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Albert S. ‘Del’ Monaco, retired radio news director

April 23, 2014, 5:01 pm
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July 20, 1928 – April 12, 2014

Albert S. “Del” Monaco, a retired radio news director, died April 12 in ElderWood Health Care at Wedgewood, Amherst, after a short illness. He was 85.

Born in Buffalo, he was a graduate of Kensington High School and served in the Navy at the end of World War II. Returning from service, he pursued a career in radio. After attending broadcasting school, he adopted the on-air name of “Del Monaco” and worked for several local radio stations.

In the early 1960s, Mr. Monaco moved to Arizona as a radio newsman, then worked in California and Detroit. In 1969, he joined KIOA in Des Moines, Iowa, where he was news director. He emceed numerous special events and did live broadcasts annually from the Iowa State Fair.

He returned to Buffalo in 1985 and worked as news manager at WYRK until he retired in 1990. During his career, he interviewed numerous political figures, movie stars and leading entertainers.

He was a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and was a lector at his Catholic church in Des Moines.

In 2010, Mr. Monaco moved from Cheektowaga to Eden Heights of West Seneca and revived his radio personality to entertain residents in the assisted-living community.

He read the morning announcements on the public address system and served as emcee for many social events. He tap-danced, recited poetry and hosted an audience participation game every Friday morning. He also played the lead role in the community’s dramatic productions.

Survivors include a daughter, Charmaine Maria Balzer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday in Infant of Prague Catholic Church, 921 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga.
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Area Deaths

April 23, 2014, 10:26 pm
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Brigitte E. (Richter) Auricchio, of Amherst, formerly of Lackawanna, died April 19.

Gerald T. Bluff, of the Town of Greece, died April 20.

Patricia B. Brinkworth-Bower, died April 21.

Ronald S. Buczak, 64, died April 21.

Richard A. Burns, 59, died April 21.

Marian J. (Craig) Comas, 91, WWII veteran, died April 20.

William “Bill” Coyner, of Amherst, Navy veteran, retired from HUD, died April 16.

Christine (Skowronski) Gaskin, 63, died April 20.

John Gast, of Buffalo, died April 10.

Richard R. Gibbons Sr., died April 18.

Rosemary A. (Feist) Hess, retired from Metro Teller, died April 21.

Norma P. (Stelman) Higginbotham, died April 19.

Antoine D. Holt, of Buffalo, died April 18.

Cathleen J. (Vavra) Jaworski, of East Aurora, died April 20.

Elaine C. (Zuhr) (Koepsell) Kramer, 59, of the City of Tonawanda, died April 13.

Ken Kurtz, Army veteran, retired from the South Buffalo Railway after 35 years, died April 21.

Audrey M. (Denk) Marien, of Alden, former librarian for the Alden Schools, died April 21.

Timothy Paul Martin, 48, died April 19.

Dolores E. (Hess) Maurer, died April 21.

Elaine (Lott) Mays, died April 18.

Kevin B. McCann, 48, Air Force veteran, died April 20.

Sally Murphy Miller, former nurse/nursing supervisor at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, and a nurse educator at the University of Rochester and at Wayne State, died April 19.

Serafino L. Montaldi, 89, of Tonawanda, Navy veteran of WWII, retired from Local 41, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, died April 20.

Frank J. Novak, retired member of Painters District Council No. 4, died April 22.

Robert A. Obletz, Vietnam War veteran, died April 22.

Helen F. (Hertz) Peck, died April 19.

Ernest John Penz Jr., of North Tonawanda, died April 18.

Rosemarie Petit, of Lackawanna, died April 22.

Daniel A. Petrillo, of Depew, died April 22.

Karen (Lore) Robinson, of Lake View, died April 22.

Pamela J. (George) Roth, 37, of Arcade, died April 22.

Janet (Haining) Rounds, 97, of West Seneca, died April 20.

Jerome R. Schultz, 79, of Hoover Beach, Navy veteran, electrician for Bethlehem Steel for more than 30 years and the New York State Thruway for more than 10 years, died April 17.

Cecelia R. (Osinski) Sloma, of Buffalo, died April 21.

Marcia Lou (Cline) Spangenberg, died March 19.

Genevieve A. (Merlo) Telesco, of Williamsville, died April 21.

Leslie Uku, died April 16.

Carl P. Vegna, 100, died April 22.

Kathleen E. (Foggia) Warner, 67, of Grand Island, taught French and then fourth grade in the Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School, died April 18.

Frank A. Worth, died Feb. 9.
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Richard R. Gibbons Sr., industrial sales executive

April 24, 2014, 3:04 pm
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April 30, 1931 – April 18, 2014

Richard R. Gibbons Sr., a Korean War veteran and industrial sales executive, died last Friday in his Getzville home after a long battle with cancer. He was 82.

A longtime resident of North Buffalo, Mr. Gibbons graduated from Bennett High School in 1949 and earned an associate degree from Bryant & Stratton Business Institute. He served in the Navy during the Korean War in 1953.

Mr. Gibbons started in the industrial sales business at Glennco Sales in North Tonawanda as a salesman in 1971 and later became the sales manager there. After leaving Glennco, he took a position as vice president at Gateway Industrial Supply Co. in Tonawanda, retiring in 2002.

A member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Mr. Gibbons also was a 50-year member of A.J. Jurek Post 1672, American Legion, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was a committee chairman for Troop 125 at St. Margaret Catholic Church in North Buffalo for 10 years. After retirement, he learned to play classical guitar at the Amherst Senior Center. He also enjoyed golfing, hockey and fishing.

His wife of 61 years, Sheila Stranahan Gibbons, died Sept. 21, 2013.

Survivors include his two sons, Richard R. Jr. and John Patrick; four daughters, Mary Ellen, Colleen Tunney, Maureen Gold and Kathleen Kirk; and nine grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Newman Center at the University at Buffalo, 495 Skinnersville Road, Amherst.

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Richard T. Szal Sr., owned grocery, restaurant

April 24, 2014, 6:36 pm
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July 30, 1923 – April 21, 2014

Richard T. Szal Sr., a veteran of World War II and owner of a grocery and a restaurant and tavern in Eden, died Monday after a short illness. He was 90.

Mr. Szal served in the Army’s 32nd Infantry, Red Arrow Division. He fought in New Guinea, Buna-Gona and Leyte. He attained the rank of sergeant, earning the Bronze Star among numerous ribbons and medals.

After his discharge, he married Florence Kotwicki, and they raised five children in Eden. They were inseparable business partners until her death in 1992.

Mr. Szal owned Szal’s IGA grocery with his father, built and owned the Bell’s IGA and opened the Pub restaurant and tavern in 1962. He opened the Eden Mini Mart in 1975. He was very active in real estate.

He also was active in many civic organizations. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, a 70-year member of Post 880, American Legion, Post 8625, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Eden 39ers Social Club.

He was a member of the Eden Volunteer Fire Company and a past commander of Chapter 177, Disabled American Veterans, of Angola.

Survivors include four sons, Richard Jr., Dennis, Kenneth and Jeffrey; a daughter, Melissa Weidner; nine grandchildren; and his devoted companion, Elaine Vidal.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday in Immaculate Conception Church, 8791 Main St., Eden.
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Area Deaths

April 24, 2014, 6:56 pm
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Julia Aldrich, of Lancaster, 100, died April 21.

Salvatore Apostolo, died April 22.

Twyla Ann (Cotton) Balthasar, of East Aurora, died April 22.

Diann D. (Hoffmaster) Battaglia, 79, formerly of Kenmore, died April 20.

Butch C. Beverlin, 52, of Springville, died April 22.

Eugene A. Carthcart, 73, died April 23.

Burton F. Diller, formerly of Orchard Park, died April 21.

Betty J. Dolan, died April 20.

Patrick D. Duggan, of Buffalo, worked for Rural/Metro for more than 20 years, died April 23.

Marilyn A. (Chriss) English, 81, of Lancaster, longtime M&T Bank employee in Lancaster, died April 19.

Bonnie Lynn (Taylor) Ford, 71, of Grand Island, died April 20.

Patricia A. Formanek, of Depew, died April 14.

Joyce T. (Hoffman) Freeman, of Angola, died April 23.

Phillip J. George, 67, formerly of Buffalo, died March 5.

Richard R. Gibbons Sr., died April 18.

Joseph P. Gullo, died April 23.

Michael L. Hakes Sr., 66, formerly of North Tonawanda, Vietnam War Army veteran, retired from General Motors, died April 23.

Pauline C. (Clark) Harsch, of West Seneca, died April 19.

Marie Frances (Eron) Holewinski, of Holland, died April 22.

Robert E. Kinzly, 74, of East Amherst, died March 9.

Aloysius T. Labenski, of North Tonawanda, died April 19.

James S. McDonald, 80, of the City of Tonawanda, retired mail carrier, died April 23.

Ronald N. “Mike” Michailof, of Williamsville, Navy veteran, died April 22.

Loyal Parker Morse, of Medina, died April 22.

Donald P. Mulhisen, of West Seneca, died April 23.

Ruth E. Ochs, died April 22.

Julia C. Olszowka, 65, of West Seneca, died April 23.

Anna D. (Nowak) Pieczonka, 97, of Cheektowaga, died April 23.

Michael P. Pinto, 58, died April 22.

Michelina “Mickey” (Alfano) Puntoriero, died April 22.

Robert P. Randle, died April 18.

Thomas D. Rettig, retiree of IBEW Local 41, died April 22.

Marie (Leary) Rhinehart, died April 22.

Jean (Eberle) Rogowski, died April 15.

James A. Sanders, died April 11.

Anthony C. Schneider, of West Seneca, died April 22.

Kathleen M. (Hejmowski) Splett, of Amherst, died April 11.

Richard T. Szal Sr., of Eden, died April 21.

James L. Thrun, of Orchard Park, died April 15.

Arthur C. Walter, of the Town of Tonawanda, died April 21.

Ann M. (Krenn) Willson, of Elma, died April 17.

Robert F. Wozniak, formerly of Lancaster, died March 17.

Eileen B. Wulkan, 72, of Buffalo, died April 12.
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Jerome Schultz, former Bethlehem Steel electrician

April 25, 2014, 1:50 pm
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March 5, 1935 – April 17, 2014

Jerome Schultz, a retired electrician and a longtime resident of Hoover Beach in Hamburg, died April 17 under hospice care after a long illness in Lake Worth, Fla., where he lived for the past several years. He was 79.

Born in Buffalo, he graduated in 1954 from St. Ann’s Catholic High School, where he played varsity basketball. He served in the Navy.

Mr. Schultz worked as an electrician at Bethlehem Steel from 1960 to 1983, then was an electrical repairman for J.S. Troope in Blasdell. In 1988, he took a position with the Thruway Authority in electrical maintenance and waste water management. He retired in 1998.

His family was among the first year-round residents of the lakeside community of Hoover Beach. He saved four boys from the ice-covered lake in 1972 by pushing his rowboat out and bringing them back to shore.

He was a founding member of the Southtowns Walleye Association, which honored him with its Sportsman of the Year Award in 1995.

He also helped start the South Valley Hunting Club with his brothers and a few friends.

His wife of 50 years, the former Brenda Peluso, a teacher who retired to care for him after a stroke left him partly paralyzed in 1998, died in 2009.

Survivors include a son, Jeffrey; two daughters, Jennifer Carney and Jeanne Ouellette; three brothers, Herbert, Jack and Tom; a sister, Mary Ruppert; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Friday in St. Luke Catholic Church, Lake Worth. A memorial Mass is planned for mid-July in St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, St. Francis Drive, Athol Springs.
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Stanley F. Duszczak, National Fuel Gas foreman

April 25, 2014, 1:53 pm
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Jan. 29, 1931 – April 17, 2014

Stanley F. Duszczak, a retired gas company foreman, died April 17 in his Cheektowaga home after a lengthy illness. He was 83.

Born in Buffalo, he was a graduate of Sloan High School. After working for the New York Central Railroad, he served in the Army during the Korean War, operating supply trains in Alaska.

Returning from service, Mr. Duszczak became a serviceman for former Iroquois Gas, now National Fuel Gas. He retired as a foreman at National Fuel’s Mineral Springs Road facility in 1994 after a 40-year career with the company.

He built and flew radio-controlled airplanes for many years and was a member of two flying clubs, the R.C. Aircrafters in Hamburg and the Pulsars in Newstead.

Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Donna; a daughter, Donna Daly; a brother, Frank; six stepchildren; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

There will be no services.
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James A. McGinnis, former North Tonawanda mayor

April 25, 2014, 4:14 pm
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Feb. 17, 1931 – April 22, 2014

James A. McGinnis, who served as mayor of North Tonawanda from 1993 to 1997, died Tuesday in Brooksville, Fla., He was 83.

Born in Niagara Falls, Ont., he was a graduate of Bishop Duffy Catholic High School in Niagara Falls.

From 1950 to 1953, Mr. McGinnis served in the Navy. He retired from his job as a maintenance supervisor at E.I. Dupont Co. in 1988.

A Democrat, Mr. McGinnis served one term as mayor of North Tonawanda. He also served as chairman of both the Niagara County Civil Service Commission and the Niagara County Democratic Committee.

He was a member of the Niagara County Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

Mr. McGinnis also was a member of Sikora Post 1322, American Legion; the Sweeney Hose Volunteer Fire Company; and was commander of the Veterans Association of Cloverleaf in Fl.

His wife of 33 years, Barbara A. Noakes McGinnis, died in 1988.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, the former Sarah Dury Seger; four sons, James, Kevin, Patrick and Michael; four daughters, Maureen Sidoni, Barbara Gotta, Brenda Strauch-McGinnis and Mary Beth Rusin; a stepdaughter, Victoria Seger; a stepson, Frederick Seger; 24 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 800 Niagara Falls Boulevard, North Tonawanda.
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Frederick N.C. Jerauld III, retired stockbroker

April 25, 2014, 6:17 pm
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Dec. 21, 1933 – April 16, 2014

Frederick N.C. Jerauld III, longtime Buffalo-area resident and retired stockbroker, died April 16 at Serenity Hospice, Surprise, Ariz. He was 80.

A native of Buffalo, Mr. Jerauld attended the Nichols School and graduated from Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ont., in 1952. He earned a degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1956. From 1956 to 1960, he served as an officer in the Marine Corps.

Upon his return to Buffalo in 1960, Mr. Jerauld worked at the brokerage firm of Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., moving on in 1974 to positions at Dominick & Dominick and then Kidder Peabody.

He served as president of the Buffalo Bond Club in 1975. In 1991, he joined PaineWebber, later UBS, as senior vice president for investments, and remained at the firm until his retirement in 2009.

An ardent golfer, he became a member of Orchard Park Country Club in 1964 and served on its board of directors in 1974.

Throughout his life, he supported Ridley College, serving on its board of governors from 1978 to 2007. He was president of Ridley College Fund USA during the 1970s.

In addition to his wife of 27 years, the former Helen Cox, he is survived by two daughters, Louisa Jerauld Levine and Grace Jerauld; a stepdaughter, Jennifer Fisher; two stepsons, Todd Mayer and Brian Mayer; two sisters, Barbara Coffin and Suzanne Weathers; a brother, Anthony; and seven grandchildren.

Services will be June 14 at Ridley College.
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Area Deaths

April 25, 2014, 7:30 pm
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Maggie Eloise (Turner) Ball, died April 21.

Thomas J. “Tommy B” Billings, 35, died April 21.

John T. Blujus, 60, of North Tonawanda, died April 23.

Kevin W. Brown, died April 19.

Daniel C. Deck, of Alden, Marine Corps veteran, died April 23.

Brian P. Galla, died April 22.

Terry “Bruce” Grenier, 62, of Derby, died April 19.

Kelly M. Harris, of Lackawanna, died April 14.

Christine M. (Gredzicki) Hejna, died April 23.

E. Arletta (Horn) Hoppe, 101, of Elma, died April 22.

Marion F. (Hahn) Huebsch, died April 22.

Lillie M. Johnson, died April 22.

Harold G. “Slim” Kaiser, of Grand Island, died April 23.

Edna Mae (Johnson) Klinshaw, of Williamsville, died April 20.

Bruno David LaManna, of Orchard Park, World War II Army veteran, died April 23.

Ruby L. McCrea, 99, of Hamburg, World War II Army nurse and former nurse at Our Lady of Victory Hospital, died April 24.

Andrew Potter, of East Aurora, died April 23.

Diane M. (Kubas) Rozanski, of Lewiston, died April 24.

Nelson A. Siwa, died April 24.

Mary Ellen (Kearns) Sumbrum, of Buffalo, died April 24.

Rashel M. Troyb, died April 23.
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John Bewick, retired Buffalo teacher, runner, hiker

April 26, 2014, 5:02 pm
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Dec. 1, 1934 – April 25, 2014

John Bewick, a retired Buffalo city schoolteacher and avid runner and hiker, died Friday in Medstar Montgomery Hospital, Olney, Md., following a brief illness. He was 79.

Born in Buffalo, Mr. Bewick was a graduate of Canisius High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Canisius College. He taught in School 38 and Traditional School, as well as the College Learning Lab at Buffalo State College. He retired in 1990.

He was the president of the Foothills Trail Club, a member of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, and ran eight marathons. In later years, he was interested in genealogy.

Mr. Bewick and his wife, Judy, moved from Williamsville to Leisure World in Silver Spring, Md., in 2007.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Bewick is survived by four daughters, Deborah Mettam, Pam AbiNader, Linda D’Arcy and Moira Lillis; a brother, Michael; a sister, Patricia McDonald; and eight grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Leisure World Boulevard, Silver Spring, Md.
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Mary Jane Sisson, artist and former president of Fine Arts League of Buffalo

April 27, 2014, 3:35 pm
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March 9, 1926 – April 19, 2014

Mary Jane Sisson, an artist, ceramist and China painter who owned Sisson Ceramics, died April 19 in Buffalo General Medical Center after a short illness. She was 88.

Born in Buffalo, the former Mary Jane Uhrhan attended Bennett High School and received her associate degree from Bryant & Stratton College.

Mrs. Sisson, who was a resident of Amherst, ran a ceramic business and assisted with Wearable Art by MJ, an online business. She also taught ceramics in the Ken-Ton and North Tonawanda adult education systems in the 1960s and 1970s.

She was the former president of the Kenmore Ceramic Guild, achieving best in show in numerous exhibits. She was the former president of the Niagara Frontier China Painters Association and was president of the Fine Arts League of Buffalo for 13 years.

In recent years, Mrs. Sisson used her artistic talents and made original unique, wearable dichroic (stained glass) necklaces.

Her husband, Robert Emerson Sisson, died in 1989.

Survivors include a son, Robert J.; a daughter, Deborah M.J.; and a grandson.

Services were conducted Tuesday in Amigone Funeral Home, 2600 Sheridan Drive, Town of Tonawanda.
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Sister Rita Peterson, taught reading in primary school and area colleges

April 27, 2014, 4:48 pm
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Nov. 22, 1928 – April 27, 2014

Sister Rita Peterson, a sister of St. Mary of Namur who was an adjunct professor at Niagara County Community College in Sanborn for more than 20 years, died Sunday in Absolut of Gasport under the care of hospice. She was 85.

Sister Peterson, formerly called Sister Mary Martin, was born in Buffalo and entered the convent in 1946 following her graduation from Annunciation High School. Her first assignments were teaching children in the primary grades in Kenmore, Binghamton and Lockport.

Eventually, Sister Peterson began training children exclusively in reading and took her talent to Kingstree, S.C. She also taught in the public school system of Macon, Ga. She moved back to Western New York, widened her field and worked with students in Villa Maria College and Niagara University. She was an adjunct professor at NCCC, where she was known for creatively tailoring her courses to meet the needs of individual students.

After she retired, her work with students continued, which led her to start teaching refugees who lived near her residence at Annunciation Convent on Buffalo’s West Side. Over the past five years, a number of Sisters of St. Mary Rwanda came to Buffalo, and she mentored them in the development of their English skills.

Sister Peterson earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Rosary Hill and a master’s degree from Buffalo State College.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in All Saints Parish Oratory, 391 Market St., Lockport.
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Martin A. Shimmel, fixture in Falls sports scene

April 27, 2014, 6:55 pm
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June 28, 1926 – April 26, 2014

NIAGARA FALLS – Martin A. “Bud” Shimmel, an office manager for Cataract Trucking for more than 40 years and an active supporter of local youth sports, died in his home Saturday. He was 87.

Mr. Shimmel was a lifelong resident of Niagara Falls. He attended local schools and graduated from the former Trott Vocational High School in 1944. His wife, the former Mary C. Messina, died April 16, 2013.

He served in the United States Army as a military policeman during World War II, from 1944 to 1946. He worked for Cataract Trucking until his retirement in 1990.

Mr. Shimmel was the founder and past president of the North End Little League, founder and past president of the Niagara Falls High School Football Boosters, and past president of the Niagara Falls Men’s Bowling Association.

He served for 35 years as a sideline official for Niagara Falls High School football games and was a fixture at Hyde Park sporting events in the Falls. He was inducted into the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame and was a recipient of the Sertoma Club’s Man of the Year.

He was also a longtime member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and was a member of its Holy Name Society and Usher’s Club.

He was an avid Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Indians fan and enjoyed gardening.

Survivors include two sons, Martin J. and Michael A.; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon Wednesday in Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Parish at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 27th Street and Independence Avenue, following prayers at 11:15 a.m. in the M.J. Colucci and Son Niagara Funeral Chapel, 2730 Military Road.
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Carol Ann Waple, active in St. Rose of Lima Church, schools, skiing

April 27, 2014, 3:33 pm
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Sept. 11, 1933 – April 25, 2014

Carol Ann Waple, a longtime North Buffalo resident and former Bethlehem Steel employee who introduced the sport of skiing to countless children – including her three daughters – after it led her to her husband, died Friday in Buffalo General Medical Center after a long illness. She was 80.

Born Carol Ann Sterbian in Cheektowaga, she was a graduate of East High School in Buffalo. She went to work at Bethlehem Steel in the 1950s.

In the early 1960s, she was one of the founding members of the Lederhosen Ski Club at Holiday Valley, where she met her future husband, John R. Waple.

They settled in North Buffalo, where Mrs. Waple was active in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church and its elementary school while her three daughters were students there. She later was active in the Parents’ Guild at Holy Angels Academy while her daughters attended school there. She also organized a ski club for neighborhood children so that she could pass on her love of the sport to younger people.

She led a Camp Fire Girls troop during the same period.

Mrs. Waple was a more-than-30-year summer resident at Sugar Loaf Farm in Port Colborne, Ont., where she and her husband hosted countless gatherings for family and friends. Her family said she always enjoyed being surrounded by her loved ones, including her five grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews, and that she fostered in them a “family-first spirit and mentality.”

Her husband of 47 years died in 2011.

Mrs. Waple is survived by three daughters, Kerry Waple, Mary Katherine “Katie” Andriatch and Jennifer Anne Noga.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in St. Rose of Lima Church, 600 Parker Ave.
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Hall of Fame NBA coach Jack Ramsay dies at 89

April 28, 2014, 5:41 am
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Jack Ramsay, one of three Hall of Fame coaches who spent part of their careers in Buffalo, died Monday in Naples, Fla., after several years of dealing with various forms of cancer and marrow syndrome, a blood disorder. He was 89.

Family members say he died peacefully in his sleep, according to ESPN.com news services.

Known as “Dr. Jack” but never “Doc” after he received his doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1963, he coached the Buffalo Braves for four seasons from 1972 through 1976.

Ironically, his death came exactly 38 years after he coached the Braves to a 124-122 victory over the Boston Celtics at Memorial Auditorium in Game Four of their series on April 28, 1976. It was the Braves’ last postseason victory in Buffalo.

Before he came to Buffalo, Ramsay was a hugely successful coach at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, then was general manager and coach of the Philadelphia 76ers. After he was let go by Braves owner Paul L. Snyder in 1976, Ramsay went on to coach the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1977 National Basketball Association championship and later the Indiana Pacers until he retired from coaching early in the 1988-89 season.

Starting in 1989, he spent 20 more years as a radio and television commentator on NBA games before his illness caused him to retire last May. He worked his last game on May 4, 2013 in Brooklyn before announcing that his health needed immediate attention and he would not be able to continue.

“I don’t want to make an issue of this,” Ramsay said of his health problems in an interview with The News in July 2013. At the time, Ramsay was resigned to the eventual outcome of his physical condition and that his only hope was that medication would extend his life another year or more.

Despite his grave illness, Ramsay spoke to News Senior Sports Columnist Jerry Sullivan last month for a column about the need at First Niagara Center for a banner commemorating the Buffalo Braves. Sullivan wrote:

“When I called Ramsay in Florida a week ago, he initially wasn’t up for an interview. But when I mentioned the Braves, he said, ‘Let’s try and do it.’

He spoke only briefly, for maybe a minute. His breathing was labored, and Ramsay had to battle to get the words out.

“‘I remember there was a lot of affection for the Braves,” he said. “In later years, you would see people on the street and they would remember that team with a lot of affection. It was nice to know this team was remembered so favorably.

‘Yeah, I enjoyed coaching them. It was a fun team to coach as well.’”

Ramsay was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., in 1992. Scotty Bowman of the Sabres and Marv Levy of the Bills are other Hall of Fame coaches who came to Buffalo after Ramsay.

Although his stay in Western New York was relatively brief, it included some important times for him and his family. His late wife Jean obtained her bachelor’s degree in English from the University at Buffalo at the age of 47. His oldest son, John Jr., now the provost at Muhlenberg College in Bethlehem, Pa., earned his doctorate there. His other son, Chris, attended Bishop Neumann High school in Williamsville and graduated from DeSales in Lockport.

Ramsay spent part of his youth in Milford, Conn., before moving back to his native Philadelphia. He graduated from Upper Darby High where he played basketball and earned a scholarship to Saint Joseph’s. His college years were interrupted by wartime service in the Navy. Ramsay was a member of an underwater demolition unit that was being trained for an invasion of the Japanese home islands that never came. He then resumed his college career at Saint Joseph’s.

When his NBA coaching career ended in 1989, he was second only to the great Red Auerbach in total victories with 864.

In his personal life, Ramsay was a devout Catholic, a devoted family man and advocate of physical fitness. He competed in major Triathlon competitions until he was 70, and after that still swam a mile a day in the ocean near his homes in Naples, Fla., and Ocean City, N.J.

Over the final years of his life, though, he underwent treatment for prostate and brain cancer and melanoma before finally developing marrow syndrome, a condition that prevents the body from producing enough blood cells.

A Funeral Mass will be said Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. John’s the Evangelist Church in Naples, Fla. Plans for a viewing on Wednesday were pending.

email: mnorthrop@buffnews.com
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Daniel P. Kaegebein, local engineer and patent holder

April 28, 2014, 10:05 am
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Aug. 19, 1931 – April 15, 2014

Daniel P. Kaegebein of Depew, an electrical engineer, business owner and the holder of 13 patents in transmitter and receiver systems, died April 15 in the Rosa Coplon Living Center in Getzville. He was 82.

Born on Grand Island and raised on a chicken farm, he was a third-generation Grand Islander.

A graduate of Tonawanda High School, he completed a course at Cornell University College of Agriculture. Mr. Kaegebein left farming to pursue an interest in electrical engineering.

In 1957, he joined the Navy, where he was assigned as a radio technician and served four years. After his military service, he enrolled in the University of Buffalo School of Engineering, graduating in 1962.

Mr. Kaegebein worked part time as a radio frequency engineer for Sinclair Radio Labs in Tonawanda while attending UB and joined the company full time after graduation. He also developed numerous products for the land mobile radio market. Though he left farming after graduating, Mr. Kaegebein acquired six patents for his family’s egg business.

He left Sinclair in 1976 to found TX RX Systems in Angola along with several local investors. Over the next 28 years, the business became a supplier of high quality RF products. Many of Kaegebein’s 13 patents remain in use in transmitter and receiver products today. TX RX Systems was sold to Bird Technologies in 1995, and he retired from the company in 2004.

In 2005, the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences established a scholarship in Mr. Kaegebein’s name to recognize academic excellence in the school’s RF and microwave programs. He continued to do consulting work for Comprod Communications after his retirement.

He was a devoted member, elder and deacon of Cleveland Drive Presbyterian Church in Cheektowaga for more than 50 years.

Mr. Kaegebein was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, the former Alice M. Sauer, who died in December.

He is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Janiga and Linda Chapman; a son, Steven; a sister, Carol Gates; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Cleveland Drive Presbyterian Church, 735 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga.
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Area Deaths

April 28, 2014, 3:30 pm
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Michael A. Balestrieri, 67, of the Town of Tonawanda, corrections officer at Wende Correctional Facility, died April 25.

Joanne (Biggie) Brochu, 79, died April 26.

Marguerite G. (King) Dixon, 70, of Buffalo, died April 23.

Bernadette A. (Curtin) Dorsheimer, of Orchard Park, died April 24.

Paul J. Francoforte Sr., WWII veteran, died April 26.

Robert L. Geitter, of Orchard Park, WWII veteran with the 82nd Airborne Division, died April 24.

Diane M. (Mariano) Hartke, died April 25.

Joan Elaine (Goodchild) MacCallum, 96, of Warsaw, a lieutenant of nurses in the British Army, served in Normandy, Belgium, India, Burma and Malaya, died April 24.

James G. Meiler, of Alden, died April 25.

Mary (Ricupito) Novak, died April 24.

Irene Osmond, 87, of Kenmore, died April 24.

William A. Purks Sr., 76, of Buffalo, attorney in Law Office of William A. Purks, died April 22.

Joseph M. Quinn, 82, of West Seneca, retired state corrections officer, Navy veteran, died April 27.

David J. Rath, Vietnam Army veteran, died April 27.

Otylia A. (Krawczyk) Rypysc, of Cheektowaga and Angola, died April 26.

Jean M. (Costanzo) “Marge” Schwemle, of the Town of Tonawanda, worked for Marine Midland Bank for, 30 years, died April 9.

Martin A. “Bud” Shimmel, 87, of Niagara Falls, April 26.

Sister Rita Peterson, (formerly Sister Mary Martin) 85, of Lockport, a Sister of St. Mary of Namur, died April 27.

Dorothy H. (Hummel) Sobczak, of Lake View, died April 25.

Diane E. (Kelly) Taylor, 66, formerly of Kenmore, died April 15.

Carol A. (Sterbian) Waple, died April 26.
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John M. Finnegan, New York Telephone executive

April 28, 2014, 4:05 pm
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Aug. 7, 1931 – April 7, 2014

John M. Finnegan, of Hamburg, a retired executive at New York Telephone, died April 7 in Autumn View Health Care Facility, Hamburg, after a long illness. The Village of Hamburg resident was 82.

Born in Utica, Mr. Finnegan graduated from Utica Free Academy. He received his bachelor’s degree from Utica College and an MBA from Syracuse University.

From 1954 until he retired in 1988, he was a division manager, first with New York Telephone.

He then became director of labor relations at the company.

Mr. Finnegan was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Junior the Achievement of WNY and Wilcox Mansion Restoration Committee.

He was a parishioner of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Hamburg and St. Teresa Catholic Church in Spring Hill, Fla.

He served on the board of directors for Niagara University and Chautauqua Lake Estates, where he was a past president.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, the former Jean Dopp, and two sons, J. Michael and Christopher.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be scheduled in SS. Peter & Paul Church, the family said.
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Kenneth W. Berry, city school employee, singer

April 28, 2014, 6:25 pm
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Oct. 7, 1946 – April 24, 2014

Kenneth W. Berry, a former Buffalo Public Schools employee, popular singer and founder of the Buffalo Roundball Basketball Classic, died Thursday after a brief illness. He was 67.

Mr. Berry was born in Birmingham, Ala., and moved to Buffalo with his family when he was a child.

He attended Buffalo’s East High School, where he participated in choir, madrigal singers and the men’s chorus, and he continued in music as an adult, composing songs and recording two studio albums in addition to performing at social functions, fundraisers and other events. He also performed overseas as part of a Defense Department program to entertain the troops.

Mr. Berry also played sports in high school and was avid about basketball. Affectionately known as “Groundhog” on the court, he started the local Roundball Basketball Classic to showcase players and was among the founders of the “Live at 75” basketball league. He was an Amateur Athletic Union coach and mentored many athletes .

After high school, Mr. Berry attended Erie Community College. He worked for the Buffalo Public Schools in several capacities over the years, as a security officer, teacher’s assistant and audio-visual specialist.

He was the recipient of a kidney transplant several years ago and remained a dedicated supporter of the Northeast Kidney Foundation.

Survivors include his wife, the former Charlotte Taylor; a son, Vernon; a daughter, Karyn; his mother, Thelma Berry Laguerrea; a foster sister, Barbara Hartzog; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in St. John Baptist Church, Goodell Street and Michigan Avenue.
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