Obituaries

ALBANY – Joseph D. Garrett, 87, of Albany, died Saturday, November 7, 2009 in St. Peter’s Hospital.  Mr. Garrett was born Nov. 22, 1921 in Troy, the son of the late Thomas and Helen Foster Garrett.  He was a graduate of Catholic Central High School, Siena College, and the Syracuse University School of Social Work.  During World War II he...

GUILDERLAND – Sarah Veronica McDowell Dolan Ridge Baggesen was blessed with a peaceful passing on Sunday, November 1, 2009.  She was born in New York City but moved to Albany in 1950.  Even now, however, she always considered herself a “New Yorker.”  She worked in the offices of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company until their closing in the...

SCHENECTADY – Robert D. Curtin, 72, of Scotia, formerly of Albany, died Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at Ellis Hospital.  Bob is survived by his sister Cathy Rudzinski and her husband Tim; his children Daniel, Jennifer and Robert Curtin; his nieces Barbara Spaulding and Danielle Rolfe; his nephew Tim Rudzinski, Jr.; his great nephews Daniel, Andrew & Matthew Spaulding; and his...

ALBANY – Aldo Paul Zanotta, 86 years old, passed away early on the morning of Friday, October 23, 2009.  Aldo served in the US Army from 1943 – 1946, and was deployed in the South Pacific during WWII.   He had a long and prosperous career at the Watervliet Arsenal for 35 years where he was Chief of Production Planning for...

ALBANY – Charlie Zee, formerly of Liberty, NY and a resident of Albany for 25 years, passed away on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.  He was born in China on September 18, 1919, leaving home at age 17 to work as a merchant marine.  Charlie served in the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1949 in air transport and was stationed in...

GUILDERLAND  – Erna Jean Courtney, 76, daughter of the late Thomas and Marie (Bauer) Courtney, left us on October 7, 2009.  Erna grew up in the South End of Albany, regaling the neighborhood kids with stories based on books she’d read.  An avid reader and engaging storyteller with a wonderful sense of humor, Erna married her high school sweetheart Dick...

ALBANY – Morgan B. James, Sr., 84, of Albany, died Thursday, October 8, 2009 at the Stratton DVA Medical Center in Albany.   Mr. James was born in Albany and lived here all his life.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a machine gunner with the 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division.  He landed...

PATTERSONVILLE, NY– Eleanor (Ellie) Nehls age 52, went back into the loving arms of her mother and father on Saturday, September 26, 2009. Born in Albany, NY on May 22, 1957, she was the daughter of the late Erich (Sr.) and Clara (Cyeklewski) Nehls.  She was a resident of the Schenectady ARC group home in Pattersonville, NY.

Survivors include her...

COLONIE Grace D. Burke, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving daughters on Thursday, September 24, 2009. Born in Albany on June 6, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Sebastian and Carmela (Malatino) Savoca. She was predeceased by her husband Edmund P. Burke Jr.; sister, Josephine Jablons; and brother, William Savoca. Grace cherished her family and friends,...

ALBANY – Mary Rose Burke Havern, 91, of Slingerlands, died Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Albany Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family.  Mrs. Havern was born in Troy, the daughter of Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke.  She was a graduate of Catholic Central High School in Troy and was awarded a full academic scholarship to the College of St. Rose. ...

Schenectady – Clinton C. Lawry, Jr., 92, of Schenectady went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 4, 2009 after a long illness.  He was born July 26, 1917 in Somerville, MA to Clinton C. Lawry and Meta Eisenhauer Lawry. He grew up in Dedham, MA and graduated from Dedham High School in 1935.  He received...

ALBANY – Daniel J. Kilmade, Jr., 87, of Albany, died Friday, August 28, 2009 at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Mr. Kilmade was born in Albany, and graduated from Voorheesville High School.  He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was employed for a time by the U.S. Army Depot in...

ALBANY – George J. Rocco, 84, of Albany, died Monday, August 24, 2009 with his family at his side just after returning home from St. Peter’s Nursing & Rehab.  Mr. Rocco was born in Albany and lived here all his life.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific Theatre.  He was self employed...

ALBANY – James E. Scully, 76, of Albany died Monday, August 17, 2009 at St. Peter’s Hospital.  Mr. Scully was born in Albany, and lived here all his life.  He was employed as a plumber and steamfitter through the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 7 in Albany.  He was employed on the construction of the Empire State Plaza, at Knolls Atomic...

ALBANY – Ruoping Chu, 85, died on August 12th, 2009, at St. Peter’s Hospital. He was born on November 20th, 1923 in Nanzhao County, Henan Province, P.R. China. He worked as reporter, columnist, and then chief editor for financial matters, for the Xinhua News Agency, the Yangtze River Daily, and the Hubei Daily from 1948 to 1959, and was the...

GUILDERLAND – Doris E. O’Brien, 83, of Guilderland, died Sunday, July 26, 2009 at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland.  Mrs. O’Brien was born and raised in Lynbrook, Long Island.  She lived for five years in the Rochester area before moving to Guilderland in 1962.  She was employed by the Teresian House nursing home in Albany, and also...