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William Mahoney
AVENTURA, Fla. — William B. Mahoney, a writer and trade-unionist who struggled with alcoholism, got sober and went on to help hundreds of others reach and maintain sobriety in Otsego County, California and South Florida, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, in Miami. He was 92.
Born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1912, Mahoney came to the United States with his family when he was 14. For several years, he and his parents and older brother worked in the mills and tobacco fields of Connecticut, but eventually the family settled in New York City, where Mahoney found work as a copy boy at the New York Daily Mirror.
He also found political activism. At the height of the Great Depression, he helped organize the Newspaper Guild at the Mirror and worked with other unions in his spare time.
By 1937, he had also found time to marry Beatrice Shishko. The same year, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. By the time World War II broke out, he was substantially recovered, but the disease kept him out of the Army. He remained at the Mirror, rising from copy boy to sportswriter to editor and, during the war, writing at other desks as well.
He and Beatrice had two daughters. They divorced after 10 years. Shortly afterward, he married Jeanne Adleman, with whom he also had two children. Around the same time, he left the Mirror and began writing freelance.
His short stories, rooted in the lives of working people and sometimes reflecting his childhood in Ireland, were published in such national magazines as the Saturday Evening Post and Blue Book. One was anthologized in the Post’s "Best Short Stories of 1948," another in a collection for high school students. During the same period, he was also writing freelance for the comic book industry, for DC Comics and others; a number of the pieces he penned in that field are now considered classics.
In the late 1940s, he went to work at the Daily Compass, which had succeeded PM as New York’s left-leaning daily paper, and he reported on sports for most of the three-year lifespan of the Compass.
After a short stint in public relations, he took up the editorship of the newspaper of Local 6 of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union. During his tenure, the magazine won award after award from the International Labor Press Association.
Eventually, he became an administrator for the New York Hotel Trades Council and proved to be one of the council’s most able negotiators, winning unprecedented programs for advancement for minority and immigrant workers in the lowest-level hotel jobs.
Early in the 1960s, he bought some land near Oneonta and built a cabin there as a vacation home. His second marriage dissolved and drinking was having a harsh impact on his private life, if not his career.
In the late 1960s, however, Mahoney turned his life around. He found sobriety in the Manhattan Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, in which many friends of AA founder Bill Wilson were still active.
Then he moved to the Oneonta area, where he became an alcoholism and substance-abuse counselor. He worked for Otsego County clinics for most of a decade. His son Don Mahoney joined him there and lived in Oneonta from 1981 to 1993.
In the early 1980s, Bill retired and moved to the San Francisco Bay area, where, for another decade, he helped many stay sober as an AA sponsor. He made his last move, to Miami, in 1991. In Miami, while in his 80s, he wrote and edited Bill Mahoney’s PEN, a newsletter for senior citizens.
In November of 2003, he celebrated 36 years of sobriety; he was still sponsoring people on his 92nd birthday this past May.
He is survived by his four children, Judith Mahoney Pasternak of New York, Joan Mahoney of Detroit, and Martha Mahoney and Donald Mahoney of Miami; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service Oct. 2, in Miami.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the ACLU or Jobs with Justice.
Aaron M. Casey
GUILFORD — Aaron M. Casey, 23, of Guilford, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Sept. 24, 2004.
He was born Nov. 27, 1980, son of John J. and Elaine Georgia Casey, in Binghamton.
Aaron attended Bainbridge-Guilford Central School. He had worked in many of the local restaurants and was currently employed as a cook at the Olde Jericho Tavern in Bainbridge.
He is survived by his parents, John and Elaine Casey of Guilford; a sister, Caitlyn Casey of Guilford; his paternal grandmother, Florence Casey of Guilford; maternal grandmother, Julia Georgia of Binghamton; several aunts, uncles, cousins and many close friends.
He was predeceased by his two grandfathers, William L. Casey and Harold Georgia.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Bainbridge. The Rev. Fr. Robert Dwyer, Pastor, will officiate.
Friends may call Sunday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 7 p.m. at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel 21 Main St. Sidney.
Burial will be in Yaleville Cemetery in Guilford.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Guilford and Bainbridge Fire Departments
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.
William Cogshall
CONKLIN — William Rennie "Sonny" Cogshall, 71, of Conklin, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2004.
He was born June 25, 1933, in Valley Falls, the son of the late Glenn and Ellen (Carey) Cogshall.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Jeffery Lind of Conklin; two sons, William Cogshall of Harpursville, Kenneth Cogshall of Conklin; two grandchildren, William and Kristin; several stepchildren and their families; a brother, Glenn Cogshall and his wife Jean of Sidney; two nephews, Matthew Cogshall of Sidney, Michael Cogshall and his wife, Bobbie-Jo of Unadilla; three aunts, Beverly Fossett and her husband, Richard, Frances Farina, Edie Lucarelli and her husband, Luke, all of Mechanicville; several cousins and many special friends.
A special mention to William and Doris Martin, of Otego, who he loved, trusted, shared everything with and considered as family.
He was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1952 to 1960. He was a member of American Legion Post 1645, Binghamton. He was a former employee of the D & H Railroad, and retired from Camron Steel Corporation. He served as president of the Bennett Cemetery Association in West Laurens William enjoyed the outdoors including hunting, fishing, canoeing down the Susquehanna He also enjoyed his time at the gym, and sports of any type. Above all, he was a beloved father and grandfather, a warm, kind hearted and generous man. He will be sorely missed.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the Thomas J. Shea Funeral Home, Inc., 137 Robinson St., Binghamton, with the Rev. David Rockwell officiating.
Friends are invited to call Monday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
A graveside committal service, with full military honors will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m. at the Bennett Cemetery, West Laurens.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Bennett Cemetery Association, c/o Doris Martin, 247 Fox Rd., Otego, NY 13825.
Elnora M. Hall
STAMFORD — Elnora M. Hall, a 60-year resident of Stamford, died on Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2004, at Robinson Terrace in Stamford. She was 84.
Elnora was born Aug. 19, 1920, in White Lake, to Jay and Mary Phillips Meddaugh. She was a graduate of Monticello High School. She worked as a clerk at the Economy Store in Stamford for many years.
She was a devoted member of the Lt. Harry Pruden Jr. VFW Ladies Auxiliary for 52 years, holding every chair, including president. She also held many offices in the Otsedel Counties Council of the VFW. She was member of the United Methodist Church in Stamford for many years; and, most recently, of the Presbyterian Church in Stamford. She was also a member of the Bathgate Hospital Auxiliary, volunteering in the canteen for many years.
Elnora was very creative. She was a gifted quilter and knitted many afghans and lap robes for the VA Hospital. She also knitted toddler outfits and stuffed animals for the local children. In addition, she was also a talented craftswoman and landscape painter.
She is survived by her son, Tom Beers and her sister, Jean Schmitt.
Family members who predeceased her include her first and second husbands, Richard L. Beers and Walter J. Hall; as well as her six brothers, twins Vernon and Vinton, Frank, John (Peter), Maurice and Clyde.
Friends and family are invited to a memorial gathering to celebrate Elnora’s life, on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 2 p.m. at the Beers residence, 187 Mt. Jefferson Road, Jefferson. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary will offer a prayer service at 3 p.m.
Donations to Core Values, 112 Main Street, Stamford NY 12167. in her name, would be appreciated.
The family thanks the employees of Robinson Terrace for their professionalism and compassion. "Special thanks to the kind and patient caregivers on Moutainview, who took such good care of our mom and sister."
Arrangements are by Lyon Bros.-Way Inc., of Walton.
William Balaban
HAMDEN — William Balaban, 80, of Hamden, formerly of St. Johnsville, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Adrienne; daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Tink Tompkins of Hopewell Junction, and daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Richard Ortiz of Hamden; two grandchildren, Whitney and Tyler Roberts, also of Hamden.
He was predeceased by a son, William, in 2003, and a brother, Emil, in 1985.
Friends may call at MacArthur Funeral Home, Delhi, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004. A veterans service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at the West Delhi United Presbyterian Church with Lay Preacher Deb Fleming presiding.
Dad graduated from Utah State College after serving three years in the United States Army. Dad’s most vivid memories came from his time spent at Highland Lake, where his parents owned a summer boarding house. Dad was always proud of the fact that he was the first baby baptized in the church there.
Mom and Dad married in 1955, and raised three children on Long Island, while Dad worked in Brooklyn, first and for many years with Borden’s Dairy Company, where he was a foreman, and then serving 15 years with Schafer Brewery, and finally a 10-year run with Domino Sugar.
When the children were young, Mom and Dad purchased an old farmhouse in St. Johnsville, where the family spent all vacations and weekends from that point forward, fixing up the place and just being together. However, we still somehow managed to get in our occasional family fishing trips on Long Island Sound.
Mom and Dad moved to Hamden in 2002, after much prodding from their children. They hated to move but knew it was the right thing to do.
In lieu of flowers, the family found great comfort in Hospice and direct any memorial contributions there. If possible and as a tribute to Dad’s love for trees, the family requests a tree be planted in his honor.
Funeral arrangements are by the MacArthur Funeral Home, Delhi.
Theresa Gilbert
AKRON, Pa. — Theresa Gilbert, 91, of Akron died Sept. 25, 2004, at Maple Farms Nursing Center in Akron.
Before moving to Pennsylvania, she lived in the Jefferson/Stamford area for almost 40 years.
She was a member of the Jefferson United Methodist Church and treasurer of the Jefferson United Methodist Women for many years. She was an active hospital volunteer in Plainfield, N.J. and in Stamford. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for more than 50 years.
Her husband, Edwin A. Gilbert Sr., died in 1991.
She is survived by three sons, David Stark (Kathy) of Hampton, N.J., John Stark (Carol) of Akron, Pa., and Edwin Gilbert Jr. (June) of Syracuse; a sister, Elizabeth Perucki of Rochester; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Friends may call at the Gravenor Funeral Home, 100 West Main St., Ephrata, Pa., between 7 and 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004. A brief prayer service will be at 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, 2004, at the Jefferson United Methodist Church, followed by burial at the Stamford Cemetery.
Family and friends are invited back to the church after the burial service for a light lunch.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the United Methodist Church, Jefferson, NY 12093.
Funeral arrangements in the Stamford area provided by the Hall Funeral Home, 40 Main St., Stamford.
Conrad Rodriguez
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. — Conrad "Connie" F. Rodriguez, 77, of West Windsor, N.J., died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004, at Bear Creek Assisted Living, West Windsor.
He was born in New York and lived in Spring Lake, N.J., for more than 20 years. He was a graduate of Notre Dame University.
Mr. Rodriguez proudly served his country in the United States Air Corps during World War II. He was an engineer for Northrop Aviation, Fort Monmouth, N.J.
He was a parishioner and sang in the choir at St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, Spring Lake.
He was a member of the Manasquan Elks, the Knights of Columbus and Spring Lake Little Theatre. He was active in community services.
He enjoyed tennis, golf, swimming and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marita E. Garrow Rodriguez; three sons, Johnny and his wife, Reney, Joey and his wife, Helen, and Tell and his wife, Sandy; and six daughters, Tese Palmer and her husband, Jim, Mary McKenna and Bill McKenna, Annie Taylor, Lisa Walton and her husband, Chip, Julie Dickson and her husband, Rick, and Patricia Scheininger. He also leaves a brother, Gerard Rodriguez, 17 grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
Visitation will be at the O’Brien Funeral Home, Highway 35 at New Bedford Road, Wall, N.J., from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, with funeral Mass at St. Catherine’s RCC, Spring Lake, at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, followed by committal and military honors at the Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Princeton Hospice, 208 Bunn Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540.
Gerald S. Bers
WESTFORD — Gerald S. (Gerry) Bers, DDS, 56, of Westford passed away unexpectedly, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2004.
He was born Dec. 16, 1947, in Baltimore, Md., the son of Dr. Harold and Bernice Bers.
Dr. Bers received his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1969, his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland in 1973, his Master’s of Public Health from the University of Minnesota in 1975, and his License of Dentistry from the University of New York in 1977.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Bers had his own private practice in dentistry in Cooperstown.
Since childhood, Dr. Bers had been active in Boy Scouting and served for more than 20 years as assistant scout master of Troop No. 1254 in Cooperstown. He was also very active in community affairs.
Dr. Bers touched many lives in the community with his kindness and generosity. He was a beloved man who will be missed.
He is survived by his wife of five years, Suzanne Lawton Bers, of Westford; his parents, Dr. Harold and Bernice Bers of Baltimore, Md.; two sons, Jonas and Jed Bers, both of Cooperstown; a sister, Barbara Jacobson; a brother, Eric Bers; two nieces, Rebecca and Amy Lynn Bers; and two nephews, Robert and Roger Jacobson, all of Baltimore; a stepson, Dale Gramith of Atlanta, Ga.; a stepdaughter, Sherri Newell of Saratoga; and eight grandchildren.
There are no calling hours.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Waterville, with Pastor Ed Townsend and the Rev. Dr. Kirk Hudson officiating.
Interment will be at the convenience of the family at the Stockwell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider the Boy Scouts of America, Troop No. 1254, PO Box 1066, Cooperstown, NY 13326, in his memory.
Arrangements are with the Kloster-Northrop & Bentz Funeral Home, Waterville.
William Balaban
HAMDEN — William Balaban, 80, of Hamden, formerly of St. Johnsville, passed away Friday, Sept. 24, 2004, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, after a brief illness.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Adrienne; daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Tink Tompkins of Hopewell Junction, and daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Richard Ortiz of Hamden; and two grandchildren, Whitney and Tyler Roberts, also of Hamden.
He was predeceased by a son, William, in 2003, and brother, Emil, in 1985.
Friends may call at MacArthur Funeral Home, Delhi, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004. A veterans service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004, at the West Delhi United Presbyterian Church, Lay Preacher Deb Fleming presiding.
Dad graduated from Utah State College after serving three years in the United States Army.
Dad’s most vivid memories come from his time spent at Highland Lake, where his parents owned a summer boarding house. Dad was always proud of the fact that he was the first baby baptized in the church there.
Mom and Dad married in 1955 and raised three children on Long Island while Dad worked in Brooklyn, first and for many years with Borden’s Dairy Company, where he was a foreman, then serving 15 years with Schafer Brewery and finally a 10-year run with Domino Sugar.
When the children were young, Mom and Dad purchased an old farmhouse in St. Johnsville, where the family spent all vacations and weekends from that point forward, fixing up the place and just being together.
However, we still somehow managed to get in our occasional family fishing trips on Long Island Sound.
Mom and Dad moved to Hamden in 2002, after much prodding from their children. They hated to move but knew it was the right thing to do.
In lieu of flowers, the family found great comfort in Hospice and direct any memorial contributions there. If possible, and as a tribute to Dad’s love for trees, the family requests a tree be planted in his honor.
Arrangements are with the MacArthur Funeral Home of Delhi.
George A. Walsh
FAIRFAX, Va. — George A. Walsh, 93, a retired biochemist, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004, at Leewood Healthcare Center in Fairfax, Va.
Mr. Walsh was born Nov. 23, 1910, in Hackensack, N.J., the fourth child of Isabel Walsh and Hackensack Fire Chief Frank Walsh.
He graduated from St. Cecilia’s High School in Englewood, N.J., and attended evening classes at Fordham University while working as a laboratory technician at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, N.J.
In 1956, he founded Walsh Clinical Laboratories, which conducted diagnostic and forensic research for physicians.
In 1969, Mr. Walsh retired from chemistry and moved to Masonville, where he founded G. Walsh & Sons, Inc. — a construction firm that built and remodeled numerous homes in Delaware, Otsego and Chenango counties.
He and his wife of 64 years, Eileen, also resided in Barrington, N.H., and Brooksville, Fla., before moving to Virginia in 1996.
They were active parishioners at Holy Trinity Church in Hackensack, Sacred Heart Church in Sidney, and St. Frances Cabrini Church in Spring Hill, Fla.
Eileen Walsh died in March 2002.
Mr. Walsh is survived by a sister, Gertrude Rosenbauer of Allentown, Pa.; by his children, John of Ridgewood, N.J., Eugene of Sidney, Maryellen Nunns of Bend, Ore., Donald of Hackensack, N.J., Therese Van Giesen of Burlington, Ottawa, Anne Tyman of Revere, Mass., Gregory of Fairfax, Va.; and by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Church, Hackensack.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Joseph’s Home, 1503 Michael Road, Richmond, VA 23229-4899.
