Carol Thatcher Lawyer, 57, Ockawamick grad, library filing clerk
CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON—Carol M. Thatcher Lawyer, 57, formerly of Albany, passed away early Sunday morning, January 1, 2012 following a long illness.
Born in Hudson, December 5, 1954, she was the daughter of Robert and Arlene Pringle Thatcher.
She was raised and educated in Columbia County and attended Ockawamick Central School in Philmont.
For a brief time, Mrs. Lawyer lived in Florida before returning to the local area where she lived until her death.
She was a member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Churchtown.
She was employed by the Albany Public Library as a filing clerk and enjoyed knitting and crocheting.
Mrs. Lawyer was predeceased in 2003 by her husband, Robert C. Lawyer.
Survivors include her parents, Robert and Arlene Thatcher of Sebring, FL; her sister, Jeannette (Terry Cartwright) Kenneally of Schenectady; her nephew, John (Leslie) Jangrow of Hudson; her friends, Joseph (Evelyn) McCabe of Castleton; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 6, 5 p.m. at the Tebbutt and Frederick Memorial Home, 633 Central Avenue, Albany.
To express condolences visit www.sbfuneralhome.com.
Francis Martini, 76, paratrooper, barber, machine operator
ALBANY—Francis A. Martini, 76 of Wilderness Way, Stephentown died Monday, January 2 at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Born in Pittsfield, MA, September 10, 1935, he was the son of the late Anthony and Rose Stracuzzi Martini.
A 1953 graduate of Pittsfield High School, where he excelled in football and baseball, Mr. Martini was a resident of Stephentown for the past 20 years after living in New Lebanon for 11 years.
Mr. Martini enlisted in the United States Army in September of 1956, where he was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne division at Fort Bragg. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended barber school and worked with his father and uncle in Dom’s Wendell Barbershop in Pittsfield for six years. He then worked for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority as a machine operator and laborer retiring in 1990.
Mr. Martini was a member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association having held a trainer’s license at Finger Lakes, Belmont and Saratoga. He loved animals of all sorts; watching the bear in his backyard, feeding squirrels, raising pit bulls and dearly loved his late cat Sugar and his late dogs Ebony and Emma. He enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, cooking and watching both the history and military channels. His true love was his children and grandchildren. He was a friend to many. He will be missed dearly by all.
Survivors include: his children, Anthony (Elizabeth) Martini of Brighton, MI, LeeAnn Martini of Magnolia, DE and Jason Martini of Pittsfield, MA; grandchildren, Luke Martini of Pittsfield, MA, Kathleen, Annamarie and Joseph A. Martini, all of Brighton, MI; many cousins, extended family and close friends. He was predeceased by a sister, Venera Rose Weary.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, January 5, 7 p.m. in the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 State Route 43, Stephentown, where the Reverend John Close will officiate. Relatives and friends are invited for visitation, Thursday from 5 p.m. until the start of the service.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to www.specialolympics.org or www.outofthepits.org or www.mohawkhumanesociety.org
Robert Weber, 96, naval commander, WWII pilot
E. CHATHAM—Robert William Weber, Sr., CDR, USN (Ret.) 96, of East Chatham, passed away peacefully Saturday, December 31, 2011 at home with family.
He was born to the late William and Annie Weber in Yonkers.
Mr. Weber served his country for 23 years in the US Navy. He was a Navy pilot during World War II and retired as a naval commander. Following his retirement from the Navy, Mr. Weber was employed by General Electric in Pittsfield, MA for 16 years.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Elfrieda Anne Scarborough Weber; his children, Carol Anne Weber, Robert W. Weber, Jr. (Wende) and Susan Dianne Weber Spoto (Franco); grandchildren, Dawn Meizinger Carney, Kimberly Meizinger, Jon Spoto, Elisabeth Spoto; great-granddaughter, Mikaila Carney; beloved cousins, Amelia Weber and Helen Weber.
He was predeceased by his brother, Edward Weber and sister, Mildred Garfalo.
Mr. Weber will be remembered for his sense of fairness, warmth, humor and devotion to his country and family.
A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are with the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, Chatham. To send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.
William Schnackenberg, 74, phys ed teacher, coach
HUDSON—William George Schnackenberg, 74, a longtime resident of Claverack, passed away Monday, January 2, 2012 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
He was born March 3, 1937 in Hudson, the son of the late Claus and Berta (Luhrs) Schnackenberg.
Mr. Schnackenberg was a physical education teacher with the Taconic Hills Central School, where he also served for some time as athletic director. He coached boys varsity basketball for several years and started the girls varsity soccer program at Taconic Hills in 1982 and continued to coach soccer after his retirement from the school district in 1992.
He also was associated with Red Apple Realty in Claverack as a licensed agent.
Mr. Schnackenberg attended the former parishes of Sacred Heart in Philmont and St. John Vianney in Churchtown. More recently he was a communicant of the Parish of Our Lady of Hope in Copake Falls. He also served as a confirmation teacher for many years in the various churches. He was a member of the Winding Brook Country Club in Valatie and was president of the Bob Bailly Memorial Golf League there.
He is survived by: his daughters and their spouses, Heidi Schnackenberg and husband Eddie Vega of Plattsburgh, and Kimberly Sharer and husband Robert Sharer of Colonie; a sister, Elizabeth Guiseley of Union, ME; his two grandsons, William Vega and Joseph Sharer.
Along with his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, John Schnackenberg.
Friends are invited and may call Friday, January 6, 2012 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 State Route 22 in Copake.
Services will be held Saturday, January 7, 2012, at 2 p.m. from the Parish of Our Lady of Hope in Copake Falls.
Interment will be private in the Mellenville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Save the Children Foundation, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880 or the William G. Schnackenberg Educational Award at SUNY Plattsburgh, c/o Peck and Peck Funeral Home, P.O. Box D., Copake 12516.
To send and online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.