Gloria Van Campen (1930 – 2014)
HUDSON—Gloria Van Campen of Livingston passed away peacefully at Columbia Memorial Hospital, October 2, 2014.
Born Gloria Viviano, September 4 1930, she was the daughter of Nunzio and Mary Viviano of Yonkers.
In 1944 she moved with her family to Catskill and in 1948 she met and married Charles Van Campen of Germantown. They raised three children together.
After her children were grown and married, she got her CDL license and drove truck beside her husband for LP Transportation, hauling liquid propane throughout the Northeast. Upon her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
Mrs. Van Campen was predeceased by a grandson, M. Kevin Ronsani of Claverack and her brother, John Viviano of Binghamton.
She is survived by: her husband, Charles Van Campen, Jr., of Livingston; two sons, Charles Van Campen, III, of Livingston and Robert (Kathy) Van Campen of Livingston; her daughter, Deborah Van Campen of Germantown; three grandchildren, Matthew (Jessica) Ronsani of Egremont, MA, Sarah Ronsani of Claverack and Charles Van Campen, IV, of Clifton Park; great-grandson, Evan of Clifton Park; many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be Tuesday, October 7, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, 209 Main Street, Germantown.
Services will be Wednesday, October 8, 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Reverend Winston Bath officiating.
Interment will follow in the Viewmont Rural Cemetery in Clermont.
John Vincent Florio, Sr. (1926 – 2014)
HUDSON—John V. Florio, Sr., 88, of Stottville died peacefully surrounded by his loving family Tuesday, September 30 at Community Hospice in Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born in Poughkeepsie, April 23, 1926, he was the son of the late Charles and Pasqualina (Zaccari) Florio.
Mr. Florio was the owner and operator of John V. Florio Building Contractor in Stottville, established in 1963. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the command ship U.S.S. Mount Olympus in the Pacific Theater.
He was a devoted family man, took loving care of his wife in her times of need, and truly enjoyed the company and comforts of his family.
Mr. Florio was a skilled woodwork craftsman, an avid bowler in the Elks Lodge, enjoyed golfing and was a bocce champion. He was a member of the Church of St. Joseph in Stottville, and was the deputy building inspector of the Town of Stockport for 20 years. His many memberships include: life member of the Hudson Elks #787, Stuyvesant Falls VFW and Stottville Fire Company. He was a charter member and a past and present officer of the Columbia County Sons and Daughters of Italy #659, charter member of the Hudson Italian American War Veterans, and past member of the American Legion and the Capital District Chapter of the New York State Building Officials.
He was predeceased by his wife, Santa Angelina (Scott) Florio, December 3, 2013; his brother, Carl Florio and sister, Florence Cappeli.
He will be greatly missed by: his sons, John and (Donna) Florio of Stottville, Charles Florio and (Debbie Colarusso) of Stottville; daughter, Tina Florio and (Ricky Hoyt) of Stottville; sisters, Rose Sullivan and Leona Esposito, both of Yonkers; grandchildren, Michelle Florio, Jeannette Florio, John Vincent Florio, III, and (Nicole), Tara and (Rick) Rossano; great-grandchildren, Anthony, Dominic and Brandon; several nieces, nephews and cousins, the Zanchelli family.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Saturday, October 4 at the Church of St. Joseph in Stottville. Burial with naval honors was in Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson. Contributions in Mr. Florio’s memory are requested to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or to the Stottville Fire Company, P.O. Box 264, Stottville 12172.
Arrangements were with the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport.
John P. McDonald (1944 – 2014)
ALBANY—John P. “Pat” McDonald, 70, of Valatie died Friday, October 3, 2014 at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Born March 7, 1944 in Brownsville, TX, he was the son of the late John G. and Ruth M. (White) McDonald.
Before his retirement, he was employed by First Student in Troy as a bus driver. He was an avid Yankees and 49ers fan.
He is survived by: a sister, Alice P. Judson of Valatie; two brothers, Gary B. McDonald of Valatie and Thomas McDonald of Claverack; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, Theodore A. and Daniel J. McDonald.
The funeral will be held Wednesday, October 8, 1 p.m. at the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Inc., 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie, with the Reverend Daniel Cohn officiating.
Calling hours will be prior to the funeral from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Valatie. Donations may be made to the Columbia-Greene Dialysis Center, 2 Sherman Potts Drive, Ghent 12075.
Brother Alexander Stroz (1929 – 2014)
ALBANY—Brother Alexander Thomas Stroz, CSC, was recently admitted to St. Peter’s Hospital for pneumonia and congestive heart failure. He entered into his eternal reward the afternoon of October 4, 2014, with brothers at his bedside.
He was born August 30, 1929 in Philadelphia, PA, to Felix Stroz, a mechanic, and Veronica Szeliga.
His father was from Poland, his mother was from Philadelphia. He had an older sister, Jean, and a younger brother, Richard.
He was baptized Alexander Thomas Stroz, October 5, 1929 in St. John Cantius Church in Philadelphia, and also received there the sacrament of Confirmation on August 30, 1943. He attended elementary and high school in local neighbor schools in Philadelphia, graduating from Northeast High School in June, 1947.
After working as a clerk for two years at Rittenbouse Candy Company as a “candy polisher,” he entered the U.S. Navy in 1949, and at the time of discharge, was a yeoman second class. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged after four years of service in 1953. During his time in the military, he visited Japan, Europe and Panama and served on the U.S.S. Missouri. These experiences shaped his teaching and hobbies later in life. It was during this time that he contacted the Congregation of Holy Cross, and a year after discharge, entered the seminary at Stonehill College, North Easton, MA in 1954. He chose to leave the seminary and applied to the Brothers of Holy Cross and entered St. Joseph Juniorate in Valatie, June 13, 1956.
He was received into the Congregation of Holy Cross on August 15, 1956 at St. Joseph Novitiate, Rolling Prairie, IN, professed First Vows on August 16, 1957, and Final Vows, August 23, 1960. From 1957 through 1960, Brother Stroz studied at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, earning a BA degree. He later received a master’s degree in education in 1968 from Siena College, Loudonville.
Brother Stroz began his ministerial life in Holy Cross as a teacher for one year at Holy Cross High School, Flushing in 1960. The following two years Brother Stroz ministered in Uganda, Africa. This was in the early days of Holy Cross in Uganda and Brother Stroz taught at St. Leo’s Secondary School in Butiti, Uganda. For years later, after returning to the states, one could tell where Brother Stroz Alex lived by the big short-wave wire antenna strung outside his window or on the roof so he could faithfully listen to the BBC to keep up with world events, especially in Africa. The world news of the day was sometimes announced by Brother Stroz in the form of prayer attentions at morning Mass or prayer.
After his time in Uganda, he returned to teaching at Holy Cross, Flushing for almost five years and then at Bishop McNamara from 1969 through 1975. In his file is a copy of a letter in 1972 from the Smithsonian thanking him for a donation of a bow harp from the Congo. Somewhere in the vast Smithsonian archives is that bow harp with his name attached to it as the donor.
He taught at Cardinal Mooney High School in Rochester from 1977 through 1981, returning to Bishop McNamara in 1981. During these years in the secondary classroom he taught modern European history, world cultural studies and social studies with stories of what he saw in the Navy and experienced in Uganda.
During his time in Rochester, Brother Stroz spent much of his time after hours cutting the extensive areas of grass and sports fields and also worked on the landscape development at the school. However, this also sometimes occurred during the day. All the classroom windows closed as Brother Stroz roared by with the mower. Later, in Maryland, he continued this activity and was appointed a member of the Advisory Council in Horticulture for Prince George’s County.
For one year Brother Stroz was an ESL teacher in Brooklyn, primarily ministering to Haitian immigrants. He retired from the classroom in 1989, but returned to Holy Cross High School, Flushing, serving various needs of the teaching staff, mostly overseeing the use of audio-visual equipment, until his retirement from school ministry in 2002.
In 2006 Brother Stroz moved to St. Joseph Center. He enjoyed taking pictures and regularly signed up for any and all day trips in the area. He continued to keep up to date on world events, though now through the Internet.
Omwoyo gwe guhumurre mubusinge (Ugandan Rutooro)
May his soul rest in peace! The memorial services for Brother Stroz will be held at the chapel of St. Joseph Center, Valatie, Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 7 p.m.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, October 10, 2014, 11 a.m. followed by interment.
Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Inc., 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
Gordon R. Orsino (1946 – 2014)
VALHALLA—Gordon R. Orsino, 67, of Clermont passed away on Monday, October 5, 2014 at the Westchester Medical Center.
Born on October 12, 1946, in Newburgh, he was the son of the late Dominic and Margaret (Hollenbeck) Orsino.
For many years, Mr. Orsino worked at Acura of Westchester in Larchmont as the business development coordinator.
Mr. Orsino married Theresa Muscarella in 2000 in Mamaroneck. She survives at home in Clermont.
In addition to his loving wife, Mr. Orsino is survived by: his daughter, Gia Orsino of Clermont; several nieces, nephews and extended family.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Dominic and Edward Orsino.
Friends may call at the Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 South Broadway, Red Hook, Wednesday, October 8, 2014 from 3 to 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 10 a.m. at St. Christopher’s Church, 7411 South Broadway, Red Hook. Interment will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Red Hook.
Memorial donations may be made Catholic Charities USA, P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD 21297-1066.
For directions, or to sign the online guest book visit www.Burnett-White.com.
Ricardo DeGroff, Sr. (1953 – 2014)
LEE, MA—Ricardo DeGroff, Sr., 61, of New Lebanon passed away unexpectedly October 4 while on vacation.
Born in Schenectady, he was the son of the late Stanley and Dorothy (Sheldon) DeGroff.
Mr. DeGroff worked for Local 7 Plumbers and Steamfitters before retiring in 2009. He recently received the honor of being a member of the union for 35 years.
Mr. DeGroff was a family man whose number one priority was spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed time spent in North Carolina during the winter.
Mr. DeGroff was very involved in the community and was a member of the Lebanon Valley Protective Association since 1994, social member of the Chatham Fire Department, director at the Hudson Mohawk Volunteer Firefighters Association, member of Nassau Hose Company #1 from 1983 to 1994 and former member of the Rensselaer County Bass Association.
He recently spent many hours volunteering at the Firemen’s Home in Hudson.
He will be dearly missed by his family and his community. He is survived by: his sons, Ricardo A. (Victoria) DeGroff, Jr., of Chatham, Donny (Carla) DeGroff of Miami, FL; daughters, Marnetha (Mike) DeGroff-Cook and Mahogany DeGroff, both of Schenectady; brother, Stanley DeGroff, Jr., of Stephentown; sisters, Deryl Rucker-Stallon of Las Vegas, NV, Cheryl (Edward) Brown of CT, Donna DeGroff of CO, Yvonne (Chip) Sawyer of East Greenbush and Antoinette Evans of Troy; former wife, Harnetha Clark-Degroff; nine grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Robert DeGroff and sister, Dorothy Curtis.
A funeral service from the Thomas P. Mooney Funeral Home, 11 Elm Street, Nassau takes place Friday, October 10 at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home, Thursday October 9 from 4 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers donations in Mr. DeGroff’s memory may be made to the Firemen’s Home, 125 Harry Howard Avenue, Hudson 12534. Online condolences may be offered at mooneyfuneralhome.com.
