Obituaries Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, January 12, 2012
Donald A. “Dinny” Bernard
WESTERLO — Donald A. Bernard was a United States Army veteran and a retired bricklayer. His friends called him “Dinny.”
He died on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Stratton Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center. He was 84.
Mr. Bernard was born in Albany, and lived in Westerlo for many years. He served in the U.S. Army for two years. He was an active member of Bricklayers Local 2, and retired after 43 years. Mr. Bernard married the love of his life, Harriet LaGrange, on August 29, 1948.
“He was a very devoted husband and father, who enjoyed woodworking, carving and painting,” his family wrote in a tribute.
Mr. Bernard is survived by his wife of 63 years, Harriet LaGrange, and his children: Monica Heslin; Georgi Diamond; Valerie Trossbach and her husband, Paul; Jeff Bernard; Marcel Bernard; and Roxane Lamb and her husband, Steven.
He is also survived by his brother, Richard “Chubby” Bernard, along with 14 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.
His parents, Edna and Charles Bernard, died before him, as did his grandson, Garrett Barton.
Friends called at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home in Greenville last Sunday, Jan. 8.
A funeral service was held on Monday, Jan. 9, at the funeral home, followed by burial with military honors at Westerlo Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Albany, 113 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12208; the Westerlo Rescue Squad, 571 County Route 401, Westerlo, NY 12193; or the First Baptist Church of Westerlo, 618 State Route 143, Westerlo, NY 12193.
Condolences may be left at ajcunninghamfh.com
Alison Lee Kappel Gatterson
GUILDERLAND — Alison Lee Kappel Gatterson, a musician who loved children, died on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, as a result of injuries she suffered on June 28, 2011, when a pickup truck struck her as she was crossing Washington Avenue on her way to work. She was 47.
Ms. Gatterson was born on April 22, 1964, in Albany, the cherished daughter of Hans and Joan (Plauth) Kappel of Altamont.
She grew up in Altamont, and graduated from Guilderland High School in 1982. She studied cello performance at Ithaca College, received an associate’s degree in human services from Hudson Valley Community College in 1997, and was working on her bachelor’s degree in human development at Empire State College at the time she was injured.
Ms. Gatterson also served in the United States Army, where she was trained as a behavioral science specialist. She was an eligibility examiner in the Albany County Department of Social Services Employment Unit.
“Alison was a talented musician,” wrote her family in a tribute; she played cello in the Empire State Youth Orchestra, in area musicals, and in the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra.
She was a long-time volunteer at the Old Songs Festival in Altamont, and often volunteered her special face-painting talent in the children’s area at the Clearwater Festival.
“Children were a constant presence in her life,” her family wrote.
She taught swimming at Red Cross programs in the summer, worked with children at St. Catherine’s Center for Children and other organizations, and enthusiastically cheered at her son’s football games and track meets in high school and college. She was also a track-and-field official for local high schools.
Ms. Gatterson loved camping and kayaking with family, friends, and her two rescue dogs, Tehya and Sandee.
She was a voracious reader from an early age and was never far from a book.
“The family would like to recognize the kindness and efforts of the many caring nurses, doctors, therapists, and other health care professionals at Albany Medical Center Hospital and Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, the nursing staff and assistants at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center in Guilderland, and Community Hospice personnel and volunteers who made every effort to make Alison comfortable in her last days,” they wrote in a tribute.
“The employees of Albany County made incredibly generous donations of personal and sick leave time to Alison, making it possible for her to have medical insurance coverage and other benefits until she passed away,” her family also wrote.
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In addition to her parents, she is survived by her beloved son, Jarrell Gatterson, of Altamont; her close sister, Jennifer Cornell, and her husband, David; her adored niece, Nicole, of Deerfield; her devoted aunt, Lorraine Plauth, of Altamont, who, her family wrote, “gave up so much of her own life to assist in efforts of rehabilitation”; her aunts, Virginia Pieck, and her husband, John, of Guilderland Center, and Jeanne Plauth, of Sprakers; her special cousin, Stephanie Pieck; and many other uncles, aunts, and cousins in different parts of the country.
Her “Horsey Grandma,” Elizabeth Plauth, died before her, as did her grandfather, Ralph Plauth, of Altamont, and her “Tiger Grandma,” Emmy Kappel of Germany and Altamont.
A private family service was held, and, in accordance with Ms. Gatterson’s previously declared wishes, she has been cremated, and her ashes will be scattered in special places. Arrangements were by the Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont.
Memorial contributions may be made to the New Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, Albany Medical Center, 43 New Scotland Ave., Albany, NY 12208; or to the Altamont Free Library Building Fund, Post Office Box 662, Altamont, NY 12009.
Judith Nuzzo
GUILDERLAND — Judith Nuzzo, well known for her equestrian activities, died peacefully at The Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany on Jan. 4, 2012. She was 69.
Ms. Nuzzo was born in Glens Falls on April 30, 1942, to the late Dr. William B. and Virginia Page Nuzzo.
She and her family moved from Oneonta to Delmar, where she attended Bethlehem Central High School, in 1955.
She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Oneonta State Teachers’ College and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University at Albany.
Ms. Nuzzo taught elementary school in Catskill for several years, before moving to a career with the State Education Department.
In 1976, she established Chiron Farm in Guilderland, where she stabled her horses, boarded horses, and gave riding lessons. Well known for her equestrian activities, she also raised corgis and trained them to compete in obedience and agility trials.
She is survived by her siblings, William Nuzzo, and his wife, Cynthia, of Brookline, Mass.; Janet Nuzzo, and her husband, Ron Schowe, of Houston, Texas; Maria Hoehne, and her husband, Fred, of Houston, Texas; Robert Nuzzo, and his wife, Ann, of Bolton, Mass.; and Peter Nuzzo, of Houston, Texas.
She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Sara Rowe, and her husband, Jason, of Allen, Texas; Jeremy Schowe, of Houston, Texas; Mariah Nuzzo, of Brookline, Mass.; Wesley Nuzzo, of Bolton, Mass.; and Michael Nuzzo, of Bolton, Mass.
Her sister, Pamela Nuzzo, died before her.
Funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. A memorial service will be planned for a future date. Arrangements are by the Tebbutt Funeral Home in Albany.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Boulevard, Rensselaer, NY 12144.
Pamela Nuzzo
GUILDERLAND — Pamela Nuzzo, who helped manage a horse farm with her sister, died unexpectedly on Dec. 11, 2011. She was 62.
Ms. Nuzzo was born in Cooperstown on June 30, 1949, to the late Dr. William B. and Virginia Page Nuzzo.
She and her family moved in 1955 from Oneonta to Delmar, where she was raised and educated. She was a graduate of Bethlehem Central High School and attended Oswego State University.
She was employed by Key Bank for several years in computer services, until 1977, when she joined her sister, Judith, in establishing Chiron Farm in Guilderland.
“Pamela helped manage the horse farm for many years and shared an interest in the activities surrounding the farm, such as equestrian events and Kennel Club activities,” wrote her family in a tribute.
She is survived by her siblings, William Nuzzo, and his wife, Cynthia, of Brookline, Mass.; Janet Nuzzo, and her husband, Ron Schowe, of Houston, Texas; Maria Hoehne, and her husband, Fred, of Houston, Texas; Robert Nuzzo, and his wife, Ann, of Bolton, Mass.; and Peter Nuzzo, of Houston, Texas.
She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Sara Rowe, and her husband, Jason, of Allen, Texas; Jeremy Schowe, of Houston, Texas; Mariah Nuzzo, of Brookline, Mass.; Wesley Nuzzo, of Bolton, Mass.; and Michael Nuzzo, of Bolton, Mass.
Funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are by the Tebbutt Funeral Home in Albany.
Memorial contributions may be made to Peaceful Acres Horses, 3470 Rynex Corners Road, Pattersonville, NY 12137.