Joseph William Ceci, 79, died on Dec. 23, 2003. Beloved husband of Virginia. Loving father of Vincent, Christine, the late James and Timothy, by his first wife, the late Lynn Ceci. Affectionate stepfather of Gary, Greg, Denise and Louis Jr. Dear brother of Rosemary, Anna and the late Eleanor. Beloved grandfather of Shannon, Richard, James and William. He was a veteran of WWII and a graduate of CCNY/ Queens College. He was a New York-based captain with American Airlines for more than 30 years. He was active in leadership and board roles with the Town of North Hempstead Urban Renewal Agency, Locust Valley Library, Allied Pilots Association Flight Safety Group.

An extraordinary man whose inspiration, love and vitality will live in the hearts of many always. Arrangements were made by the Roslyn Heights Funeral Home. Memorial services were held on Dec. 27 at the Unitarian Church in Manhasset. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Joseph W Ceci, St. Francis Development Office, St. Francis Hospital, 100 Port Washington Blvd., Roslyn, NY 11576.

William Schenenga, longtime resident of Glen Head, died in Port Jefferson on Dec. 25, 2003. He was 85 years old. William was born in Brooklyn Dec. 18, 1918, raised in Queens, served in the US Marines during WWII, and moved to Glen Head in 1953. He was active in many community organizations, was a Little League coach for many years and was long associated with Boy Scout Troop 195, serving as Scoutmaster in the early 1970s. Mr. Schenenga was avidly interested in aviation and worked both for the Sperry Corporation and Grumman before turning to teaching in the 1970s. He retired from Glen Cove Schools in 1983. He is survived by his wife, Margaret; his sons, Glenn and Keith; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Thomas B. Gaynor, of Glen Head, died on Dec. 25, 2003. Son of Joan Doyle Gaynor and the late Howard F. Brother of Stuart, Patrick, Kevin and the late Edwin (Buddy). Uncle of Paul, Devon and Megan. Arrangements were made by the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Boniface Martyr Church. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery.

Edward Anthony Zekraus, of Glen Cove, died on Dec. 27, 2003. He was a veteran of the US Army, member of the Glen Cove Special Police Force and an usher at the Church of St. Rocco. Husband of Antoinette (nee Pepi). Father of Edward Jr. (Deana), William (Denise) and Robert (Dana Lee). Son of the late Anthony and Sadie Zekraus. Grandfather of Amie, Bethany, Matthew, Zachary and Joshua. Brother of Jean Zekraus and Elizabeth Golon. Also survived by nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by the Marcus L. Bianconi Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of St. Rocco. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Memorial Fund, Don Monti Cancer Foundation, 300 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY 11030.

Laughton Hostetter, of Glenwood Landing, died on Dec. 29, 2003. Son of the late George and the late Judith. Brother of Mildred Mader. Arrangements were made by the Whitting Funeral Home, Glen Head. Funeral service at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Interment private. Contributions may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Glen Head, NY 11545.

John J. "Jack" Mulder, of Glen Head, died on Dec. 30, 2003. Husband of Madeleine. Father of Ellen Rudegeair (Frank), John Jr. (Andrea) and Richard (Maureen). Grandfather of Michel, Thomas Scott, Meghan, Sean, Cathy, John III, Haley and Liam. Brother of James and Ellen. Arrangements were made by the Whitting Funeral Home, Glen Head. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Bonifice Martyr Church. Interment St. Charles Cemetery.

Antonietta T. Nuzzo, of Sea Cliff, died on Dec. 30, 2003. Wife of the late Peter. Mother of Madeline (Tom) Isnardi, Teresa and Tony (Lisa). Grandmother of Laura Twors. Arrangements were made by the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Boniface Martry Church. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Senior Action Committee Village of Sea Cliff.

Cynthia Donovan (nee Mollitor), of Bayville, died on Dec. 31, 2003. Wife of Daniel. Mother of Stacey (Nicholas) Bowden and Shawn (Amanda). Grandmother of Pearse and Jonathon. Arrangements were made by the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Funeral Mass celebrated at the Church of St. Patrick. Interment St. Patrick's Cemetery, Brookville.

Ruth Foss, 82, a lifelong resident of Locust Valley, died on Jan. 1, 2004. She was former proprietor of Aunt Teeks and Uncle Junks, also a local real estate broker for many years. Wife of Leslie. Mother of Leslie and Cynthia Foss. Sister of Evelyn Scoble, the late Cora Bathie and Arthur J. Perkett. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by the Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Interment private. Donations may be made to the Don Monti Cancer Center, NSUH at Glen Cove.

Stephen F. Braca, of Glen Cove, died on Jan. 2, 2004. Husband of Julie. Son of Josephine and the late Raphael. Brother of Michael, Jeffrey and Diana. Arrangements were made by the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Religious services at the United Methodist Church of Glen Cove.

Frances C. Sieklicki, of Glen Cove, died on Jan. 3, 2004. Wife of the late Joseph A. Mother of Katherine B. Lipschultz (Ira). Services were held at the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Interment Holy Rood Cemetery.

Frances Trotta (Franny) died on Jan. 3, 2004. Daughter of Ida Gentile and the late August Trotta. Mother of Peter, Michael (Caroline), Lisa (Tim) and Christopher (Maria). Sister of Carolyn (Phil) Forte. Grandmother of six. Also survived by her niece and nephew. Arrangements were made by the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Funeral Mass at the Church of St. Patrick. Interment St. Charles Cemetery.

Salvatore Gaudio died on Jan. 3, 2004 at home in Glen Cove. He was born on Jan. 9, 1931 in the Belvedere Spinello region of Calabria Province of Catanzaro, Italy. He was a young child in 1940 when WWII came to Italy. His mother died when he was only six weeks old and his father was called to the battlefield when he was only nine years old.

In 1954 Salvatore's father took his young son to a neighboring village to meet a beautiful young woman, Maria Miluso, who would become his wife two years later. Within three years they were blessed with the birth of two sons, Frank and Joseph.

The war ravaged Italy and poverty lingered for many years in the small villages of the south. There was little opportunity for work for young men in the late 1940s. He dreamed of a better life for his children than he had and in 1963 left for America. Within six months he was able to earn enough money to bring his wife and two young sons to the US. They settled in Brooklyn where Salvatore worked as a mason with the Laborers Union Local 1010. Rose was born in 1964 and soon thereafter Salvatore, Maria and their two sons proudly became American citizens.

Salvatore wanted to share his good fortune with his family and friends in Italy and one by one they too came to America. In 1969 the family moved to Glen Cove where their youngest son, Louis, was born in 1973. Salvatore was devoted to his wife, Maria, and his children. He had the great pleasure of seeing each of his children go to college, his son Frank become a lawyer and his son Joseph a dentist, Rose a devoted wife and mother and Lou an engineer. His dream of a better life for his children in America came true.

This fall he was diagnosed with cancer. When he was told he had a short time to live, he reflected that he was ready for the transition. He was courageous in his life and in his final journey. Salvatore truly made the hero's journey from the small village in Southern Italy to America. His family is grateful for the opportunity to have shared this life with him.

He is survived by his wife, Maria; his children, Frank Gaudio (Janice Davis Miller Gaudio) of Atlantic Highlands, NJ, Joseph Gaudio, DDS (Christine Pepe Gaudio) of Long Valley, NJ, Rose Gaudio Archambault (William) of Glen Cove, and Louis Gaudio (Karen Rizzo Gaudio) of Glen Cove; grandchildren, Matthew S. Gaudio, Michael W. Archambault, Christopher J. Gaudio, Peter C. Archambault and Amelia Faith Gaudio; his siblings, Giuseppe Gaudio of Commack, Sister Maria Gaudio of Rome, Italy, and Luigi Guadio of Belvedere Spinello, Italy.

Arrangements were made by the McLaughlin Kramer Megiel Funeral Home, Glen Cove. Funeral Mass celebrated at the Church of St. Rocco. Entombment Holy Rood Cemetery.

Karl Pehme, the sculptor and artist, died from severe brain damage sustained from a fall at his home in Glen Head on Jan. 4, 2004. He was 85. Pehme was originally from Estonia, a country to which he held the greatest attachment and love throughout his entire life. Born on May 12, 1918, Pehme studied art in Tallinn, the nation's capital, as a young man. His studies were interrupted by the 1940 Soviet invasion and occupation of Estonia. With the beginning of World War II, Pehme was drafted into the Soviet army, but deserted and ended up captured by German troops. He was interned in a Nazi forced labor camp where he nearly died. With the end of the war, Pehme fled the Soviet army again, walking hundreds of miles through Germany and eventually residing in Paris, France.

In Paris, he attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he continued his artistic education and began a career as a sculptor. It was in Paris where he met Guerel Oulanoff, a Kalmuck concert-pianist who would become his wife of over 50 years. Two of his children were born there as well.

Finding little prospects in post-war France, Pehme moved his family to the United States in October 1952, first moving to East Harlem in Manhattan and then shortly thereafter to Glenwood Landing and eventually in 1961 to Glen Head where he lived the rest of his days. He kept a studio in Brooklyn for nearly his entire life in the US.

Throughout, his enduring passion was for his native land, its language, culture, and people, wishing to live long enough to be set free from Soviet occupation. With the fall of the Soviet Union, Pehme was able to visit his former land on several occasions and to spend time there. It was his persistent wish to resettle there one day.

In his life, Pehme earned his living by commercial art. He worked on numerous displays and sculptures, including a four-year sculpture display for the Rockefeller Mall for its annual Christmas celebration. He worked as well for the theatre in New York, creating props for numerous shows, including making magic tricks for the late Doug Henning. He eventually decided to retire, and for the last years of his life he spent his days happily tending his garden, feeding his favorite wild birds, in particular the cardinals, and keeping up with the news. His favorite activities were puttering around the house.

A conservative politically, Pehme was a passionate anti-communist as well as a patriot for the US, the country that had given him so much. He gave of his time and work for the Estonian community in the US, particularly to the Estonian cultural institutions, including the Estonian House in New York City and the Estonian theatre and Men's Chorus. He was immensely proud of his former country and its people, and very much at home with the Estonian émigré community in the US.

His last years were peaceful, as he was at peace with himself. He is survived by his wife Guerel; two daughters, Reet Caldwell of Mt. Prospect, IL, and Olivia Peters of Tenerife, Spain; one son, Kalev Pehme; and six grandchildren. He had relatives in Estonia and in Canada as well.

Funeral arrangements are private, and a memorial service will be announced later.

Joseph A. Mazzola, of Glenwood Landing, died on Jan. 4. 2004. Husband of Mary. Father of Linda Moran, Charles Cino (Fran) and Susan Hadjis. Grandfather of Nick Hadjis, Cristopher Moran, Dr. Lauren Moran, Michael Cino and Charles Cino. Great-grandfather of three. Brother of Phyllis Wright. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by the Whitting Funeral Home, Glen Head. Funeral service at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Interment St. Charles Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Glen Head, NY.