Longtime Manhasset resident RuthAnn Connor died suddenly on Oct. 31, 2003, at her home in Cutchogue. She was 70 years old. RuthAnn was born in Wallingford, CT in 1933 and grew up in the small Connecticut town where her father, Thomas Murphy, was the local doctor. The mother Margaret assisted in his practice as a nurse and raised RuthAnn and her younger brother, Tom. RuthAnn attended Lesley College in Boston. While visiting a friend at Georgetown University she met Jim Connor whom she married in 1954. They spent two years at Camp Lejeune, NC, while Jim served in the Marines and RuthAnn taught elementary school. They settled in Manhasset in 1958, where they raised their two children Cathy and Jimmy. RuthAnn continued to substitute teach as she raised children. She also found time to volunteer at St. Francis Hospital. She was an active member of North Hempstead Country Club, where she took up golf, as her children got older.

She retired to Cutchogue in 1995 where she continued to play golf at North Fork Country Club and volunteer at the parish outreach program. Following hip replacement in 2001, she found a new level to her golf game and was thrilled to have broken 100 a few months before she died.

She will be remembered as a true friend and a woman who was described as the "queen of optimism." She courageously faced the death of her son Jimmy in the attack on the World Trade Center and, with her usual grace, carried on with a deep faith and commitment to her family. She was especially proud of her five grandchildren, Tom, Laura and Tara Dodge and Jimmy and Jack Connor. She would often be found at her grandchildren's sporting events, cheering them on from the stands and taking great pleasure in watching them play. She will be missed by her many dear friends, her daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and Tod Dodge, her husband, Jim Connor, her brother Tom Murphy and daughter-in-law Jamie Connor.

Isabel Whitman Haggerson of Ligonier, PA, formerly of Plandome, died on Friday, Nov. 28, 2003 in Ligonier. Isabel was born in New York City on May 22, 1912, the daughter of Homer and Claire (Rogers) Whitman of Niagara Falls, NY. She married Fredric Stephenson Haggerson on March 4, 1939, Fred died on Nov. 1, 1982.

Isabel was an active volunteer for more than 70 years. In the New York City area, she served on the boards of directors of the American Red Cross, Long Island Chapter; Pro Art Symphony League and the After Five Committee of the AHRC, Long Island Chapter.

Isabel served as the music chairman of the Fine Arts Council at C. W. Posts College; she was an officer of the Community Concert Association and an officer on the board of the Long Island Arts Festival.

Isabel served as president of the Plandome Woman's Club and of the Manhasset Community Club and for many years an active member of the Douglaston Tuesday Music Club. She also worked on the North Shore Hospital Ball Committee.

Isabel and Fred retired from Plandome in 1980 and she continued her active volunteer work in Ligonier, PA.

In Pittsburgh, at age 84, Isabel received t he Volunteer of the Year Arts Award for her volunteer work at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

Her son, F. Whitman Haggerson of St. Augustine, FL, and her daughter, Susan H. Utech of Pittsburgh, PA, and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren survive Isabel.

In honor of Isabel's passion for music the family suggests that contributions be made to the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA, 15222 and/or the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, 221 North Main St., Greensburg, PA 15601.