Florence Moritz (1919 – 2012)
GHENT—Florence Helen Moritz, 92, formerly of Livingston, passed away December 30, 2011 at Whittier Rehab and Skilled Nursing Center in Ghent.
Born September 16, 1919 in Mellenville, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Dora (Stickles) Herrick.
Mrs. Moritz worked as a floor lady at the Nancy Ann Dress Company for many years. She was a member of the Philmont Reformed Church. She and her husband loved to travel and at one point drove to Alaska.
She was predeceased by her husband, Harold K. Moritz in 2005.
Mrs. Moritz is survived by her brother, Albert Herrick; two nieces and a nephew, Mary Ann Pollock, Jean Chamberlain and Dan Herrick, and her cousin by marriage, Janice Myers.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the St. Thomas Lutheran Cemetery in Churchtown with the Reverend Dan Herrick officiating. To leave a message for the family go to www.batesanderson.com.
Mildred Fisher (1923 – 2012)
OAK BLUFFS, MA—Mildred L. (Madsen) Fisher of Oak Bluffs passed away on April 3, 2012 at her home following a long period of declining health. She died two days before her 89th birthday.
She was born in New York City on April 5, 1923, the daughter of Walter Madsen and Margaret (Bryan) Madsen.
Her father was a chauffeur for the Marx Brothers of toy-making fame. During the Depression the family moved to Chatham in upstate New York to live with family members who owned a farm. She graduated from Chatham High School.
Following high school she moved to Saratoga Springs. There she worked as a telegraph operator for Western Union at the Saratoga Race Track. During World War II, she again lived in New York City and worked as a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell Telephone.
There she met and married Captain John Gillon, an oil tanker captain for the Texaco Oil Company. She took some pride in helping him study for his USCG licensing examinations. She claimed she knew the regulations better than he did. She used to fly to various ports around the country to meet her husband’s ship. In 1950, the couple moved to Martha’s Vineyard, MA, where they built a home in the Oak Dale section of Edgartown. The marriage later ended.
She married George H. Fisher an Oak Bluffs commercial fisherman in 1956.
Mrs. Fisher worked for Otis Rogers driving a taxi during the summer for eight years. She also worked as the assistant librarian in Oak Bluffs for 11 years. Mrs. Fisher attended the Trinity United Methodist Church in Oak Bluffs. She was an avid reader, enjoyed playing cards, usually a brisk game of Spite and Malice with her friends, made many braided rugs, collected coins was a fine cook.
She is survived by her son, George H. Fisher, Jr., of Oak Bluffs and numerous nieces and nephews from the Chatham and Spencertown areas. She was predeceased by her brother, Walter A. Madsen.
A graveside service will be celebrated at the Red Rock Cemetery by Pastor Drew Paton of St. Peters Presbyterian Church in Spencertown, Thursday, May 31 at 3:30 p.m. For directions or to send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Hospice of Cape Cod and the Islands, P.O. Box 4188, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Patrick DeJoy (1942 – 2012)
CATSKILL—Patrick “Pat” DeJoy, 70, of Hudson died Thursday, May 24 at The Pines in Catskill.
Born in Hudson, March 25, 1942, Mr. DeJoy was a sergeant in the Corrections Division at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and retired in 1991.
He is survived by a daughter, Lisa Perez of Philmont and a brother, Jake DeJoy. He was predeceased by his wife, Suzanne (Havlik) DeJoy, as well as his brother, Joseph.
Services are private and under the direction of Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, Greenport.
Walter Pienta (1950 – 2012)
VALATIE—Walter J. Pienta, one of the brilliant minds of our time, passed away at home May 23, 2012 after living stoically with lung cancer.
He was born January 10, 1950 in Lackawanna, the son of the late Walter and Anna (Kogutek) Pienta.
Mr. Pienta loved his music and was happiest puttering at Wallyworld. He graduated with a master’s from RPI in 1972 and was an environmental engineer with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for 35 years. He focused on reducing air pollution from automobiles and trucks. He was a member and served as a trustee at the First Presbyterian Church in Valatie and was also past president of the Board of Trustees of the church. He was an original beggar at the Beggar’s Banquet. He was a unique character who will be sorely missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Nancy; his favorite children, Joseph, Susan and Eleanore and his brother, Norbert.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 30 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Kathi Jones officiating.
Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements were with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Inc., Route 9, Valatie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign, P.O Box 267, Valatie 12184 or the Pienta Fund at St. Francis High School, 4129 Lake Shore Road, Athol Springs 14010.
