William Anderson

William “Bill” Anderson passed away peacefully on January 14, 2019 at East End Hospice Kanas Center in Westhampton Beach.

Bill was born February 28, 1940 in Deposit, New York to William A. and Vera (Burns) Anderson. He moved to Shelter Island in the mid-1960s after attending Bates College. He became a plumber, working first for several Shelter Island companies before going into business for himself. Anderson Plumbing & Heating served the plumbing needs of Shelter Island for 25 years with the motto: “Islanders Serving Islanders.”

Bill was a member of the Shelter Island Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and Presbyterian Church.

He will be remembered, his family said, for his giving nature, his willingness to lend a hand, his gift of gab and storytelling, and his love of antique woodworking tools. His family will miss his easy smile and sense of humor, his quiet toughness and his love and support of family and friends. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Diane; five children, William Anderson, Thomas Anderson, Virginia Hansen, Charles Dickens, Kevin Dickens and their families; 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; sister Janet (Paul Pyers); niece Jennie Pyers and nephew Roy Pyers and their families.

A celebration of his life will be planned for the spring of 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in his memory to East End Hospice Kanas Center, 1 Meeting House Road, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.

Sidney W. Dawson

Sidney W. Dawson, 93, passed away December 19 at his home in Longmont, Colorado. He was born May 4, 1925 in Brooklyn to Hannah Dawson. He grew up in Shelter Island. He enlisted in the Navy, serving from August 1943 to April 1946. He served aboard the USS Mona Island in the Pacific Theater and was honorably discharged a Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class.

From 1946 to 1951 he worked as a funeral director in Greenport. He married Jean Tasker, whom the family called “the love of his life,” on November 27, 1948 in Greenport. In 1952 they moved to Poughkeepsie where Sid started a career with IBM. In 1965, they moved to Boulder, Colorado. He retired from IBM in 1987 and moved to Longmont in 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brother, Lester Schroeder.
Sid is survived by two daughters, Ruth Dawson in California and Deborah Derr (Clarence) in Longmont; two sons, Maddren Dawson and Michael Dawson, both in Longmont; brother Arvin “Dutch” Schroeder in Lincolnton, North Carolina; and seven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice. Share condolences at ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.

Ernestine McHugh

Ernestine (Tina) McHugh passed away on January 13, 2019 in Mt. Sinai, New York. She was born on January 12, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Elvira and Fred Grappone.

Tina was married to Brooke McHugh, who predeceased her. She was a beloved sister and loved all her family.

She is survived by a sister, Marie Madeline Hogan of Scottsdale, Arizona, and her sons Edmund, Thomas, John and Brian. She also leaves her nephew Jack and nieces Patsy, Kathie, Robin and her beloved friends Joseph and Victoria.

Tina worked as a bookkeeper in Amagansett for 30 years. She and Brooke had a home in Shelter Island on Big Ram Island. They loved boating and going to Orient Point with friends and family.

A Mass was held at Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church on January 18 followed by interment at Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery. A luncheon followed at the Cooperage Inn restaurant at 2218 Sound Avenue, Baiting Hollow, New York.

Anthony J. Uhnak

Anthony J. “Tony” Uhnak of Shelter Island died at his home on January 9, 2019. He was 91.

Tony was born on September 27, 1927 in Rybnik, Czech Republic to Joseph and Mary (Izold) Uhnak. At the age of 10, he came to the United States aboard the SS Washington with his brothers Dominick and Paul. They made their home on Marc Street in New York City where he attended local schools.

At 17 he joined the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Columbus during World War II. He went from China to Japan and participated in the sinking of the Japanese Battleship Yamamoto in the Sea of Japan. He was honorably discharged in July 1946.

Tony worked in a factory and at various jobs until he became a groundskeeper at a camp in Haverstraw, New York. It was there he met Dorothy Goldstein, whom he married in 1950. From that union came a daughter, Tracy.

The family lived in Queens where Tony worked for American Electric Power. They later moved to Shelter Island. When Dorothy’s health declined, they engaged the home healthcare services of MaryAnn Blados, who cared for her for many years. It was Dorothy’s wish, his family said, that upon her passing, Tony marry MaryAnn. Dorothy passed in 2006 and Tony and MaryAnn were married the following year.

Tony was a collector of guns, enjoyed genealogy and good food, his family remembered. He could often be found outdoors, tinkering with machinery, with his faithful canine companion Zoe at his side.

Surviving is his wife MaryAnn; daughter Tracy; stepson Gary Blados and step-grandchildren Olivia, Madeline and Charlotte.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, January 15 at Our Lady of the Isle Church, officiated by Father Peter DeSanctis. Interment is in Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League, PO Box 297, Southold, NY 11971.

The family wishes to acknowledge Ruth Green for the loving care given to Tony.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituaries: Anderson, Dawson, McHugh, Uhnak appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Barbara “Buzz” Clark of Shelter Island died on January 20, 2019, at home surrounded by her family. She was 95 years old.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 25 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Shelter Island Funeral Home, 23 West Neck Road.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 26 at 11 a.m. at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, 32 North Ferry Road, officiated by the Reverend Robert Griffin.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituary: Barbara Lee Clark appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

George H. Blados, 78, died on January 13, 2019.

He was born on December 12, 1941 to Anton and Jennie Blados in Greenport.

George led an interesting and varied life, his family recalled.

His primary occupation was that of an Island farmer with his father.

He spent several years working on family fishing boats out of Montauk, as well as joining the Shelter Island Fire Department around 1959. He had 28 years invested in the department, and after becoming an active veteran, he continued to supply the annual Chicken Barbecue with fresh produce.

George also joined the Shelter Island Police Department in 1966 as a constable. He worked at Gardiner’s Bay Country Club for a number of years as a groundskeeper, and then moved on to Goat Hill (Shelter Island Country Club) until his retirement in 2007.

George was recalled by his family as an avid golfer, an outstanding bowler, great hunter, fisherman and pilot, flying out of Klenawicus airfield on Shelter Island.

George was predeceased by his longtime love Barbara Wilcox, his parents, and brother Edwin.

He is survived by his sister, Maryann Blados Uhnak, nephews Gary Blados, Stanley Blados, niece Carleen Washington and their families, as well as his stepchildren Debra Leonard, David Sabal and wife Nikki, their children Mykie Branham, Christian Tanner, Alex Sabal and grandson Damian Tanner.

The family plans to hold a celebration of George’s life in the spring.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituary: George H. Blados appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Barbara Lee “Buzzy” Clark

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Barbara Lee “Buzzy” Clark, passed away at her home in Mashomack on Sunday, January 20, 2019 after a short illness.

Born on September 3, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York to John Beith Smith, Jr. and Elna Margretha Kolstad, Buzzy attended Richmond Hills High School. Upon graduation she attended Juilliard and The New School for Social Research.

She then went to work for Pan American at the Chrysler Building in Manhattan.
She found her way to eastern Long Island by vacationing with friends from Brooklyn who owned a house in Sag Harbor.

One summer, she and her friends decided to vacation at The Holiday Inn (now Camp Quinipet) on Shelter Island. It was during this trip that she met her future husband, Robert Arthur “Bucky” Clark.

They were married in 1947 and spent the beginning of their married life in Locust Valley while Buck worked on the Whitney family’s yacht. They then returned to Shelter Island to work for Jim Roe at the request of Buck’s father, Albertus Clark, Sr. who worked for Mr. Roe.

They had fond memories of fireworks displays and July 4th celebrations held in Westmoreland during those years. Albertus Clark, Sr. and his wife, Isabelle, were also the caretakers of Mashomack, which was then a private estate where Buzzy and Bucky came to live.

The couple eventually acquired a piece of land near Taylor’s Island in Mashomack and built their own home where they raised their seven children. Intermittently, over the years, they moved back to the Manor House in Mashomack to oversee the care of the property when it was a private estate and during the time when it operated as a private hunting club.

Buck eventually went to work for Alfred Tuthill at his shipyard on Menantic Creek, and once the children were in school, Buzzy returned to work and was employed for many years by Rowe Industries in Sag Harbor. She later became a licensed insurance broker and worked with Amaden Gay Insurance in East Hampton, maintaining her license until the time of her passing.

Over her lifetime she has been a member of The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281; The Shelter Island Coecles Harbor Association; The Shelter Island Association; a founding member of The Taylor’s Island Management Committee for The Town of Shelter Island; a founding member of the Shelter Island branch of The League of Women Voters; The Shelter Island Presbyterian Church Choir; and other choral societies.

In her many travels she visited Thailand, Argentina, Cuba, The Republic of Georgia, Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and Barbados, as well as many places in North America. She is survived by her seven children: Virginia Ann Garbowski (John); Keith Robert Clark (Louise); Patricia Ann Hurley (the late Tom Hurley); Heather Lee Reylek (Robert); Wendy Sanwald (Norman); John Fulton Clark, Andrew Albertus Clark; and grandchildren Joshua Samet, Joseph Samet, Kate Topliff, Jessica Hildreth, Laurel Hildreth, Tom Hurley, Rachel Brigham, Timothy Reylek, Zachary Reylek, Ray Sanwald, Kevin Sanwald, Tara Clark, Sydney Clark and Mia Clark, as well as 24 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents, her brother John B. Smith, and her husband, Robert “Bucky.”

Since Buzzy supported many progressive causes including social justice, women’s rights, the arts and music, the family asks that donations be made in support of an organization of your choice in her memory.

Her memorial service was held at the Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 26. Barbara requested that her cremated remains be mingled with those of her late husband, Bucky, and her father.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituary: Barbara Lee “Buzzy” Clark appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

William Anderson

William “Bill” Anderson passed away peacefully on January 14, 2019 at East End Hospice Kanas Center in Westhampton Beach.

Bill was born February 28, 1940 in Deposit, New York to William A. and Vera (Burns) Anderson. He moved to Shelter Island in the mid-1960s after attending Bates College. He became a plumber, working first for several Shelter Island companies before going into business for himself. Anderson Plumbing & Heating served the plumbing needs of Shelter Island for 25 years with the motto: “Islanders Serving Islanders.”

Bill was a member of the Shelter Island Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and Presbyterian Church.

He will be remembered, his family said, for his giving nature, his willingness to lend a hand, his gift of gab and storytelling, and his love of antique woodworking tools. His family will miss his easy smile and sense of humor, his quiet toughness and his love and support of family and friends. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Diane; five children, William Anderson, Thomas Anderson, Virginia Hansen, Charles Dickens, Kevin Dickens and their families; 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; sister Janet (Paul Pyers); niece Jennie Pyers and nephew Roy Pyers and their families.

A celebration of his life will be planned for the spring of 2019.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in his memory to East End Hospice Kanas Center, 1 Meeting House Road, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.

Sidney W. Dawson

Sidney W. Dawson, 93, passed away December 19 at his home in Longmont, Colorado. He was born May 4, 1925 in Brooklyn to Hannah Dawson. He grew up in Shelter Island. He enlisted in the Navy, serving from August 1943 to April 1946. He served aboard the USS Mona Island in the Pacific Theater and was honorably discharged a Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class.

From 1946 to 1951 he worked as a funeral director in Greenport. He married Jean Tasker, whom the family called “the love of his life,” on November 27, 1948 in Greenport. In 1952 they moved to Poughkeepsie where Sid started a career with IBM. In 1965, they moved to Boulder, Colorado. He retired from IBM in 1987 and moved to Longmont in 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his brother, Lester Schroeder.
Sid is survived by two daughters, Ruth Dawson in California and Deborah Derr (Clarence) in Longmont; two sons, Maddren Dawson and Michael Dawson, both in Longmont; brother Arvin “Dutch” Schroeder in Lincolnton, North Carolina; and seven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice. Share condolences at ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.

Ernestine McHugh

Ernestine (Tina) McHugh passed away on January 13, 2019 in Mt. Sinai, New York. She was born on January 12, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Elvira and Fred Grappone.

Tina was married to Brooke McHugh, who predeceased her. She was a beloved sister and loved all her family.

She is survived by a sister, Marie Madeline Hogan of Scottsdale, Arizona, and her sons Edmund, Thomas, John and Brian. She also leaves her nephew Jack and nieces Patsy, Kathie, Robin and her beloved friends Joseph and Victoria.

Tina worked as a bookkeeper in Amagansett for 30 years. She and Brooke had a home in Shelter Island on Big Ram Island. They loved boating and going to Orient Point with friends and family.

A Mass was held at Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church on January 18 followed by interment at Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery. A luncheon followed at the Cooperage Inn restaurant at 2218 Sound Avenue, Baiting Hollow, New York.

Anthony J. Uhnak

Anthony J. “Tony” Uhnak of Shelter Island died at his home on January 9, 2019. He was 91.

Tony was born on September 27, 1927 in Rybnik, Czech Republic to Joseph and Mary (Izold) Uhnak. At the age of 10, he came to the United States aboard the SS Washington with his brothers Dominick and Paul. They made their home on Marc Street in New York City where he attended local schools.

At 17 he joined the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Columbus during World War II. He went from China to Japan and participated in the sinking of the Japanese Battleship Yamamoto in the Sea of Japan. He was honorably discharged in July 1946.

Tony worked in a factory and at various jobs until he became a groundskeeper at a camp in Haverstraw, New York. It was there he met Dorothy Goldstein, whom he married in 1950. From that union came a daughter, Tracy.

The family lived in Queens where Tony worked for American Electric Power. They later moved to Shelter Island. When Dorothy’s health declined, they engaged the home healthcare services of MaryAnn Blados, who cared for her for many years. It was Dorothy’s wish, his family said, that upon her passing, Tony marry MaryAnn. Dorothy passed in 2006 and Tony and MaryAnn were married the following year.

Tony was a collector of guns, enjoyed genealogy and good food, his family remembered. He could often be found outdoors, tinkering with machinery, with his faithful canine companion Zoe at his side.

Surviving is his wife MaryAnn; daughter Tracy; stepson Gary Blados and step-grandchildren Olivia, Madeline and Charlotte.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, January 15 at Our Lady of the Isle Church, officiated by Father Peter DeSanctis. Interment is in Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to North Fork Animal Welfare League, PO Box 297, Southold, NY 11971.

The family wishes to acknowledge Ruth Green for the loving care given to Tony.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituaries: Anderson, Dawson, McHugh, Uhnak appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Barbara “Buzz” Clark of Shelter Island died on January 20, 2019, at home surrounded by her family. She was 95 years old.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 25 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Shelter Island Funeral Home, 23 West Neck Road.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 26 at 11 a.m. at the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church, 32 North Ferry Road, officiated by the Reverend Robert Griffin.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituary: Barbara Lee Clark appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

George H. Blados, 78, died on January 13, 2019.

He was born on December 12, 1941 to Anton and Jennie Blados in Greenport.

George led an interesting and varied life, his family recalled.

His primary occupation was that of an Island farmer with his father.

He spent several years working on family fishing boats out of Montauk, as well as joining the Shelter Island Fire Department around 1959. He had 28 years invested in the department, and after becoming an active veteran, he continued to supply the annual Chicken Barbecue with fresh produce.

George also joined the Shelter Island Police Department in 1966 as a constable. He worked at Gardiner’s Bay Country Club for a number of years as a groundskeeper, and then moved on to Goat Hill (Shelter Island Country Club) until his retirement in 2007.

George was recalled by his family as an avid golfer, an outstanding bowler, great hunter, fisherman and pilot, flying out of Klenawicus airfield on Shelter Island.

George was predeceased by his longtime love Barbara Wilcox, his parents, and brother Edwin.

He is survived by his sister, Maryann Blados Uhnak, nephews Gary Blados, Stanley Blados, niece Carleen Washington and their families, as well as his stepchildren Debra Leonard, David Sabal and wife Nikki, their children Mykie Branham, Christian Tanner, Alex Sabal and grandson Damian Tanner.

The family plans to hold a celebration of George’s life in the spring.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituary: George H. Blados appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Barbara Lee “Buzzy” Clark

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Barbara Lee “Buzzy” Clark, passed away at her home in Mashomack on Sunday, January 20, 2019 after a short illness.

Born on September 3, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York to John Beith Smith, Jr. and Elna Margretha Kolstad, Buzzy attended Richmond Hills High School. Upon graduation she attended Juilliard and The New School for Social Research.

She then went to work for Pan American at the Chrysler Building in Manhattan.
She found her way to eastern Long Island by vacationing with friends from Brooklyn who owned a house in Sag Harbor.

One summer, she and her friends decided to vacation at The Holiday Inn (now Camp Quinipet) on Shelter Island. It was during this trip that she met her future husband, Robert Arthur “Bucky” Clark.

They were married in 1947 and spent the beginning of their married life in Locust Valley while Buck worked on the Whitney family’s yacht. They then returned to Shelter Island to work for Jim Roe at the request of Buck’s father, Albertus Clark, Sr. who worked for Mr. Roe.

They had fond memories of fireworks displays and July 4th celebrations held in Westmoreland during those years. Albertus Clark, Sr. and his wife, Isabelle, were also the caretakers of Mashomack, which was then a private estate where Buzzy and Bucky came to live.

The couple eventually acquired a piece of land near Taylor’s Island in Mashomack and built their own home where they raised their seven children. Intermittently, over the years, they moved back to the Manor House in Mashomack to oversee the care of the property when it was a private estate and during the time when it operated as a private hunting club.

Buck eventually went to work for Alfred Tuthill at his shipyard on Menantic Creek, and once the children were in school, Buzzy returned to work and was employed for many years by Rowe Industries in Sag Harbor. She later became a licensed insurance broker and worked with Amaden Gay Insurance in East Hampton, maintaining her license until the time of her passing.

Over her lifetime she has been a member of The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281; The Shelter Island Coecles Harbor Association; The Shelter Island Association; a founding member of The Taylor’s Island Management Committee for The Town of Shelter Island; a founding member of the Shelter Island branch of The League of Women Voters; The Shelter Island Presbyterian Church Choir; and other choral societies.

In her many travels she visited Thailand, Argentina, Cuba, The Republic of Georgia, Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and Barbados, as well as many places in North America. She is survived by her seven children: Virginia Ann Garbowski (John); Keith Robert Clark (Louise); Patricia Ann Hurley (the late Tom Hurley); Heather Lee Reylek (Robert); Wendy Sanwald (Norman); John Fulton Clark, Andrew Albertus Clark; and grandchildren Joshua Samet, Joseph Samet, Kate Topliff, Jessica Hildreth, Laurel Hildreth, Tom Hurley, Rachel Brigham, Timothy Reylek, Zachary Reylek, Ray Sanwald, Kevin Sanwald, Tara Clark, Sydney Clark and Mia Clark, as well as 24 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents, her brother John B. Smith, and her husband, Robert “Bucky.”

Since Buzzy supported many progressive causes including social justice, women’s rights, the arts and music, the family asks that donations be made in support of an organization of your choice in her memory.

Her memorial service was held at the Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 26. Barbara requested that her cremated remains be mingled with those of her late husband, Bucky, and her father.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituary: Barbara Lee “Buzzy” Clark appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Jay Ely Helme

Jay Ely Helme of Cape Coral, Florida and Middletown, Rhode Island, beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away on January 21, 2019 at 87 years of age.

Jay Ely Helme

He was a summer resident of Shelter Island for about the first 60 years of his life, and then a year-round resident for another decade or so. Known to many as “The Commodore,” Jay was a larger than life presence, his family said, full of love, good fellowship and good humor.

Family was always his first priority, followed by friends, community and country. Generous to a fault,his family said, he shared the selfless values and integrity of the Greatest Generation — his word was his bond. An incredibly well read man, he could converse on almost any topic and offer valuable advice on many. He enjoyed following sports, but was passionate about football — especially the New England Patriots and his alma mater, Princeton University.

Jay was born in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania to George W. Helme II and Dorothy Ely Helme on June 8, 1931. He graduated from The Penn Charter School and earned a degree in economics from Princeton. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and proudly served at Fort Sill, Oklahoma following his graduation. Active in the reserves for several years, he closed out his service with an honorable discharge as a first lieutenant.

Jay met the love of his life, Mary Bonnage, known as “Bonnie,” while they were both in high school. They were married on August 7, 1952. While raising their four children, they divided their time between Paoli, Pennsylvania and the family home in Shelter Island Heights. They moved to the Island year-round after Jay became an independent consultant, and later spent several happy years in Newport, Rhode Island before building their dream home in Cape Coral, Florida, the family said.

Jay’s career began with the firm of Alderson and Sessions in Philadelphia. A healthcare project that he worked on there led to his being named executive director of a new healthcare facilities advisory agency, the Hospital Survey Committee. This was a private nonprofit that was active in shaping healthcare facility development in the Philadelphia area.

He went on to found sister companies Medicon Inc. and Third Age Inc., serving as chairman and president of both.
After Jay and Bonnie moved to the Island full-time, he created Helme Associates and served clients such as Kessler Rehabilitation Center, Southampton Hospital and Newport Hospital. He left a valuable and lasting legacy of improvements at many of the hospital and health care institutions he worked with. Jay was a lifelong member of the Shelter Island Yacht Club. He was a flag officer and trustee for many years, serving as commodore in 1970-71.

He helped run the Club’s 85th anniversary and 100th anniversary regattas, and led the club through the acquisition of the adjoining Bull property in the 1970s. In his younger days, Jay raced a Star with his brother George, and in later years he sailed a Bristol 34 called Typhoon.

Jay was extremely proud that the club created the Helme Trophy in 1999 to honor his and Bonnie’s contributions over the years. He was an avid supporter of Shelter Island’s Resolute Cup team and sailors representing the club in everything from the Olympics to the Sydney Hobart Race. At the time of his passing he was Club Member Number 1. He was also a past member of the New York Yacht Club and the Ida Lewis Yacht Club.

His dedication to the Island extended to the Heights community. In 1979 he spearheaded the incorporation of the Heights as a nonprofit homeowners association known as the Shelter Island Heights Property Owners Corporation to ensure that the community maintained control of its destiny and held onto ownership of the North Ferry Company.

He served as the first chairman from 1979-1986 and was also on the board of the ferry company for many years.
Jay is survived by his wife of 67 years, Bonnie (nee Mary Elizabeth Snowden Bonnage) and his children: Sally Helme of Middletown, Rhode Island; Suzy Helme of West Chester, Pennsylvania; Sandy Griffin (Greg) of Southampton, New York; and Skip Helme (Nancy) of Newport. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Gregg Griffin Jr., Elizabeth Bowden, Hayley Bowden, Morgan Helme, Reese Bowden and Henry Helme.

A celebration of his life is planned for June 14, 2019 on Shelter Island. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Union Chapel in the Grove, P.O. Box 326, Shelter Island Heights, NY 11965.

Martha Ann Williamson Williams

Martha Ann Williamson Williams

Martha (Marty) Ann Williamson Williams, 95, died on January 27 at 95 years of age. Death came just as she had wished, her family said, in the peace of her home.

Marty was born on March 24, 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Amy Kroehle and Earl Alfred Williamson. Educated in a combination of home-schooling venues and brick and mortar schools, she went first to The Ogontz School and then graduated from Smith College. An excellent student, she also excelled on the dance floor and tennis courts and a “lovable-huggable” redhead caught her eye, her family remembered.

She married Charles Barnett Williams on January 4, 1946.

After years of living in Cleveland, they moved to Pittsburgh where Marty, at age 40, continued her schooling and got a Masters in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. She taught English and Psychology until her retirement in the 1980s. She and Charlie then moved to the family home on Shelter Island. They enjoyed sailing, her family said, musicals in nearby theaters, local farmers’ markets, the restaurants she loved discovering, and the natural beauty of the area, all of which continued to delight her for nearly 40 years.

Her enthusiasm spilled over into other areas: playing all types of bridge games; volunteering for The Red Cross, The ELIH Auxiliary, and The Shelter Island Garden Club; reading; getting together with her fun-loving “Party Girls” group of friends; and planning beautiful parties and family reunions.

She is remembered as a beloved mother and grandmother and a “perfect hostess” of lovely parties.

Marty’s family would like to thank the loving teamwork of Rhonda Corbett, Clint Corbett, Gulnara Akhobadze, Ana Alvizures, Reina Miguel, Esvin Rodriguez, Cathy Rasmussen, the Shelter Island Senior Center, the Shelter Island Police and Fire departments, and East End Hospice for their assistance and tender care.

Marty is survived by her daughter Penelope, her son Richard and his wife, Alice. She is also survived by Patt Rudder, granddaughters Melissa Rudder, Adelaide Williams and Meredith Williams and grandsons Christian Rudder and Barnett Williams. Five great-grandchildren also survive her.

In lieu of a service or flowers, the family asks that friends remember her by reading a book, hugging a child, eating a cookie or an ice cream cone, and embracing the beauty of nature.

The post Shelter Island Reporter obituaries: Helme, Williams appeared first on Shelter Island Reporter.

Mary Patricia (Marypat) Tuthill Goodale Mosca passed away unexpectedly at her home in Greenport on Thursday, February 7 at the age of 57.

She was born on August 31, 1961 to Jean M. and Alfred W. Tuthill. She graduated from Shelter Island High School in 1980 and spent many years cooking at various restaurants on the Island, making many lifelong friends.

Mary Patricia Tuthill Goodale Mosca

Marypat spoke often of her wonderful childhood memories growing up on the Island, especially swimming off the sandy point at the family’s boatyard, rummaging around the carpenter shop and boat sheds and building endless forts behind washed out bulkheads.

Marypat will be remembered for her love of family and friends, her generous heart and her carefree spirit. She shared her love and her faith freely, her family said. She loved the water, the sun on her face, and her toes in the sand. She had a passion for music, dancing and people, her family recalled, and she was often heard saying, “The more, the merrier.”

She was incredibly creative and shared her artistic talent almost daily with her beloved granddaughter, Amara. Marypat was also well known on the Island as a friendly and caring Home Health Aide.

She is survived by her husband, Chris Mosca; daughter Emma Anne Goodale; granddaughter Amara Patricia Cajamarca Goodale; step-grandson Alex Corwin; sisters Louise T. Green (Jason) and Laura J. Tuthill (John); as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family will have a quiet graveside service.

There will be a memorial celebration of her life at a later date, her family said, when the sun is brighter and the sand is warmer.

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David Rogers, a professor of sociology and a devoted summer resident of Shelter Island, where he moonlighted as a jazz piano player for nearly 40 years, died on February 27 at his home in Manhattan. He was 88.

The cause of death was prostate cancer, his family said.

David Rodgers

Along with his wife, Theresa, and their sons, Ed, Alex and Paul, David first visited Shelter Island in 1974 at the recommendation of friends. Taken by the Island’s charms, including its old gingerbread homes, welcoming golf courses and small-town New England feel, he returned every summer for the rest of his life. After renting for two seasons, the family bought a house in the Heights and later moved to a home they built in Hilo Shores.

A native of Newton, Massachusetts, David was the son of Herman and Helen Rogers, the third of four boys. He earned his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University.

He was drawn to the field for its focus on social and institutional behavior in the public and private sectors. Over the course of his career, he studied and wrote about class structure, the culture of corporations and conflicts between community activism and city bureaucracies. On a personal note, David set out to explore why Americans such as his father, a small businessman who struggled during the Great Depression, often attributed career hardships to their own failures rather than to the prevailing social, economic and political forces of the time.

David moved from Boston to New York City in the fall of 1959 to become an assistant professor of sociology at Columbia University. There he caught the eye of a graduate student in sociology named Theresa Falaguerra. They began dating the following semester and became engaged six weeks later, marrying on September 2, 1960, at Columbia’s Faculty House.

David later joined the faculty of New York University, where as a tenured professor he would teach, conduct research and write books for more than four decades. He served as chair of the Department of Management at NYU’s Stern School of Business from 1991 to 1997.

In the mid-1960s, he undertook what would become the defining work of his career: a landmark examination of the failures of the centrally run New York City schools. His ensuing book, “110 Livingston Street,” was published in 1968, its title referring to the address of the Board of Education headquarters. The book helped fuel the powerful movement that led to decentralization and community control of the city’s public schools.

David went on to write numerous other books, including “Can Business Management Save the Cities?” (1978); “110 Livingston Street Revisited” (1983), co-authored by Norman H. Chung; “The Future of American Banking” (1993); “The Big Four British Banks” (1999); and “Mayoral Control of the New York City Schools” (2009). Most recently, he contributed a chapter on management versus bureaucracy to “Summer in the City: John Lindsay, New York and the American Dream” (2014), edited by Joseph P. Viteritti.

David’s passion for improving life in New York City extended to volunteer work he did on behalf of youth hockey programs, culminating in an award for Father of the Year by the Greater New York City Ice Hockey League in 1974.

But as all who knew him would attest, David was defined by far more than his work. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, he savored weekends and summer vacations on Shelter Island. He had an abiding love of golf, which he developed as a caddie in his youth at clubs in the Boston suburbs and that he passed on to his three sons.

The Rogerses joined Gardiner’s Bay Country Club in the late 1970s and played as a family foursome whenever they could, including the hearty tradition of a Thanksgiving Day round.

David’s second lifelong passion was jazz piano, and it was on Shelter Island that he began his side career as a musician. He played his first gig at the Pridwin Hotel on Memorial Day weekend in 1981. As a preview, the Reporter ran a profile of him (“Sociologist Swings Back Into Jazz”) in which he described his musical roots in the swing era and the life balance that music gave him. He did much of his scholarly writing at home, he told his interviewer, and found himself increasingly moving between his IBM Selectric typewriter and his baby grand piano.

“During the past year or so, I have managed to practice up to two hours a day,” he said. “It doesn’t get in the way of sociology. Actually, it’s a release from the tensions of writing.”

With a repertoire that spanned the old show tunes and jazz standards and more recently included Bach’s “Art of the Fugue,” David went on to play at various venues on the Island and the South Fork — enjoying each gig as much as the audience. In the late 1980s, he provided dinner entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays at the Shelter Island Yacht Club.

He also performed many times over the years at Gardiner’s Bay and had a steady gig in the mid- to late- 2000s at the Dering Harbor Inn.

David is survived by his wife; his sons; his daughters-in-law, Melissa Long and Pam Rogers; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m on March 17 at Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York City. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to Work Inc., 25 Beach Street, Dorchester, MA 02122.

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Glorian Devereux Dorsey died peacefully in Seattle, Washington on February 26, 2019, following a severe stroke two weeks prior. She was 85 years old.

Glorian Devereux Dorsey

Glorian is survived by her children, James Dorsey II of Jupiter, Florida and Deborah Blue of Seattle, Washington. She was preceded in death by her daughter Rebecca Dorsey Shavelson of Sea Cliff, New York.

Also surviving Glorian, affectionately called “Gogo,” are her beloved 10 grandchildren: Aria Shavelson, Logan Blue, Marlee Blue, James Blue, Mercer Shavelson, James Dorsey, Spencer Dorsey, Annabelle Blue, Natalia Dorsey, and Benjamin “Finn” Blue. She also leaves behind devoted sons in-law Paul Shavelson and Jesse Blue, and daughter in-law Natalia Dorsey.

Glorian was born on December 7, 1933 in Queens, New York. Raised in Manhasset, New York, she went on to graduate from Radcliffe College in 1955 with a degree in English. While she was there, Glorian met her former husband, Dr. James Henderson Dorsey MD, who survives her.

Her professional career began with teaching middle school in Baltimore. She went on to work in both public and private sectors, including being the Public Relations Director for the Baltimore Sun, and the State of Maryland.

Her family and friends remember Glorian as energetic, intelligent, curious and loving. Her passions included reading, art, music, theater and cooking. She was an expert conversationalist, with an interest in the details of everyone’s story.

She was a dedicated grandmother and was involved in each one of her grandchildren’s lives.

Glorian raised her family just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. There they spent many years in the countryside riding horses and raising an assortment of animals. Throughout her life, she spent her summers at the family’s pre-Revolutionary War property, the Duvall Homestead on Shelter Island.

She was a member of the Shelter Island Historical Society and The Garden Club of Shelter Island. In her last chapter, Glorian moved out to Seattle, Washington to live with her daughter and family. She will be dearly missed by all, her family said.

Details of a memorial service will be forthcoming.

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Margaret Carroll

Margaret Carroll of Dallas, Texas and formerly Shelter Island Heights, died November 19, 2018 after a courageous battle with cancer, her family said. She was 95.

Margaret was predeceased by her husband Bill of 53 years and is survived by her children, Laure Carroll of Los Angeles, Liam Carroll of New York City and Shelter Island, and Kerry Radford of Texas; she is also survived by four grandchildren.

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Robert L. Ohrtman of Shelter Island died at home on Thursday, March 21, 2019. He was 88 years old.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 24 from 2-6 p.m. at the The Shelter Island Funeral Home, 23 West Neck Road, Shelter Island, New York 11964.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning, March 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church, 5 Prospect Avenue, Shelter Island Heights, New York 11965, officiated by Father Peter DeSanctis.

Interment will follow at Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to East End Hospice or Shelter Island Home Care Agency would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

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John Stephen Doherty

Steve Doherty passed away on March 15, 2019 at age 94.

Born in Manhattan on November 17, 1924 and raised in Queens, Steve served in World War II and the Korean War. He graduated with a Masters in Playwriting from Yale University on the GI Bill.

Successful at every endeavor, his family recalled, he had been encouraged early on to become an English teacher, but following his mother’s advice to “do what you love,” he embarked on a career of words.

Steve began his career as a writer for men’s magazines of the 1950s and 1960s, while simultaneously discovering a love of boats. For many years, he divided his time between cruising east coast waterways in a variety of boats and working to pay for it.

In 1969, he established Seven Seas Press, for which he was editor and publisher. It was in its day the pre-eminent publisher of nautical books, including boat designs, hardcover cruising tales and what became the “Bible” of trans-Atlantic cruising, “Cruising Under Power” by Robert P. Beebe. Many of the latter books were Nautical Book of the Month selections.

But by the late 1970s, it could not survive the financial downturn when paper prices skyrocketed and he sold the company to International Marine Publishing.

At this time, his idea for a book of 14 ocean crossings was bought by W.W. Norton, titled “The Boats They Sailed In.” It was followed by “A Ketch Called Tahiti,” about the life and designs of Jack Hanna. Steve’s later years were spent on a comprehensive history of his mother’s family, culminating with the story of the eight immigrant children raised on New York’s Lower East Side in the early 20th century.

Steve leaves his wife of 40 years, Ann Dunbar, with whom he came to Shelter Island in July of 1979 looking for a “summer place.” They found and bought a carpentry shop on West Neck Road whose attributes were “electricity and water on 1.8 acres.”

Over the course of the ensuing nine years, they made it into a “modest, comfortable cottage,” Ann recalled, that became their year-round home.

Bruce Harold Koenig
Bruce Harold Koenig of Marianna, Florida, who had been a veterinarian on Shelter Island for many years with a practice in Silver Beach, passed away on February 28, 2019.

He was 81.

He was born to the late Harold Fredrick and Melba Morris Koenig. Bruce was preceded in death by his son Brian Charles Koenig. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Christian Koenig, daughter Karen Koenig Mooney, sister Barbara Koenig, grandson Ashton Michael Mooney, and numerous relatives and friends.

Bruce graduated from the Iowa State University Department of Agriculture. He joined the Marines, then returned to Iowa State University and graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine.

Bruce’s career as an equine veterinarian was mainly spent at racetracks in New York. He went to the Kentucky Derby with Air Forbs One. Bruce also worked as a veterinarian for the annual Old Glory Horse Sale at Yonkers Raceway and treated hunters and jumpers.

Bruce chose the horses to start the Nassau County Mounted Unit and was later honored by them for 22 years of service.

He enjoyed hunting and was an avid boater and fisherman. Bruce was a Webelo leader when his son Brian was in the Boy Scouts. In his younger years, Bruce was afraid of flying. To conquer this, he took flying lessons and got his pilot license. He, with his family, did a lot of traveling by plane.

Bruce had a big heart, his family remembered, and helped many people in their time of need. He was a devoted husband and loving father who enjoyed spending time with his family at home and on vacation.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at the Marianna Presbyterian Church with Pastor John Wamsley officiating on March 23, 2019 at 2 p.m. The Family will receive friends from 1 p.m. until the time of the service, followed by a reception in the fellowship hall.

Expressions of sympathy may be submitted online at mariannachapelfh.com.

Paul S. Petersen

Paul S. Petersen of Tampa, Florida, and formerly of Shelter Island, passed away on February 25, 2019 at the age of 68.

Paul is survived by his wife of 45 years, Katherine Petersen; his five children, Christine (Stanley), Brian (Shannon), Matthew (Nicole), Catherine (Daniel) and Thomas; and seven grandchildren; Nathan, Faith, Courtney, Robert, Thomas, Danielle and Joseph.

A celebration of Paul’s life will be held on May 5, 2019 at the Shelter Island Fire Department, 49 North Ferry Road, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

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Norman Austin Burt
Norman Burt of Shelter Island died on March 23, 2019. He was born to Joyce M. Broere and Austin C. Burt on August 13, 1957 in Greenport. Norman was a graduate of Greenport High School.

Norman Burt

He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Jerri White and Georgia Vanbergen.

He is survived by his life partner, Julianna Smith of Shelter Island; Norman and Julie were committed to each other for 25 years. He is also survived by a brother, Steven Burt, of Florida and his sister, Nancy Burt of Mattituck, as well as several nieces and nephews.

Known to family and friends as “Stormin’ Norman,” he was a bayman, a skilled backhoe operator and was self-employed in marine construction.

Cremation was private. There will be a private celebration of Norman’s life at a later date.

Edwin “Sherman” Payne
Edwin “Sherman” Payne lived for 81 years. His family remembers him as a devoted husband, a patient father, a funny grandfather and great-grandfather, and a true friend.

Sherman served in the U.S. Navy and always said that he was grateful he got to see three quarters of the world. He was a 2nd Class ETC Petty Officer when he left the service.

When he got home he went to work for Bell Telephone and started his family with his wife Patricia. When it was time for his children to start school, he moved his family to Shelter Island where he lived for the rest of his life. He got a job at North Ferry, became a captain, and after 25-plus years he retired.

Sherman enjoyed being involved in the community. For 50 years he was a dedicated member of the Shelter Island Fire Department. He was part of the town’s Recreation Department and loved coaching Little League. You could usually find him at a sports game or a band recital, his family said, especially when one of his children were participating.

In his younger days he played softball in Queens and Greenport. Later on he pitched for the Island’s “Old Timers” game each year. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing with friends, in tournaments and on- and off-Island.

Clamming was also a favorite of his, as was sharing them with his neighbors. He was always a social person and could be found at the 19th hole at Goat Hill or shooting the breeze at the post office (he would be gone an hour, his family said).

But with everything he did or was a part of, his home was always number one. He loved being at home surrounded by family and friends, good food and listening to country music oldies.

Sherman is survived by his loving wife of over 55 years, Patricia, his daughters Jennifer, Linda and Sandra, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Shelter Island Center Fire Department on April 15, 2019, with the time to be determined.

Edith Taisey Schroeder
Edith Taisey Schroeder, 85, of Lincolnton, North Carolina, wife of Arvin (Dutch) Schroeder, who lived on Shelter Island, passed away on March 2, 2019 surrounded by her family.

Edith was born on October 30, 1933 in Syracuse, New York, the daughter of the late Norman Taisey and Mary Baker Decker.

On June 2, 1962 Edith married Dutch.

She was employed at First Trust and Deposit Bank and retired from Farmers and Traders Insurance Company, both in Syracuse.

Edith and Dutch enjoyed going to New Port Richey, Florida for 14 years during the winter months, and enjoyed morning breakfast cookouts with neighbors in their backyard in North Syracuse.

Edith was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Leon “ Red” Taisey and foster brother Alan Fisher.

Edith is survived by Dutch, her husband of 56 years, of Lincolnton; son Lester (Kelly) Schroeder of Denver, North Carolina; daughter Christine (Lyle) Braun of East Syracuse, New York; brother Lewis Thompson of Oregon; and foster brother Mike (Donna) Trapp of Rochester, New York.

Memorial contributions in Edith’s memory can be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Lincoln County, 900 Dontia Drive, Lincolnton, NC 28092.

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Samuel Bellows Gilpin III
Samuel Bellows Gilpin III, died peacefully in his home on Shelter Island.

Sandy, as he was known by his friends, was born February 25, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sandy graduated from The Haverford School in 1944 and Yale University in 1949. During his college years and after he served in the Navy as LTJG, Naval Intelligence, Sandy was president of Timothy Dwight College, sang in the Yale Glee Club and played squash and soccer. He served as a class agent from graduation until his recent death.

Sandy was an avid tennis and squash player, winning many club championships at the Yale Club in New York City and The Merion Cricket Club. Sandy also loved to ski and dance.

After college he went to work for Continental Can Company before founding Gilpin and Company, Inc. The packaging industry took Sandy around the world several times, forging lasting friendships with colleagues across the globe.

Sandy was a member of his beloved Marble Collegiate Church where he worshiped most Sundays and was a long-serving usher and greeter at the front door. He would give as his gift to Marble its first bath and exterior lighting.

Sandy is survived by his spouse, Elizabeth M. Gilpin (Lisa); daughter Marisa H. Gilpin; son Luke H. Gilpin; sister Ann Taylor; step-brother W. Craig Heston; and several nieces and nephews.

Robert L. Ohrtman
Robert L. Ohrtman of Shelter Island, formerly West Islip, died at home on March 21, 2019. Born on December 27, 1930 in Mineola to Emma Hewlett Ohrtman and P. Lester Ohrtman, he was 88.

Robert Ohrtman

In 1955 he married Patricia (Horan) Ohrtman in Babylon, New York and raised two children, Kenneth R. Ohrtman and Jane Allen.

A former Eagle Scout, Mr. Ohrtman graduated from Hofstra University in 1952. He enlisted in the National Guard in New York City in 1951 and was discharged in 1954. He subsequently joined the National Guard in Freeport and served until 1957.

He spent 38 years with the Grumman Aerospace Corporation, retiring in 1990 as director of operations and administration in the Engineering Department. While employed at Grumman, he was a member of GACE Flying Club (Grumman Aerospace Corporation Employees) and received his pilot’s certification in 1985.

Mr. Ohrtman began visiting Shelter Island in 1960 and lived here for 20 years, following 38 years as a resident of West Islip.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; son Kenneth (Kristin); and daughter Jane Allen (James); and six grandchildren, Kevin, Douglas, Erin, Kaitlyn, Danielle and Colleen. His sister, Doris Ray, predeceased him.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated March 25 at Our Lady of the Isle, Father Peter DeSantis officiating. Interment followed at Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery.

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Dorothy Zabriskie

Dorothy Zabriskie died in April in Evanston, Illinois in the loving comfort of her family.

She was born in 1924 in Nahma, Michigan, the third of eight siblings. Graduating from Nahma High School in 1943, she went on to pursue her nurse’s training at the Mayo Clinic during World War II. As a nurse, Dorothy worked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Prescott, Arizona and volunteered as a hospice nurse on Shelter Island.

She moved to Arizona in the late 1940s to bring her father, a World War I veteran, to Whipple Veterans Hospital. There she met and married architect Tom Zabriskie, with whom she raised three daughters and helped run their land development, Yakashba Estates in Prescott.

Dorothy and Tom moved to Shelter Island in 1983, where she worked as treasurer of the Shelter Island Friends of Music for many years. She loved to cook and was known to show up with hot scones on people’s birthdays, her family said. Playing Mah-jongg with her friends filled many Shelter Island afternoons.

Dorothy spent most of her life helping others and was constantly administering acts of kindness, her family remembered. She was incredibly proud of all her children and grandchildren and regaled people with stories of them.

Dorothy was predeceased by Tom in 1985 and her son Kenneth Hamilton in 2016.

Survivors include two sisters: Charlene Groll and Jeanette Oman; three daughters: Dorie Zabriskie of Ventura, California; Vinette Zabriskie of Kirkland, Washington; Nan Zabriskie of Evanston and son-in-law Lawrie Bloom of Evanston; and 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A private ceremony will be held in Evanston. Donations may be made to the Shelter Island Friends of Music, P.O. Box 193, Shelter Island, NY 11964.

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Timothy J. Bohen

Timothy (Tim) J. Bohen of Lakeview Drive died on May 2, 2019 at the East End Hospice’s Kanas inpatient facility from a stroke and complications of Parkinson’s Disease.

Tim is survived by his wife of 50 years, Tullia Limarzi, and his sons, Benjamin Bohen of Brooklyn and Jeremy of Jackson Heights, and their spouses, Peter Dubois and Tara Merdjanoff. His mother, Jeanne Niedjielski of Erie, Pennsylvania, also survives him, as well as two brothers and four sisters.

Born in Erie to second generation Irish-American parents, Tim received a B.A. in liberal arts from St. Bonaventure University in May 1969. Looking for wider horizons, he and Tullia moved to Staten Island later that summer. It was then, his family recalled, that he fell in love with Tom Seaver and the Miracle Mets.

Tim worked his entire career for the State of New York and the City of New York fighting drug addiction and the crime it engenders. He and Tullia retired to Shelter Island in 2003.

On the Island, Tim soon found outlets for his love of Scrabble at the library, and his search for flexibility at Jean Lawless’ Senior Citizens yoga class. He had recently became an avid regular at Rock Steady Boxing, which helps Parkinson’s patients through a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum.

A lover of nature, Tim quickly found a niche at the Nature Conservancy’s Mashomack Preserve as a docent for the visitor center. He also supported the North Fork Audubon Society, Group for the East End, Peconic Land Trust and Slow Food East End.

Tim is remembered by family and friends for his gentle spirit, his patience and generosity, his wide-ranging intelligence and sometimes-goofy sense of humor. He was a believer in the best of humanity and our capacity for peace.

Donations in Tim’s memory may be made to MichaelJFox.org or EEH.org.

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Bernard (Bernie) Gillespie of Longboat Key, Florida and Shelter Island, died on May 23, 2019.

Bernard M. Gillespie

Bernie was born to Bernard and Clara Yeich Gillespie on June 17, 1937 in Centralia, Pennsylvania and raised in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Notre Dame on a Navy ROTC Scholarship, majored in Chemical Engineering and graduated Magna cum Laude in 1959.

Following graduation, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Marine Corps.

In 1961, he married the love of his life, Phyllis Mack, of Flushing, New York and Shelter Island. After finishing his Marine Corps tour, Bernie and Phyllis returned to Notre Dame where Bernie would obtain a PhD.

He joined the Mobil Oil Corporation in 1966 after completing his doctorate. The highlight of his Mobil career was as president of Mobil Solar Energy Corporation for almost 10 years, dedicated to the research, development, manufacture and project deployment and support in photovoltaics — electricity from sunlight. His family remembers that Bernie often said it was almost criminal that they paid him for having such a wonderful job.

His professional accomplishments include six U.S. patents and seven publications in peer-reviewed journals. In addition to numerous invited addresses and presentations and leadership positions in professional societies and on professional and community panels, Bernie prided himself on his mentoring of numerous young professionals.

He retired from Mobil in 1995, and joined Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia as a professor of engineering and director of the Technology Management Master’s Degree Program.

Bernie was very proud of his affiliation with Marshall, which prided itself on the high number of its students who, like him, were the first in their families to receive a college degree.

In 2001, Phyllis and Bernie completed a summer home on their property on Westmoreland Drive.

Bernie retired from Marshall in 2006, and he and Phyllis took up full-time residence on the Island and kept busy with volunteer work and hobbies.

In 2008, an extensive addition to the Westmoreland home turned it from a summer home to a year-round residence, with attached garage and additional bedrooms and baths. Annual visits from their family filled the expanded house on a regular basis.

Phyllis and Bernie volunteered with the Senior Nutrition Program, delivering Meals on Wheels; the Shelter Island Historical Society; Our Lady of the Isle Church; as well as many ad hoc requests for their talents. Hosting players from the Shelter Island Bucks baseball team, biennial reunions of Phyllis’ college classmates and Bernie’s high school classmates as well as get-togethers of Phyllis’ extended family and the occasional family wedding, kept boredom at bay, his family said.

After renting for several winters in Longboat Key, Bernie and Phyllis purchased a condo and became Florida residents. Bernie startled writing his memoirs. He loved Longboat Key and was active in the men’s club and visiting with their many friends in the area.

He continued his do-it-yourself activities around the house and grounds and supported Phyllis’s hobby of cooking and entertaining. He also took up art in his 70s — a relaxing outlet that grew from a series of lessons by Peter Waldner.

Bernie was most proud of his family, his wife of 58 years, Phyllis; daughter Ellen Cathcart (James); sons Michael (Patti); John (Sandy); Stephen (Karen); Paul (Michelle); as well as 10 grandchildren and current resident pet Wilbur, all of whom survive him. He was predeceased by his two older brothers, Jim and Ray, and is survived by his younger brother, Bill, and his sister, Agnes Purcell (Ed) as well as numerous nephews and nieces

In lieu of flowers, Bernie asked that people make a memorial contribution to either the Class of 1955 Scholarship fund at Nativity BVM High School, 1 Lawton’s Hill, Pottsville, PA 17901, or to the Shelter Island Historical Society, P.O. Box 847, Shelter Island, NY 11964, or to a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangement are: visitation at the Shelter Island Funeral Home Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Isle Church Wednesday, May 29 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Our Lady of the Isle Cemetery.

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