The Buffalo News - Obituaries

Nov. 21, 1925 – Dec. 6, 2013

George Edward Richmond, a World War II Navy veteran and chief engineer at Calspan Corp. in Cheektowaga, died Friday at Canterbury Woods, Amherst, after a short illness. He was 88.

A Kenmore native, Mr. Richmond worked at Calspan, the aeronautics and transportation testing and research company, for most of his career. He began his career in the wind tunnel program for the company’s predecessor, Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory, in 1949 and retired from Calspan in 1990. He had worked for Barrister Information Systems from 1980 to 1985, where he designed computer systems for lawyers.

During his career at Calspan, he worked in cutting-edge computer programming, including working with younger engineers to build war-games simulators for the military. He also invented the first simulator for military aircraft, to test their ability to penetrate hostile defenses.

“He was basically a computer scientist after his wind tunnel days,” said his son William Richmond of Richland, Wash.

Mr. Richmond graduated from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute and had begun studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute before World War II.

When the war broke out, he was drafted into the Navy and was stationed stateside to work on radar development for airplanes. After the war, he returned to RPI in 1946 but switched to University of Buffalo after starting work at CAL. In 1951, he graduated from UB with a degree in electrical engineering.

During his Calspan career, he conducted research in radar detectability, antiballistic-missile systems, automatic pattern recognition and air-defense simulation.

He also helped pioneer the use of large-scale computers at Calspan, founded its Computer Research Department and headed its Computer Center for 10 years.

He published papers on the use of lasers to investigate aerial photographs and also holds a patent for identifying textures in aerial photos.

From 1954 to 1974, he owned and operated Richmond Tabulation Service, a company started by his grandfather – longtime Buffalo Commercial City Editor A.E. Richmond – to compile and provide fast and accurate local election results for newspapers.

Mr. Richmond was active at Canterbury Woods as one of the senior community’s first residents and served as president of the Residents Council and an ex-officio member of the board of directors for Episcopal Church Home, which owns Canterbury Woods.

He also was a regular at Amherst Town Board meetings, often speaking out on town issues, particularly development. Mr. Richmond was a member of the Amherst Conservation Advisory Council.

He was of a member of Western New York Genealogical Society and dedicated the stage at the SUNY Buffalo State music school earlier this year.

His wife, Joan Steinmiller Richmond, died in 2010.

Survivors include three other sons, Mark, Dr. Thomas and James Richmond; two daughters, the Rev. Nancy and Dr. Carol Brown; and a sister, Joy Herlan.

A service has not been scheduled.

– Jonathan D. Epstein

June 5, 1927 – Dec. 9, 2013

John J. Phelan, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for mayor of Buffalo in 1977 who remained a powerful influence for many years in government and civic affairs, died Monday in Buffalo General Medical Center after a long illness. He was 86.

Tall, good looking and witty, Mr. Phelan loomed as a major political figure during the 1970s as he held top legal posts with influential Republicans, including Sen. Jacob K. Javits and State Senate Majority Leader Earl W. Brydges. Though he never succeeded in winning public office – finishing third in the historic mayoral race of 1977 that elected James D. Griffin to his first of four terms – Mr. Phelan nevertheless seemed to dominate many of the headlines of his time.

“John was a passionate politician who loved government and being in the middle of the action,” recalled George Borrelli, retired political reporter for The Buffalo News, who chronicled Phelan’s activities for many years. “He was bright, resourceful and always aspired to hold political office – though he was unsuccessful.”

Borrelli also recalled him as more than a lawyer or even a politician, but as someone who championed the arts and culture community.

Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Phelan graduated from Brooklyn Preparatory High School before serving as a Navy aviator at Pensacola Naval Station during World War II. After the war, he attended College of the Holy Cross and Niagara University, and earned a law degree from St. John’s Law School.

He returned to Western New York for stints at the law firm of Moot Sprague and the Erie County District Attorney’s Office before entering Republican politics. As counsel to Brydges for nine years, he emerged as a key Albany figure during the era of former Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller, crafting major pieces of legislation such as the law creating Artpark in Lewiston.

In 1972, he sought the GOP nomination to the State Senate, losing to Assemblyman James T. McFarland in a hotly contested effort.

But it may have been his GOP mayoral candidacy for which he is best remembered. That year saw a plethora of candidates entering the field to succeed the retiring Stanley Makowski, eventually boiling down to Mr. Phelan, Democrat Arthur O. Eve and Conservative Griffin in the general election. Mr. Phelan finished third in a sign of things to come for Republican mayoral candidates in Buffalo, but at the time won the endorsement of The News.

“Mr. Phelan combines intelligence, vision, good humor, compassion, a sense of proportion and an ability to innovate,” the newspaper wrote. “He appears genuinely to believe that Buffalo can regain its former vitality, and his statements show, in our view, the best grasp of the city’s assets.”

Mr. Phelan also left a major mark in civic affairs, especially as a preservation advocate. He served as president of the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier, working on major preservation projects like the Richardson Complex, Guaranty Building and Darwin Martin House.

He was active in Housing Opportunities Made Equal and the Irish Classical Theatre. “He was a great supporter of the arts and all things Buffalo,” said his daughter Trish Phelan. “He loved ‘his town,’ and that came from a boy from Brooklyn.”

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, the former Mary McCartney; two sons, John J. Jr. and James P.; and two other daughters, Therese and Kathleen.

A memorial Mass will be scheduled.

– Robert J. McCarthy

Mildred J. (Stahlman) Brass, of Lewiston, died Dec. 7.

Jeffery Broadus, 57, of Buffalo, died Dec. 6.

Joan R. (Jarlenski) Candy, 77, of Boston, Mass., formerly of North Tonawanda, died Nov. 19.

Dorothy M. (Folga) Cyrek, of West Seneca, died Dec. 8.

Eileen (Licata) Davisson, of Grand Island, died Dec. 8.

Joseph M. Drury, died Dec. 5.

Clyde M. Dole, 88, of Langford, died Dec. 7.

James N. Frydrych, of Tonawanda, died Dec. 7.

Sandra Jean Garner, 52, of Tonawanda, Died Dec. 5.

Joanne (Miranda) Goodspeed, died Dec. 7.

Mary L. (Perski) Hart, 66, of the City of Tonawanda, died Dec. 6.

Roman Hara, of Orchard Park, died Dec. 7.

Josephine (Schultz) Kuklewicz, of Cheektowaga, died Dec. 7.

Marian “Mae” (Nuara) Maisano, died Dec. 6.

Nancy A. (Thompson) Marr, 75, Died Dec. 8.

Joan E. (Keller) Reinhardt, of the Town of Tonawanda, died Dec. 7.

Avis M. Rose, 93, retired from Dunlop Tire Co. after 35 years, died Dec. 6.

Rita M. Schneggenburger, 94, retiree of National Gypsum, died Dec. 6.

Frederick Spiller, of Grand Island, died Dec. 8.

Nina (Dorey) Sweeney, 102, died Dec. 7.

Anthony Trzaska, died Dec. 7.

May 23, 1921 – Dec. 7, 2013

George M. Martin, a decorated World War II veteran who was the first lay vice president of Canisius College, died Saturday in Autumn View Health Care Facility, Hamburg, after a long illness. He was 92.

The public face of the Jesuit college for many years as its executive vice president, Mr. Martin was well-known in educational and political circles. He served as parks commissioner under Mayor Frank A. Sedita, was chairman of the Niagara Frontier Parks and Recreation Commission under Gov. Hugh L. Carey, and at various times served on the boards of Canisius College and St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute.

“George’s life was devoted to service,” Canisius President John J. Hurley, a close friend and protégé, said Monday. “He had an amazingly fertile mind and an extraordinary ability to put ideas into action. And he had that uncanny knack of always being in the right place at the right time. All of this redounded to the benefit of Canisius College over the past six decades.

“Into that pantheon of great Canisius names of the past, names like Desmond, Koessler and Brady, we now enshrine the name of George Michael Martin. Truly, he was a Canisian for the ages.”

In a profile appearing in The Buffalo News upon his retirement from the college in 1988, a host of politicians ranging from longtime Erie County Democratic Chairman Joseph F. Crangle to future Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello all praised him as a guiding influence in shaping their careers.

Mr. Martin said at the time that although he could have pursued a successful law practice, no other experience outside his administrative career at Canisius could prove so satisfying.

“What would I have now?” he asked at the time. “A cellar full of files – so what? That’s nothing in the public service. Working with young people – that is refreshing.”

Born in Buffalo, he graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas School, St. Joe’s, Canisius College and the University of Buffalo Law School.

During World War II, he was a sergeant major in Europe, earning a Bronze Star, and served for many years as a captain in the Army Reserve.

After law school, Mr. Martin worked in private practice , including as a partner in the firm of Blair, White, Martin, Fitzgibbons and Roberts before joining Canisius in 1967.

Along the way, he never ventured far from the political arena. He served for three years as parks commissioner under Sedita, managed several campaigns for local Democratic candidates for the bench and was general chairman of the State Democratic Convention Committee in 1958. He was appointed chairman of the city’s Board of Assessors in 1967 and served as a member of Carey’s transition committee after the former Brooklyn congressman was elected governor in 1974.

He was also chairman of the Natural Heritage Trust, a state public benefit corporation that assists zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums and operated Artpark in Lewiston.

Mr. Martin helped to raise millions of dollars for significant physical expansion of the Canisius campus. And as a member of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, he helped establish the state’s Bundy Aid Program and Tuition Assistance Program in 1974.

The college recognized his contributions on several occasions with its LaSalle Medal in 1960, Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983 and an honorary doctorate in humane letters in 1988.

For many years, he also served his other alma mater – St. Joe’s – with the longest tenure of any layman as a member of its board of trustees.

Mr. Martin was a member of the Bishop’s Lay Advisory Council, Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo Athletic Club, Orchard Park Country Club, Wanakah Country Club, Buffalo Canoe Club, Buffalo Club and the Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Fla., where he had a winter home.

In 1955, he married Mary E. Tracey, who died the following year.

A memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. Dec. 21 in Christ the King Chapel at Canisius College, followed by a reception in the Student Center.

– Robert J. McCarthy

Nov. 29, 1932 – Dec. 8, 2013

Gerald N. Clark, owner and president of Twin City Ambulance for almost 50 years, died Sunday in DeGraff Memorial Hospital, North Tonawanda, after a short illness. He was 81.

A pioneer in the emergency services field in Western New York, he purchased Twin City Ambulance with partners in 1955. Known for his support and mentoring of emergency medical technicians, he was succeeded as president of the company by his son, Terence, in 2004.

The company noted on its Facebook page that “despite being the owner of our company, Gerry was often right in the trenches with his employees. Even through his later years, he could be found cleaning the station, sharing a coffee and a chess match with the on-duty medics and EMTs, or telling one of his myriad stories about the early years of EMS.”

Born in Niagara Falls, he was a graduate of Niagara Falls High School and took EMT training at Erie Community College.

He began his career in the ambulance business in the mid-1950s when he was working at a factory and looking for a part-time job. He found one with a start-up ambulance service, purchased it and in the 1960s became the sole operator.

“He worked seven days a week, 24 hours a day,” his wife of 48 years, the former Patricia Castilgione said. “He did that for more than 20 years.”

Twin City Ambulance was based until the 1980s at DeGraff Memorial Hospital, a few blocks from Mr. Clark’s home.

Since then, it has expanded from the Tonawandas to cover many communities in Niagara County and northern Erie County. It also provides emergency medical service for the University at Buffalo, the Sabres and Bandits, Coca-Cola Field, Shea’s Performing Arts Center and numerous special events.

Mr. Clark continued to come to the office on a daily basis in retirement to do odd jobs and talk with the staff. He moved from North Tonawanda to Pendleton three years ago.

In addition to his wife and son, survivors include a daughter, Victoria M. Prince, and five grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Friday in St. Christopher Catholic Church, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd., Town of Tonawanda.

Nov. 17, 1911 – Dec. 7, 2013

Nina Sweeney, of Amherst, a nurse and physical therapist, died Saturday in Beechwood Continuing Care, Getzville. She was 102.

Mrs. Sweeney was director of physical therapy at the Crippled Children’s Guild during the polio epidemic of the early 1940s.

She later was director of physical therapy at Niagara Frontier Rehabilitation Center and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Western New York for 18 years.

Born Nina Dorey in Madison, Wis., one of six children, she was a graduate of Gowanda High School, the Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing and the University of Buffalo.

Mrs. Sweeney also trained in London with Drs. Karel and Berta Bobath, originators of a rehab technique for adult stroke victims and children with cerebral palsy, in neuro-development treatment of infants.

She established the first infant program at United Cerebral Palsy.

Mrs. Sweeney was a life member of the Buffalo General Hospital Alumni Association and the American Physical Therapy Association.

She was a member of the St. Aloysius Senior Citizens.

Her husband, Arthur E., died in 1964.

Survivors include two daughters, Holly and Candee.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. today in St. Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic Church, 157 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga.

Spiro T. Liaros, president of Ted’s Hot Dogs, the Buffalo area’s signature hot dog chain, has died in Phoenix, where he had lived since 1983.

The company announced his death in a posting on its Facebook page at about 2 p.m. Monday. A family member said he was 84.

Mr. Liaros, the son of Theodore Spiro Liaros, who began selling hot dogs from a horse-drawn cart near the construction site for the Peace Bridge in the mid-1920s, was hailed on the Facebook posting as “the modern patriarch of Ted’s Jumbo Red Hots.”

Ted’s has eight locations in Erie and Niagara counties and one in Tempe, Ariz.

The Facebook said that funeral arrangements are being made in Arizona and that a memorial service will be held in Western New York.

Feb. 1, 1923 – Dec. 6, 2013

Olga “Olly” Janeczko, a retired Buffalo teacher, died Friday in Atlanta, Ga., after a short illness. She was 90.

Born in Brooklyn, the former Olga Klimkowski came to the Buffalo area in 1942. After raising five children, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business education from the University at Buffalo in 1970 and master’s degrees from Canisius College in 1973 and UB in 1974.

Mrs. Janeczko taught in the Buffalo schools from 1970 to 1990 and was honored as outstanding high school business teacher of the year in Western New York in 1988.

She was a member of the National Education Association, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Business Teachers of Western New York, the UB Alumni Association and the Graduate School of Education Alumni Association.

A lifelong Republican, she was a polling place volunteer and for three decades opened her home to travelers from foreign countries.

A Kenmore resident until she moved to Atlanta six months ago, she was an avid Bills and Sabres fan, she also enjoyed theater, traveling, reading and collecting dolls.

Her husband of 66 years, John, died in 2008. Survivors include three sons, Joseph, John and Donald; two daughters, Patricia, and Cheryl McGurn; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be offered at 9:15 a.m. Saturday in Our Lady of Victory Basilica, South Park Avenue and Ridge Road, Lackawanna.

June 26, 1922 - Dec. 9, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Eleanor Parker, who was nominated for Academy Awards three times for her portrayals of strong-willed women and played a scheming baroness in “The Sound of Music,” has died at 91.

Family friend Richard Gale said Parker died Monday morning due to complications from pneumonia. “She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children at a medical facility near her home in Palm Springs,” Gale added.

Parker was nominated for Oscars in 1950, 1951 and 1955, but then saw her career begin to wane in the early 1960s. Her last memorable role came in 1965’s “The Sound of Music,” in which she played the scheming baroness who loses Christopher Plummer to Julie Andrews.

“Eleanor Parker was and is one of the most beautiful ladies I have ever known,” said Plummer in a statement. “Both as a person and as a beauty. I hardly believe the sad news for I was sure she was enchanted and would live forever.”

Parker’s death comes at a time when “The Sound of Music” is back in the spotlight following NBC’s live restaging of the classic last week – a ratings smash.

Parker worked only infrequently after “The Sound of Music,” appearing in films and on such TV shows as “Fantasy Island,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “The Love Boat.” She also starred in the short-lived 1960s TV series “Bracken’s World.”

“I’m primarily a character actress,” she said in a 1988 interview, explaining why she never achieved the stardom of so many of her co-stars. “I’ve portrayed so many diverse individuals on the screen that my own personality never emerged.”

Like William Holden, Robert Preston, Dustin Hoffman and others, Parker was discovered at the Pasadena Playhouse.

She was signed to a contract at Warner Bros., where she played only minor roles until the studio recognized her dramatic depth and cast her as Mildred Rogers in the 1946 remake of “Of Human Bondage.”

The Somerset Maugham story had made Bette Davis a star 12 years before. On Parker’s first day of filming, Davis sent her flowers and a note proclaiming, “I hope Mildred does as much for your career as she did for mine.”

But the film flopped, and Parker was again relegated to mediocre roles until her breakthrough performance as an inmate in a brutal prison in the 1950 film “Caged.” The role brought Parker her first Oscar nomination, for best actress.

Her second came the following year as Kirk Douglas’ frustrated wife in “Detective Story.”

Her career fully blossomed with such follow-up films as “Scaramouche” with Stewart Granger, “Above and Beyond” with Robert Taylor, “Escape from Fort Bravo” with Holden, “Valley of the Kings” with Taylor, and “The Naked Jungle” with Charlton Heston.

She took on one of her most challenging roles in 1955 in “Interrupted Melody,” portraying opera star Marjorie Lawrence, who continued her career after contracting polio. Faced with having to lip-sync nine arias in three languages, she holed up in a Lake Arrowhead cabin for two weeks and played records eight to 10 hours a day.

The result: her third Oscar nomination.

Dec. 7, 1924 – Dec. 9, 2013

Daniel R. Magrum, a fire chief and a mainstay at Bowmansville Volunteer Fire Company for more than half a century, died Monday in Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility at Erie County Medical Center while recovering from injuries suffered in a fall from a ladder outside his Bowmansville home. He was 89.

One of nine children, he attended local schools and lived his entire life in the house where he was born.

During World War II, Mr. Magrum served in the Army with the 137th Signal Radio Intelligence Company in Europe.

He was a mechanical engineer and a repairman, and was considered by many Bowmansville’s unofficial historian.

“He could make anything and build anything and fix anything,” said Dan Curtis, the fire company’s chaplain. “There was only one way to do things around the firehouse, and that was Danny’s way.”

Mr. Magrum became a Bowmansville firefighter in August 1946 and was a life member, serving for 67 years. He was first assistant chief in 1953 and chief from 1954 to 1956 and again in 1964.

He was a member of the company’s Building and Truck committees in the 1950s and 1960s, and served as a director and trustee in the 1960s and 1970s.

Mr. Magrum also served as clubroom chairman and was a member of the Bingo and Gun Raffle committees. He was a past president and longtime trustee of the Exempt Firemen’s Benevolent Association and served on the Western New York Firemen’s Association Convention Committee in 1971.

He was a life member of the Erie County Firemen’s Association, Erie County Chiefs Mutual Aid Organization, New York State Fire Chiefs Association and Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.

He also was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and played Santa Claus for generations of Bowmansville youngsters.

Although he was gruff, Curtis said, “He had a heart of gold. Everybody my age and younger in the department were his kids. He was a pretty amazing guy.”

Survivors include a sister, Olive Merrill.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Sacred Heart Church, 5337 Genesee St., Bowmansville.

April 8, 1928 – Dec. 5, 2013

Janet M. Jindra, an active member of the Cheektowaga Lioness Club for more than five decades, died Dec. 5 in a Kentucky nursing facility. She was 85.

Born Janet Rebhan in Buffalo, she met her future husband, Albert, while working at J.N. Adams Department Store.

Mrs. Jindra’s desire to serve her community was fulfilled through her membership with the Lioness Club, which spanned approximately 1963 to 2013.

In June, she moved to Radcliff, Ky., to be near her immediate family.

Her husband, who was known as Bob, died in 1986.

Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Kelly and Kathryn Gryglewicz; a sister, Sandra Sherer; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Local services are pending.

July 10, 1942 – Dec. 9, 2014

Sheila G. Hughes, a registered nurse who founded Rainbow Fashions, a clothing company for the disabled, died Monday in Father Baker Manor, Orchard Park. She was 71.

Mrs. Hughes received the Athena Award from Women in Business in WNY.

She was born in Boston, Mass., and lived in Orchard Park from 1979 until her death.

She trained as a registered nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital and then worked for the Visiting Nursing Association.

In 1989 she founded Rainbow Fashions, which supplied specialized clothing to disabled individuals. She retired in 2009.

Mrs. Hughes enjoyed spending time with friends and family and following the Buffalo Bills and Boston Red Sox.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas F.; two sons, Dr. Thomas III and Christopher; three sisters, Maureen, Brenda and Paula; two brothers, Thomas and Robert; and four grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Monday in Father Baker Manor, 6400 Powers Road, Orchard Park.

A funeral service will immediately follow.

Jan. 4, 1931 – Dec. 10, 2013

John Beishline, a prominent figure in Western New York’s running community, died Tuesday in Kenmore Mercy Hospital, Town of Tonawanda. He was 82.

The retired owner of Beishline Executive Search helped resurrect the Buffalo Marathon in 2000 and, as race director, saw the race grow each year. Under his leadership, the marathon attracted nearly 6,000 participants this year.

“John was a tireless individual whose dedication to running and managing local runs has touched thousands of runners across not only Western New York, but also runners around the world who’ve taken part in his races,” said Tom Donnelly, interim race director for the Buffalo Marathon.

Beishline served with and operated Western New York Finish Line Services for more than 30 years and provided timing for more than 85 races each year. He also served as a race consultant to new races for more than 25 years for free and was a certified race official.

Among his other contributions to the running community were serving as the marathon race director for the World University Games in Buffalo in 1993 and as race director for the World Veterans Games and for the Engineering Run for 27 years. He also organized the Bullfeathers/Nickel City Run in 1989 and was president of the Niagara Region of USA Track and Field from 1991 to 1996.

His individual running career included many local, sectional, national and international races, and he completed the Boston Marathon in three hours, 20 minutes.

He was among the first to be inducted into the Western New York Runners Hall of Fame. Mr. Beishline was the executive administrative director and two-time past president of the Engineering Society of Buffalo and a longtime member of Augustana Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Joanne; three sons, James, Richard and John R. Jr.; two daughters, Denise Schneider and Michelle, a stepdaughter, Debi Coleman; a sister, Judy Persing, and a brother, Thomas.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Augustana Lutheran Church, 3143 Eggert Road, Town of Tonawanda.

Dec. 15, 1935 – Dec. 10, 2013

Sister Carol Ellis, a longtime nurse and health care administrator, died Tuesday in Mercy Center Health Care Unit. She was 77.

The Buffalo native attended School 39 and Girls Vocational High School, as well as Erie County Technical Institute.

She worked as a professional seamstress before entering the Sisters of Mercy in 1957, and she was often sought out by members of her religious community who needed help mending their habits.

She graduated from Trocaire College School of Nursing and Mount St. Joseph College, and she earned a master’s degree in the science of administration from the University of Notre Dame.

She was known earlier as Sister Eleanor Marie.

At Kenmore Mercy Hospital, she was supervisor of obstetrics and gynecology and in-service instruction. She also served in various nursing positions at Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo.

Sister Carol later was assistant administrator at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. She also served in the pastoral care department of Calvary Hospital in the Bronx.

Most recently, she ministered as a “Companion to Sisters” in the Sisters of Mercy Health Care Unit.

Survivors include a brother, Richard.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 4 p.m. Friday in Mercy Center Chapel, 625 Abbott Road.

Mary T. (Boni) Ardino, died Nov. 28.

Sandra Lee (Hanes) Bagnato, 60, died Dec. 6.

Charlene M. Betts, of the Town of Tonawanda, died Dec. 9.

Sharon Birdsong-Woodard, formerly of Buffalo, died Dec. 8.

Margaret R. (Burkard) Braunscheidel, 97, died Dec. 9.

Nicholas Calabretta, Navy veteran, member of Local 111, died Dec. 8.

Gerald N. Clark, owner of Twin City Ambulance, died Dec. 8.

Gerald T. Clarkson, of South Buffalo, died Dec. 2.

William B. Dolan, 45, of North Tonawanda, died Dec. 7.

Andrew J. Gafter, died Dec. 9.

Nancy E. (Walsh) Hangauer, of Clarence, died Dec. 9.

Robert H. Holesko Sr., 82, of North Tonawanda, Korean War Army veteran, died Dec. 9.

Richard R. “Dick” Homer Sr., died Dec. 9.

Michael E. Krajewski, of Williamsville, died Dec. 9.

Thomas W. Lutz, of Clarence, operated a watch repair business in his home, died Dec. 9.

Henry Maziarczyk, of Eden, died Dec. 9.

Eulalar G. McCleod, died Dec. 7.

Paul Leo Morgan Jr., 86, of Akron, WWII Army veteran, employed by Westinghouse, G&R Tackle and Buffalo Gun Center, died Dec. 7.

David J. Myers, 76, of North Tonawanda, employed at Twin Fair and R.T. Jones Lumber Co., died Dec. 7.

Sophie “Cy” (Polomski) Niezgoda, retired from Westinghouse, died Dec. 9.

Layton E. “Redd” Pfeifer, 84, of East Aurora, owned and published the Orbit, a local weekly newspaper and, wbuilt and owned Quaker-Park Press, died Dec. 7.

Carol (Viviano) Rago, died Dec. 7.

Lynne A. Romano-Andrews, 54, of Lancaster, proprietor of Fantastic Sams, died Dec. 9.

Irene I. (Goinski) Serwacki, of Elma, died Dec. 8.

Sally L. Tabone, supervisor at Great Lakes Orthodontics, died Dec. 10.

Robert James Walkers, 82, formerly of Tonawanda, Navy veteran, retired from Nynex, died Dec. 9.

Charles E. Whitford, retired from Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., died Dec. 9.

Alzadia F. (Barker) Will, died Dec. 7.

Marilyn E. (Bartholomew) Zimmerman, of West Seneca, died Dec. 8.

Aug. 16, 1927 – Dec. 10, 2013

Sister Margaret Mary Gleason, a teacher and school principal, died Tuesday in the Mercy Health Care Unit of the Sisters of Mercy in Buffalo. She was 86.

Also known as Sister Miriam Xavier, she was a Sister of Mercy for more than 67 years.

Born in Niagara Falls, the daughter of Irish immigrants and the youngest of seven children, she attended Sacred Heart Elementary School and St. Mary of the Cataract High School.

She received a bachelor’s degree in history from St. Bonaventure University and a master’s in social studies from Niagara University, then earned a master’s in pastoral ministry from St. Joseph College, West Hartford, Conn.

She first taught elementary grades, then junior high school. She also served as principal of Immaculate Conception School in Wellsville, St. Bonaventure School in West Seneca, Sacred Heart School in Orchard Park and St. Mary’s School in Niagara Falls.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Mercy Center, 625 Abbott Road.

March 13, 1925 – Dec. 11, 2013

Julian J. Polanski, of Cheektowaga, a railroad retiree and World War II veteran, died Wednesday in Garden Gate Nursing Facility, Cheektowaga, after a short illness. He was 88.

Born and raised on Buffalo’s East Side, Mr. Polanski attended St. Stanislaus School and graduated from Emerson Vocational High School. He joined the Marines in 1943 and served in the Pacific on Okinawa and other islands during World War II, attaining the rank of sergeant.

After the war, he worked at Kittinger Furniture, then attended the Waltham School of Watchmaking, graduating with honors in 1949. He returned to Buffalo to work with his brother Steve at Polanski Credit Jewelers on Fillmore Avenue.

Later he went to work for Erie Lackawanna Railroad, retiring as yardmaster after 35 years.

Mr. Polanski was active in Pvt. Leonard Post Jr. Post 6251, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Democratic Party in Cheektowaga and on the county level. He also was a member of St. Josaphat’s Senior Club.

He was a life member of St. Stanislaus Athletic Club and played on many championship basketball teams. He also coached Little League baseball and CYO athletics. He was an avid fisherman and bowler.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, the former Florence B. Sieroslawski; three sons, James, David and Martin; a daughter, Patricia Neal; and eight grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Josaphat Catholic Church, 20 Peoria Drive at William Street, Cheektowaga.

Dec. 11, 1927 – Dec. 9, 2013

Janet M. Low, a former worker and longtime volunteer at the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village museum, died Monday in ElderWood Health Care in Amherst following a short illness. She was 85.

The former Janet McClelland was a former events coordinator, researcher and public relations coordinator for the Amherst museum. She retired in 1990 but continued helping as a volunteer for many years afterward.

“She loved history and was really interested in preserving antiques,” recalled one of her daughters, Jean Farmelo.

A native of Wilkinsburgh, Pa., she moved to Amherst 65 years ago after meeting Albert E. Low in Pittsburgh. She and her husband were married for 64 years before his death last year.

The Lows were founding members of the Unitarian Universalist church in Amherst. Before starting work at the museum in 1975, Mrs. Low worked for several years as a reporter and copy editor at the Amherst Bee newspaper.

She is also survived by another daughter, Louise Richards; a son, J. Reed Low; three grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 11 in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst, 6320 Main St.

March 3, 1933 – Dec. 13, 2013

If you’ve filled out a bank deposit slip, read a college commencement program or received a wedding invitation during the last 60 years in Western New York, chances are pretty good you got a taste of Jim E. Degen’s handiwork.

Mr. Degen, founder and retired owner of Grover Cleveland Press, died Friday in Veterans Affairs Medical Center, following a 10-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 80.

He was born in Buffalo and started his business in 1947, when he was 14, in the basement of his family’s Winspear Avenue home while a student at Burgard Vocational High School. The business wasn’t named so much for the president, as the city course where he played lots of golf as a boy.

Mr. Degen made sales calls by bike and, in the winter by sled, and counted Curtiss-Wright among his earliest customers. He bought his first Heidelberg Windmill press in 1951, borrowing the money from his parents, and had much of it paid off by the time he was drafted into the Korean War. He served in the 8th Army, 62nd Engineer Topographic Engineer Map Unit from 1953 to 1955, helping map the Korean peninsula as part of a press crew of 10.

Upon his return home, Mr. Degen moved his printing business from the family basement to a shop on Niagara Street, where he stayed for three years before moving into a larger spot on Bailey Avenue, north of the University at Buffalo, one of his many customers over the decades. Others included Erie County Savings Bank, Mentholatum, Sattler’s, Arner Company Pharmaceuticals and Columbus McKinnon.

While working at the Bailey Avenue site, the company won a coveted National Printing Industries of America Benny Award in 1984 for producing “The Throbbing Drums are Silent.”

Two of his sons, Michael and Thomas, joined their father in the printing business about the same time. The company has won more than 100 state, national and international awards, including two other Bennys, the printing world’s equivalent of an Oscar.

Mr. Degen retired in 1998, but continued to play a major role in the company he started. The same year, he and his sons designed and led construction of the family’s current facility on Sweet Home Road in Amherst. A year later, Mr. Degen won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Printing and Imaging Association of New York State.

“Dad loved his work and his time at the shop,” said his oldest son, Jim A., an engineer in the automotive supplier industry. “His office is filled with awards and many toys – including a miniature train that chugs around a track eight feet off the ground. He always was proud to show off to his customers and grandchildren his model airplanes, trains and cars.”

“Dad had season tickets to the Bills and Sabres,” Mike Degen added. “He enjoyed going to the games and taking his Grover Cleveland Press confetti to spread good cheer – although not all fans appreciated this gesture.”

Mr. Degen coached all three of his sons in the Amherst Youth Hockey program, along with hundreds of other boys from 1968 to 1980. He was later placed in the program’s Hall of Fame. He avoided the political workings of the youth hockey organization, but in going through his belongings in recent months, his family discovered he’d kept all his related letters, “stating his thoughts on making sure the association kept its focus on the game for the boys who participated,” Tom Degen said.

Mr. Degen also liked to work in his garden, manicure his lawn into a golf-course-worthy putting green and shine his prized Cadillac, family members said.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, the former Elizabeth “Honey” Feuz; three sons, Jim, Michael and Thomas; a daughter, Julie McAuliffe; a brother, William; and 13 grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in Williamsville United Methodist Church, 5681 Main St., Williamsville.

Jan. 30, 1934 – Dec. 12, 2013

Thomas B. Valentine, who ran the company that operates the Holiday Showcase restaurant and the former Holiday Theaters in Cheektowaga, died Thursday in Mercy Hospital. He was 79.

Born in St. Mary’s, Pa., Mr. Valentine graduated from Penn State University. Mr. Valentine had been president of Aero Drive-in Inc., a corporation that includes the Holiday Showcase on Union Road, since 1978.

With about 45 employees, Aero Drive-in Inc. specializes in property management, private equity capital and retail development.

Mr. Valentine’s family opened the area’s first modern drive-in on Union Road in 1950 and then the area’s first “multiplex” at the same site in 1970.

The Holiday Theaters closed in 1995.

Mr. Valentine was an avid hunter and golfer, a pilot, competitive pistol shooter; a member of the Orchard Park Board of Review and Society of Real Estate Appraisers and piloted his own airplane.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, the former Donna L. Malone; two daughters, Jennifer and Melissa; a son, Stephen; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church, 26 Thorn Ave., Orchard Park.

George E. Richmond, chief engineer at Calspan, WWII Navy veteran

John J. Phelan, powerful influence in local government and civic affairs

AREA DEATHS

George M. Martin, first lay vice president of Canisius College, active in civic affairs

Gerald N. Clark, owner of Twin City Ambulance

Nina Sweeney, 102, nurse, physical therapist

Spiro T. Liaros, president of Ted’s, dies

Olga Janeczko, 90, retired Buffalo business teacher

Oscar-nominated actress Eleanor Parker dies; played baroness in ‘Sound of Music’

Daniel R. Magrum, longtime volunteer firefighter

Janet M. Jindra, longtime member of Cheektowaga Lioness Club

Sheila G. Hughes, nurse, clothing company founder

John Beishline, director of the Buffalo Marathon

Sister Carol Ellis, nurse, health care administrator

Area Deaths

Sister Margaret Mary Gleason, teacher, principal

Julian J. Polanski, WWII veteran, railroad retiree

Janet M. Low, history museum worker and volunteer

Jim E. Degen, founded Grover Cleveland Press

Thomas B. Valentine, owned restaurant, theaters