Dr. Alfonse Peter Acciani (1925 – 2014)
CLAVERACK—Dr. Alfonse Peter Acciani passed away February 5, 2014 having spent much of his professional and private life in Columbia County.
He was born to Michael and Rebecca Palermo Acciani, October 18, 1925 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force cadet flying program, he was honorably discharged and entered St. Francis College in Brooklyn graduating in 1949 with a BS in biology. He attended the University of Buffalo Dental School and after graduation in 1954 interned at Queens General Hospital, where he performed surgery and general dentistry.
He moved to Claverack and the next year he took over the dental practice of Dr. Martin Varley at 545 Warren Street in Hudson and in 1966 moved his growing practice to 66 Green Street.
After 40 years, “Dr. Al” retired October 1, 1995. He later worked for the New York State Department of Health, Office of Health Insurance reviewing prior authorization requests.
He was a member of the Columbia Memorial Hospital dental surgical staff and a member and president of the Columbia County Dental Society. He also served as president of the Third District Dental Society in the early 1960s, and with the Dental Peer Review Committee. Interested in local health and environmental issues he served on Governor Carey’s Alcohol Board, responsible for Columbia County’s first annual “Turn Around Ball.” Also, he was a former member of the Hudson Jaycees, the Town of Ghent Zoning Board, the Chatham PTA, and served for years on the board of directors of the Home Savings and Loan Bank, Hudson.
His volunteer work included time with Catholic Charities in Honduras, Central America, where he performed mostly dental surgery in a town that had no electrical power. He worked with Dr. Stanley Bardwell in an innovative program which provided dental exams and education to migrant workers in Columbia County.
Besides being an avid golfer and sailor, he was, for many years, a ski instructor with the Disabled Ski Program in Windham, working primarily with amputees and blind people.
He was predeceased by his third wife, Jean M. Acciani, and his siblings, Raffaella Lombardo, Anne Olsen, Sylvia Caruana, Joan Donofrio and Daniel Acciani.
He is survived by: his three children, Susan, Stephen and David; four grandchildren, Emma, Maria, Anna and Alice; his sister, Marie Backus from Port Jefferson; many nieces, nephews and devoted friends and patients.
Arrangements are with French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home, Chatham. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. James Church, Chatham. There will be no calling hours and interment will be at the convenience of the family.
Donations may be made in Dr. Acciani’s name to the Claverack Library or to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Northeastern NY Chapter, 950 New Loudon Road, Latham 12110.
To convey a condolence visit frenchblasl.com.
Beulah Mina Tompkins (1911 – 2014)
SHARON, CT—Beulah Mina Tompkins, 102, formerly of Hudson, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2014 at the Sharon Health Care Center in Sharon, CT.
Born September 8, 1911 in West Taghkanic, she was the daughter of the late Chester and Rose Coons.
She was a nurse’s aide at Eden Park Nursing Home and also worked at Oren’s Furniture Store in the maintenance department.
Mrs. Tompkins is survived by: her devoted daughter, Dolly Thorpe of Pine Plains; her loving grandchildren, Debbie Bruno of Hudson, Dawn Balesto of Hudson, Carol L’Heureux of Poughaquag and Anne Boyles of Pine Plains; nine great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Ethel Scalera of Hudson; her son-in-law, Harold Swartz of Hudson; several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband, Earl Tompkins; her daughter, Betty Swartz; two brothers, Harold and Oliver Coons; two sisters, Pearl Clark and Madeline Albertin and her grandson, David Thorpe.
A calling hour will begin at noon Wednesday, February 12 at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, Hudson. Services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the spring.
Donations may be made to the Sharon Health Care Center, 127 Hospital Hill, Sharon, CT 06069.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Catherine Saliske (1916 – 2014)
HUDSON—Catherine Saliske of Hudson passed away at her home, February 9, 2014.
Born May 12, 1916 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, she was the daughter of the late Mary and George Daniel.
She earned a degree in economics from William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she lived for several years and worked for the Colonial Williamsburg Restoration.
She later earned an MS degree from Central Connecticut State University. She lived most of her life in West Hartford, Connecticut and taught in the Hartford public schools for many years before moving to Hudson in 1999. She was a member of Christ Church in Hudson and Saint John’s Church in Hartford.
A memorial service will be held at Saint John’s Church in Hartford in the spring.
She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Saliske.
She is survived by: her daughters, Margaret Saliske of Hudson and Mary Peters of London, England; and her grandchildren, Louisa Thompson, Christopher Foster and Lauren Foster.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, Hudson.
Roy W. Hapeman (1951 – 2014)
RHINEBECK—Roy W. Hapeman, 62, a longtime area resident, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck.
For many years, Mr. Hapeman worked as a truck driver throughout Ulster and Dutchess counties.
He was a former member of the Red Hook-Rhinebeck BPOE and was an avid motorcyclist.
Born September 27, 1951 in Rhinebeck, he was the son of the late Oswald and Shirley (Coon) Hapeman, Sr.
He is survived by: his sisters, Debra Lown of Red Hook, Linda Simmons of Clermont and Janet Hull of Elizaville; a brother, Ronald Hapeman of Elizaville; his two sons, Brad and Scott Hapeman of Ulster County; his grandchildren, Kayla Roundy and Dustin Hapeman and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services will private. Cremation will be at Wiltwyck Crematory, Kingston.
There will be no calling hours.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 South Broadway, Red Hook.
To sign the online guest book visit www.Burnett-White.com.
