Esther P. Yildiz (1919 – 2014)
NEW YORK CITY—Esther P. Yildiz, 95, of New York City died peacefully November 29, 2014 at Evergreen Commons Nursing Home in East Greenbush.
Born August 1, 1919 in Stuyvesant, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Stella (Smith) Proniske and the wife of the late Dr. Muhtar Yildiz.
She graduated from Martin Van Buren High School and Albany Stenographic School. She worked as a secretary in Albany for a public relations firm. When the company moved to New York City, she went with them and has lived there for more than 60 years. After leaving the firm, she worked as a secretary and receptionist for her husband, Dr. Yildiz, until his death in 2005.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Yildiz was predeceased by her brothers, George and Walter, Jr., and sisters, Ruth and Dorothy. She is survived by many nieces and nephews in upstate New York.
Interment will be private in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Stuyvesant Falls. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
Robert G. Parlman (1928 – 2014)
COPAKE LAKE—Robert G. Parlman passed away peacefully on November 29, 2014 with his beloved wife, Jeanette at his side in their home at Copake Lake. He was 86 years of age.
He was predeceased by: his mother, Nora (Rowe) Parlman; his father, William Morris Parlman; his siblings, Calvin Parlman, Eleanora “Babe” (Parlman) Northrop, Virginia (Parlman) Shufelt, Charlotte (Parlman) Hallenbeck, Ruby (Parlman) Voltz, William Parlman and Catherine (Parlman) DeVane; his wife, Dolores (Conte) Parlman and his daughter, Jeanne (Parlman) Goldman.
Mr. Parlman is survived by: his son, Robert M. Parlman of Holland, Michigan; his daughter, Joni Parlman of Bisbee, Arizona; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, all of whom he dearly loved and travelled to visit with his wife.
After graduating from Hudson High School, Mr. Parlman enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort George E. Meade in Maryland as a radio operator and driver. He was a member of the honor guard for burials at Arlington Cemetery.
Upon his honorable discharge, Mr. Parlman apprenticed under Lionel Northrop as a painter and paper hanger. He then joined the Hudson City Police Department in 1952 and retired 26 years later to devote full-time to his painting and wall papering business. Over the years he became well known throughout Columbia, Greene and Dutchess counties as a master craftsman. He used his talents for residential and commercial industries.
Mr. Parlman married Dolores Conte March 26, 1949 and was a devoted husband and father of their three children. Upon his wife’s passing, he married his childhood friend, Jeanette Edwards. He and Jeanette spent 27 years together traveling and building their “dream house” at Copake Lake, where he passed away peacefully with his beloved wife by his side.
Calling hours are Wednesday, December 3, 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Services will be held Thursday, December 4, 11 a.m. at Christ Church Episcopal, 431 Union Street, Hudson. Burial will be in Cedar Park Cemetery. Visit www.batesanderson.com to leave condolences for the family.
Robert William Chamberlain
TOBACCOVILLE, NC—Robert “Bob” William Chamberlain, originally from Chatham, died in his sleep at his home in Tobaccoville, NC, Sunday, November 30, 2014, from a progressive neuro-degenerative disorder.
He graduated from the Chatham High School in 1964 and from SUNY Albany in 1968.
He and his wife served in the Peace Corps before moving to North Carolina. He was the former owner of the Rental
Mart in High Point, NC, and was the area raptor rehabilitator, as well as an avid bridge player.
Mr. Chamberlain is survived by: his wife, Jean, of Tobaccoville; parents, Robert and Jean Chamberlain of Chatham Center and his sister, Gail of Chatham Center; niece, Heather Davis and nephew, Joseph McDonald.
No services will be held.
Donations in Mr. Chamberlain’s memory can be made to Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc., P.O. Box 24552; Winston-Salem, NC 27114.
Arrangements are with the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
Gale Nord (1936 – 2014)
ALBANY—Gale Koschmann Nord of Claverack died in Albany, November 29, 2014.
She was born November 8, 1936, in Washington D.C., the daughter and only child of Herbert Koschmann and Ruth Lubeck.
Her mother was a homemaker, her father a geologist who introduced her to the natural world. An early birthday gift was of small turtles, inspiring a lifelong love of these creatures.
Sometime after her father’s transfer to Denver, CO, when she was almost 10, she began to attend East High School, graduating as Valedictorian in 1954. She won a Boettcher Foundation Scholarship and went to Colorado College in Colorado Springs, majoring in zoology, history and art and graduating with a BA in 1957.
Early administrative positions with the Boettcher Foundation were followed by a job offer from the National Park Service, and Mrs. Nord worked at the Everglades National Park in Florida from 1961 to 1968 as an interpretive naturalist. This she described as the watershed experience of her life, honing skills in photography, writing and exhibit design and developing a lasting commitment to diamondback terrapins. An unpublished book, “In Search of the Blue-skinned Turtle,” and a collection of live turtles were the legacy of her Florida experience, and her move to the Northeast introduced her to the flora and fauna of the Adirondacks, where she lived for two years in a woodland cabin, journaling her experiences day by day. With her then-husband, she created an educational slide business, contributing both illustrations and text.
After her divorce, she moved in 1974 to the mid-Hudson area and began a new career as a veterinary technician and animal rescuer, working for 25 years at Compassion Veterinary Center and serving for 11 years as a volunteer and board member for Mid-Hudson Animal Aid. Living in a country setting with gardens, a pond and pens to house her many animals, reptiles, domesticated and cage birds and even a tarantula, Mrs. Nord continued to rescue both animals and trees, painted members of her carved bird collection and made many trips to the Adirondacks and Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey.
Beginning in 1984, Mrs. Nord participated in three Earth watch trips, to Scotland, Costa Rica and Botswana, and travelled extensively on many continents. While working at the veterinary hospital, she met Richard Nord when he brought his cat in for treatment, and they were married in 2001, moving into an 1840s country house in Claverack, with two acres, a pond and a stream and a large garden for vegetables. Her retirement was filled with animals, birds, books, music and travel with her husband throughout the world, as she accrued a large collection of stunning photographs and interesting stories which reflected her lifelong passion for all forms of life.
Stephanus Kuzmiak (1932 – 2014)
GREENPORT—Stephanus Kuzmiak, 82, of Greenport, passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at his residence.
Born July 2, 1932 in Ghent, he was the son of the late Steve and Katherine (Ofsansky) Kuzmiak.
He served in the Air Force from 1952 to 1960. He retired from the New York State Thruway in Canaan, where he was employed in the maintenance department for more than 20 years. He also worked for the Albany Carpenters Union Local #291, the Atlas Cement Company, as a cabinet maker for Streeter’s in Chatham, and part-time at the Copake Country Club. He enjoyed football and baseball and loved to travel and play golf.
Surviving are: three children, Janet Nelson, Stephen Kuzmiak and Carolyn Gray; his siblings, William Kuzmiak, Betty (James) Flaherty, Nicholas Kuzmiak and Irene (John) Colwill; three grandchildren; his loving companion, Barbara Card; several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Katherine Smith and Ann Olean.
Funeral services were November 29 at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Community Hospice of Columbia Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414.
Carolyn Marie Campbell (1934 – 2014)
AGAWAM, MA—Carolyn Marie Campbell, 81, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family November 29, 2014.
She was born in Red Hook, August 30, 1934 to Jack and Evelyn (Stall) Hefferman. Her father died when she was only six months old leaving her mother to raise two young children.
Mrs. Campbell graduated in 1952 from Red Hook Regional High School. In her yearbook, she was known for her smile. She went on to earn a certificate in infant and childcare from St. Catherine’s Infant Home in Albany.
She worked as a child nurse before marrying her husband of 59 years, Andrew Cowen Campbell of Craryville.
Her life was dedicated to her family and raising her three children, Kathy, Debbie and Andy John. They lived in Castleton, before moving to Windsor, CT, and then for the last 25 years resided in Agawam, MA.
Mrs. Campbell enjoyed visiting with her family, tending her beautiful flower gardens, shopping, taking walks and reading a good book. She belonged to Fitness First in Agawam for many years, was a regular visitor to the Agawam Public Library and was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mrs. Campbell was the happiest when the sun was shining. She loved summer when her flowers were in bloom and she could sit outside and read a book.
Mrs. Campbell is survived by: her beloved husband, Andy; her children, Kathryn (James Crowley) Campbell of Oakton, VA, Deborah (Bruce Collamore) Campbell of Newbury, NH, and Andrew John (Sandra) Campbell of Cromwell, CT. She also leaves three grandchildren, Julia Crowley, Kyle Crowley and Erica Campbell; her sister, Margie (Jerry) Griffin or Rhinebeck; many nieces and nephews.
Interment services will be graveside Wednesday, December 3, 11 a.m. at Niver Cemetery in Craryville with Deacon Jackie Jefferson Officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to Noble Visiting Nurse and Hospice Services, Inc., c/o Development Office, 77 Mill Street, Suite 201, Westfield, MA 01085.
Arrangements are with the Peck & Peck Funeral Home, 8063 State Route 22, Copake.
