Russell A. Bartolotta (1927 – 2016)
ALBANY—Russell A. Bartolotta, of Hudson died Sunday, June 5, 2016 at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Born October 3, 1927 in Hudson, he was the son of Antonio and Jessie (Cooper) Bartolotta.
Mr. Bartolotta, along with his brothers, co-owned the Klein’s Kill Fruit Farm in Germantown, which is still thriving today, now being operated by the fourth generation of Bartolotta fruit farmers, selling apples from New York to California.
The business was started in 1921 by his parents, Antonio and Jessie Bartolotta. Fruit farming was more than a job for Mr. Bartolotta, it was his passion. As long as he was able, he wanted to go to the farm every single day. He was past director of the New York and New England Apple Institute. Mr. Bartolotta was a member of the Hudson Elks Lodge 787, an avid duck hunter and loved playing cards. He enjoyed travel, especially to Mexico and Las Vegas with his “rat pack” buddies.
Surviving are: his son, Russell (Cathy) Bartolotta; his daughter, Kris (Ed) Aldrich; four grandchildren, Dave and Rob Makas and Alexandra and Zachary Bartolotta; his great-grandson, Schuyler Makas; three brothers, Bobby (Gennie), Phil (Mary) and Alfred (Cindy); two sisters, Marie Conte and June Decker; many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wives, Patricia (Oliver) Bartolotta and Jan (Van Patton) Bartolotta; and his siblings, Benjamin, Anthony, Antoinette Egan, Jessie Conte, Louretta Barton, Beulah Delaney and Patricia Bartolotta.
Visiting hours are Wednesday, June 8, 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Thursday, June 9, 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 429 East Allen Street, Hudson. Burial will be in Cedar Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville 12211.
Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences for the family.
Leonardo Aquino (1943 – 2016)
ALBANY—Leonardo Aquino, 72, of Livingston passed away Saturday, June 4, 2016 at St. Peter’s Hospice with his loving family by his side.
Born December 20, 1943 in the Bronx, he was the son of the late Francesco and Emilia Aquino.
Mr. Aquino was a master woodcrafter and designed and fabricated custom garage doors, specializing in carriage house doors. Since retiring to Livingston six years ago, he felt very fortunate to find such wonderful friends. He was an active member of the Livingston Pumper Company #1, a volunteer fire department. He held many titles there, but at the time of his death was serving as vice-president. Mr. Aquino was an avid gardener. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who always made time for his family.
Surviving are: his devoted wife of 53 years, Nancy Aquino; three loving children, Joseph (Diane) Aquino, Frank (Sona) Aquino and Laura (Louis) Gregori and seven beloved grandchildren, Valerie, Anthony, Marina, Rocco, Vincent, Emilia and Cesario.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Leonardo and Giovanni.
Calling hours are Thursday, June 9, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Services will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to Livingston Pumper Co. #1, Livingston 12541. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences.
Deborah A. Igras (1962 – 2016)
NIVERVILLE—Deborah A. Igras, 53, of Niverville passed away peacefully in her sleep with her loving family by her side after a lengthy and fierce battle with breast and brain cancer, June 6, 2016.
Born December 23, 1962 in Yonkers, she was the daughter of Stephen Bartko, Jr., of Lake Ariel, PA, and the late Jean (Martin) Bartko.
Mrs. Igras attended Yonkers High School. She enjoyed bingo, shopping, movies, miniature golf and spending time with her family. Her children meant the world to her. She was a big fan of World Wrestling Entertainment. Her only regret was having her birthday two days before Christmas. She worked for more than 10 years as a school bus driver for Ichabod Crane Central School, Valatie. She is remembered by her family and friends as a strong and compassionate person, who sought happiness.
She will be greatly missed by her loving family, including: her husband, Edmund J. Igras, Sr.; her four youngest sons, Christian (Igras) Bartko, Alexander, Zachary, Russell Igras; her oldest son, Michael Bartko of Lake Ariel, PA,; her only daughter, Jennifer Bartko of Binghamton; her four brothers and a sister, Robert Bartko of Yonkers, Stephen Bartko, III, of Danbury, CT, Jimmy Bartko of Somers, Thomas Bartko of Stuyvesant and Donna (Bartko) Kucera of White Plains. Other surviving relatives include her mother-in-law, Josephine M. Warren; eight nephews and two nieces.
Calling hours will be held Friday, June 10, 2016 at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie from 6 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will follow the next day Saturday, June 11 at St. John the Baptist Church, Route 9, Valatie at 11 a.m. with the Reverends Jack Molyn and George Fleming officiating. Christian burial will follow at St. John the Baptist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the NY529 fund for the family’s four youngest boys.
Robert E. Jennings (1931 – 2016)
EAST GREENBUSH—Robert “Bob” Jennings, 84, of Columbiaville passed away June 6, 2016 at Evergreen Nursing Home.
He was born July 27, 1931 to Ray and Clairbel (Gritmon) Jennings.
Mr. Jennings graduated from Hudson High school in the class of 1949.
He married Dolores Byles of Claverack and they had three children during their 32 years of marriage; Bruce (Marge) of Claverack, David (Sharon) of Lagrange, KY, and Debbie (Pat) of Lebanon, MO. He had seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and six step-grandchildren from the Pallotola family.
Mr. Jennings worked all of his life in construction: 10 years as a carpenter; 18 years in the electrical trades; eight years as a construction superintendent and eight more years as building specialist for Marshall Erdmann of Madison, Wisconsin in their Northeast Division.
Following his first wife’s passing, Mr. Jennings married Marge Betar of East Greenbush. Together they wintered in Myrtle Beach and spent extensive time traveling, visiting 48 of the 50 states, missing only Oregon and North Dakota. Overseas they visited Europe and the Mediterranean.
His second wife passed away in early 2007. Four years later Mr. Jennings married Olga Pallotola and they continued to travel; cruising through the British Isles and several trips to Las Vegas.
Funeral services will be held Friday, June 10, 11 a.m. at the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer. Relatives and friends are invited to his calling hours Thursday, June 9, 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be Monday, June 13, 10 a.m. at the Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in East Greenbush.