KNOX — A farm wife who instilled social graces in her children along with a love of music and reading, Hattie L. Walk died on Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at her home on Township Road. She was 96.

She was born in Slatington, Pa., on April 7, 1915. She moved to a farm near Altamont with her husband, Ernest, and their young family in March of 1944.

“Hattie used her many creative talents and much elbow grease to transform her beloved old farmhouse into a comfortable home for her family. She worked endlessly to teach her children the importance of proper etiquette and acceptable social skills,” her family wrote in a tribute.

She and her husband were active members of the Berne-Knox Central School Parent-Teacher Association during the time their five children attended the school. During this time, the Walks taught ballroom dancing to students at the school and supported numerous other activities.

“Additionally,” her family wrote, “Hattie was a music enthusiast. She played the piano, organ, and loved singing. This passion she passed on to her children through many hours of family sing–alongs. The children gathered around her piano while she played numerous songs and everyone but her husband, Ernest, who would sit listening, sang along.”
During the time her children were growing up, Mrs. Walk supported their involvement in 4-H by serving as a 4-H leader for many years, and was an active member of the Albany County 4-H Leaders Association.

“Also an avid reader, well known by local librarians and other reading enthusiasts, Hattie always seemed to be stocking up on fresh reading material which she finished off in short order,” her family wrote. “This was another activity she instilled a love for in all of her children.”

Mrs. Walk was an active member of the Altamont Reformed Church for many years where she participated in the church choir, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the consistory. She additionally served as Sunday school superintendent for a time. She also participated actively in the Women’s Circle.

Her husband of 69 years, Ernest, died before her as did their son George and grandson Michael.

She is survived by four daughters, Sandra and her husband, Homer, of Voorheesville; Carol Ann and her husband, Terry, of Brentwood, Tenn.; Marcia “Penny” Sanchez and her husband, Manuel, of El Paso, Texas; and Linda Plumb and her husband, John, of Bradley, Calif. Additionally, she is survived by nine grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 28, at 3 p.m., at the Altamont Reformed Church at 129 Lincoln Avenue in Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Free Library, Post Office Box 662, Altamont, NY 12009.

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Nathaniel “Nate” Dickinson

ALTAMONT — Nathaniel “Nate” Dickinson died gracefully at St. Peter’s Hospice in Albany, on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. He was 79.

He was born Jan. 14, 1932 in New York City, the son of the late Sidney E. Dickinson and Mary Watson Dickinson. He was raised and educated in Pleasantville, N.Y.

He received a bachelor of arts degree from Amherst College and a master of science degree in wildlife management from Cornell University.

He served two years in the Army as a cryptographer. Following his Army service, his first position as a wildlife biologist was in the state of Maine. In 1961, he became a regional biologist in New York. In 1971, he left to become a deer project leader in Vermont. He returned to New York in 1976 to become the big game project leader for the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

He is the author of numerous technical papers and popular articles. He is the author of “Common Sense Wildlife Management.” He also served as assistant editor of the New York Fish and Game Journal.

He proudly served on the board of Property Rights Foundation of America and belonged to the Wildlife Society.

Mr. Dickinson had a lifelong love of baseball. Growing up in the New York City area as a Giants fan, he ultimately became a diehard member of Red Sox Nation. He was a passionate coach and teacher of baseball from spending hours hitting fly balls in the back yard, to little league, Babe Ruth, and summer college leagues. He was also the junior varsity coach at Schalmont High School for many years.

Nathaniel “Nate” Dickinson is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ruth Snow Dickinson of Altamont; his three children, Kimberly Testa of Altamont; Thorn Dickinson and his wife, Amanda, of Brunswick, Maine; Mary Vincitore and her husband, David, from Baltimore, Md.; and by his seven beloved grandchildren, Michael, Brendan, and Marissa Testa; Alexis and Cassandra Dickinson; Alison and Olivia Vincitore; and many nieces and nephews. His parents died before him as did his brother.

There will be a private celebration of his life at a later time. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Hospice of Albany, care of Albany Inn Hospice, 315 South Manning Blvd., Albany , NY 12208; Community Caregivers Inc., 2021 Western Ave., Suite 104, Albany, NY 12203; or Altamont Free Library, 105 Park Street, Altamont, NY 12009.

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William J. Tomajer

ALTAMONT — William A. Tomajer, a United States Army Air Corps veteran and business owner, died on June 15, 2011, at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home. He was 88.

Mr. Tomajer was born on April 12, 1923, in Jefferson, N.Y., to the late John and Mollie (Dusha) Tomajer. He graduated from Jefferson High School.

After graduation, he joined the Army Air Corps, and was assigned to the 385th Bomb Group, 550, 1st Squadron. He flew over 31 missions.

Mr. Tomajer was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal; the Distinguished Flying Cross Ribbon, with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force and Army Good Conduct medals; a National Defense Service medal; an Airman’s Medal Ribbon with three oak clusters; and the Air Force Presidential Citation Award with an oak leaf cluster.

After the war, in 1945, Mr. Tomajer worked for the Henry Schaffer Trucking Company. In 1950, he opened Zane and Bills’, a restaurant located on the Western Turnpike. He later worked for the Lane Construction Company.

In 1970, he married Charlotte Peters Burt, and began his business, Economy Remodeling; he retired in 1983.

Mr. Tomajer’s stepdaughter, Charlene Stevens, said he was a great father.

“He never had kids of his own, and, when he married my mother, he inherited nine of us,” said Mrs. Stevens. She said he was always helping out “the kids,” and he built her home, as well as a home for one of her brothers.

“He loved remodeling projects,” she said. He also loved family get-togethers, watching football, playing golf, and spending winters with his wife in Dade City, Florida.

Mr. Tomajer was the past commander and a life member of the Altamont Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7062, and a member of the Altamont American Legion Post 0977. He and his wife organized and worked at the VFW booth at the Altamont Fair.

“He was all-around a very agreeable man,” Mrs. Stevens said.

Mr. Tomajer is survived by his brothers, Charles and Mickey Tomajer, of Guilderland; his nieces, Colleen Abbate, of Schenectady, and Tracy Tomajer, of Voorheesville; his nephew, Timothy Tomajer, of Mesa, Ariz.; and a great-niece and great-nephew.

He is also survived by his nine stepchildren, Winston Burt, and his wife, Ellen, of Valatie; Charlene Stevens, and her husband, David, of Altamont; Steven Burt, of Poughkeepsie; Kenneth and Ronnie Burt, of Queensbury; Craig Peters, and his wife, Joann, of Oxford, Conn.; David Burt, of Poughkeepsie; Kerry and Barbara Peters, of Altamont; and 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

His wife, Charlotte Peters Tomajer, died before him.

A funeral service and interment with military honors was held on June 22 at Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Fredendall Funeral Home, in Altamont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Boyd Hilton VFW Post 7062, Post Office Box 505, Altamont, NY 12009.