPERSTOWN — A memorial service to celebrate the life of Frederick H. McGown Jr., who died Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Cooperstown with the Rev. Lin Quinlan, pastor, officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
Barbara L. McLean
HARPERSFIELD — Barbara Louise McLean, 48, of the town of Harpersfield passed away peacefully at home, after a courageous battle with cancer, Friday, Feb. 13, 2004, surrounded by family and loved ones.
She was born July 2, 1955, in Oneonta, the daughter of Kenneth and Theodora (Joslin) McLean.
A lifelong area resident, Barbara was a 1973 graduate of South Kortright Central School. In the early fall after graduating, she took a position at Audio-Sears in Stamford. A total of 30 years later, she held the position of plant manager/supervisor.
Along the way she made many friends and was devoted to her job. To those who she met, she remains a special friend.
Barbara's family was a very important part of her life. She was a very caring and devoted mother, often volunteering to help at her daughter's school activities and functions. She was a true giver, always there to lend a hand to anyone and everyone. She also dearly loved her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. She will be dearly missed.
She is survived by a daughter, Hope N. Meiser at home; her parents, Kenneth and Theodora McLean of Bloomville; five sisters, Wanda McLean of Stamford, Joyce and Gary Tompkins of Harpersfield, Ann and Carl Cole of Stamford, Donna and Glenn Williams of Jacksonville, Fla., and Rose Thomas of Oneonta; two brothers, John and Denise McLean of Stamford, and Keith and Connie McLean of Bloomville; nieces, Jennifer Blumberg, Linda Robinson, Wanita Robinson, Glenda Kuhn, Jackie McLean, Kaitlyn McLean and Billie Jo Williams; nephews, Marvin K. Jester, Jason McLean, Catlin Thomas, Rodney (Buddy) Williams, Christopher John Williams and Keith McLean; several great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to call from 7 to 9 p.m. today, Feb. 16, 2004, at the MacArthur Funeral Home, 40 Cornell Ave., in Hobart.
Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Charlotte Valley Presbyterian Church, North Kortright, with the Rev. Carol Wilson officiating.
Burial will take place at the convenience of the family.
Donations in Barbara's memory can be made to Catskill Area Hospice and the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements are with the MacArthur Funeral Home of Hobart.
Helen Jean Ghezzi
NISKAYUNA — Helen Jean Ghezzi, 52, of Niskayuna, surrounded by her family and friends, died peacefully in her sleep on Feb. 14, 2004.
Born in Albany, Jean was the daughter of the late Helen Kelly Ghezzi and the late John Ghezzi, former New York Secretary of State.
Jean is survived by her husband of 21 years, Edward S. Rowley; her brother, Jack Ghezzi of Albany; her sister, June Ghezzi of Winnetka, Ill.; her nephew, Evan Parry of Northbrook, Ill.; her niece, Amanda Ghezzi of Albany; her uncle, Frank Ghezzi and his wife, Pilar, of Albany; and numerous nieces and nephews by marriage.
Jean attended St. Anthony's School, St. Teresa of Avila and the Academy of the Holy Names in Albany. She was a 1973 magna cum laude graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and received a juris doctor from Albany Law School in 1976.
Jean's career in New York state government began as an intern in the office of Senate Majority Leader Earl Bridges. She subsequently served as a law clerk in the office of Albany County District Attorney Ralph Smith and was employed at the state Board of Elections by Executive Director Thomas Wallace.
Upon her admission to the New York State Bar, she was appointed to the position of assistant attorney general by Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz. She thereafter served as a senior attorney in the Department of Audit and Control, as an assistant counsel in the New York Employee's Retirement System and as an assistant counsel in the Office of the State Comptroller for Comptrollers Edward V. Regan and H. Carl McCall.
In 1997, she was appointed to the position of general counsel of the New York State Higher Education Services Corp. by Gov. George Pataki, the position she held at the time of her death.
Jean loved her home, horseback riding, dance, gardening and most of all, her family and friends.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at the Lasak and Gigliotti Funeral Home, 8 Dudley Heights, Albany, NY 12210 (518) 463-1566.
A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be sent, care of Principal Ella Collins, to the Abraham Wing School, 120 Lawrence St., Glens Falls, NY 12801, for the Our World Program, a program established through a gift from Jean, to provide additional reading materials, art supplies and other educational resources for the children of the school, a public elementary school in Glens Falls.
Juanita S. Ferrebee
RANCHO SANTA FE, Calif. — Juanita Sault "Salty" Ferrebee died on Jan. 22, 2004, at her home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. She was 97.
She was born in Campbell, Calif., and went to high school in Santa Cruz, where she successfully competed in swimming and skiing competitions both locally and statewide. She spent many summers in Yosemite National Park, where her father was at one time a Park Ranger.
It was there that Salty met Dr. Joseph W. Ferrebee, who manned a medical clinic in Yosemite during the summer after he finished Harvard Medical School. They were married in 1937 and moved east. After their marriage the Ferrebees lived in New York City and Boston.
During World War II, Salty and her three children lived in Westport Point, Mass., while Dr. Ferrebee was overseas. In 1948 the Ferrebees and their children moved to Cooperstown, where Dr. Ferrebee conducted the medical research that led to his performing the world's first bone marrow transplant. At the request of Stephen C. Clark Sr., Salty started the Women's Auxiliary at Bassett Hospital.
A formidable tennis player, Salty took up golf in her late 50s. She won her flight in the Ryerson Tournament seven times and was runner up four times. At age 89, she shot a 90 and rarely missed a putt. The wooden plaques at the Cooperstown Country Club are replete with her many triumphs on the tennis court. Perhaps her most remarkable win was the Club Mixed Doubles championship with partner Charlie Kieler, when she was 85, but she and her partners, including Dot Kidder Smith and Ted Hanlon were always competitive.
She traveled widely, including an around-the-world trip with her daughter, and was an accomplished artist and wood carver. She had a unique sparkle and was a good friend to young and old, who all called her Salty.
She is survived by three children, Anne F. Keith of Fairfax, Va., Peter W. Ferrebee of Old Lyme, Conn., and John E. Ferrebee of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Her husband, Dr. Joseph W. Ferrebee, died in 2001.
Frances Grosfent
WORCESTER — Frances Grosfent, 95, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home, Oneonta.
She was born Feb. 27, 1908, in Worcester, the daughter of William and Eveline (Henness) Odell.
She married Frank Grosfent Jr. on June 10, 1942, in Worcester. He predeceased her on Dec. 29, 1974.
Mrs. Grosfent was a member of the First Baptist Church in Schenevus.
She is survived by two daughters, Linda Grosfent of Worcester, and Alta and husband, Norman, Chase of Worcester; a grandson, David and wife, Lynn, Chase of Worcester; several nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Ruth Odell of Oneonta.
She was predeceased by her sisters, Loretta Adee, Lana Vaughn and Marjorie Odell; and a brother Walter Odell.
Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the E.J. Skinner Co., Funeral Chapel in Worcester.
A celebration of her life will be at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the First Baptist Church, Monitor Street, Schenevus, with the Rev. William Robert Thompson, pastor, officiating.
Burial will take place at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester at a later date.
At the request of the family, contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Library Fund, PO Box 187, Schenevus, NY 12155, or the Worcester Emergency Squad, PO Box 191, Worcester, NY 12197.
Arrangements are by the E.J. Skinner Co., 155 Main St., Worcester.
Alexander L. Chicorelli
ONEONTA — Alexander L. Chicorelli, 81, of Oneonta passed away on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at his residence.
He was born Feb. 26, 1922, in Oneonta, the son of Eugenio and Alessandra (Pallotiolo) Chicorelli.
Alex served in the U.S. Army during World War II, seeing action in the Central European Theater, where he received the Purple Heart.
He was retired from the D&H Railroad, where he worked for more than 40 years.
Alex was a member of St. Mary's Church, the Sixth Ward Athletic Club, in which he was a former board member, a life member of Elbert Patten VFW Post, and a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.
Surviving are his brothers and sisters, Anthony Chicorelli of Maryland, Raffaela Chicorelli of Oneonta, Joseph Chicorelli of Oneonta, Mary LeoGrande of Oneonta, and John Chicorelli and his wife, Nancy, of Oneonta; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, with the Rev. Thomas Babiuch, associate pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in the spring in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Catskill Area Hospice.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Edith B. Clayton
EAST GUILFORD — Edith B. Clayton, 94, of 145 Old County Highway 43, Bainbridge, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, Feb. 15, 2004, at the Valley View Manor Nursing Home, Norwich.
She was born May 29, 1909, in Sidney, the daughter of the late Maurice Lee and Florence May Smith Benedict.
Edith was a graduate of the Sidney High School.
On June 3, 1933, she married Louis "Mike" Clayton in Sidney. He predeceased her Oct. 7, 1994.
Mrs. Clayton was a member of the Sidney United Methodist Church and the high school sorority Delta Gamma. Edith was a lifelong resident of the Sidney area.
She was a loving wife, devoted mother and grandmother.
She is survived by her grandson, Daniel J. Clayton and his wife, Colleen, of Troy; and a daughter-in-law, Lucinda Clayton, of Unadilla.
A son, Donald J. Clayton; and a brother, Ralph Benedict predeceased her.
Graveside services will be announced in the spring to be held in the Prospect Hill Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Sidney Community Foundation Walking Trail or to the Friends Church of Rogers Hollow, Unadilla.
Arrangements are under the direction of the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney.
