Obituary: Ronald C. Vandenberg

Ronald C. Vandenberg passed away on May 28, 2009 at the age of 75. Longtime companion of Joan Hedrick. Brother of Richard (Janet). Uncle of Rick (Cindy) and Tracey (Matt). Great uncle of Ricky and Haley. Ronald served in the United States Navy. He is also a longtime member of the East Norwich Fire Company #1 and formerly a member of the Glenwood Fire Company. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral Home. Funeral services private. In lieu of flowers please make donations to North Shore Animal League, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050.

Obituary: Frank R. Strigaro

Frank R. Strigaro passed away on May 19, 2009 at the age of 79. Husband of Marilyn. Father of Thomas (Krissi), and Keith. Grandfather of Joshua, and Krissi Grace. Also survived by nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral Home. Funeral Mass St. Gertrude RC Church. Interment St. Patrick’s Cemetery.

Obituary: Charlotte D. Smith

Charlotte D. Smith, lifelong resident of Oyster Bay, died on May 14, 2009. Aunt of Linda L. Gier and Carol McDonald. Great-aunt and godmother of Jackie Brode; great-aunt of Roy, Alex, Jeff, Edward, Mary and Linda Beth.

She was a longtime organist at St. Paul’s Methodist Church. She was an employee of Snounders Corner Drug Store for over 60 years and a dedicated active member of the Community United Methodist Church. Arrangements were made by the Francis P. DeVine Funeral Home, Oyster Bay. Funeral service at the Community United Methodist Church. Interment St. John’s Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations to the Community United Methodist Church, Route, 106 East Norwich, would be appreciated.

Obituary: Eugenia Bernacchio

Eugenia Bernacchio (nee Salerno), 86, of Bayville, died on May 17, 2009. Wife of the late James. Mother of Vera (Sal) and James (Marsha). Grandmother of Anthony, James, Adam, Josh and Jennifer. Arrangements were made by the Oyster Bay Funeral Home. Funeral Mass at St. Gertrude’s RC Church. Interment Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Obituary: Giovanni A. Furino

Giovanni A. Furino

Giovanni A. Furino passed away on May 3, 2009, at the age of 79. Husband of Jeanette (nee Vuozzo). Father of Jean Marie Mimmo (Michael) and John. Grandfather of Anthony, Marie, Michael, John, Alexa, Jenna, and Giavanna. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral Home. Memorial Mass St. Gertrude RC Church. Interment private. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Association, PO Box 55071#15530, Boston, MA 02202-5071.

Obituary: Bertha Reese

Bertha Reese

Bertha Reese passed away April 26, 2009, at the age of 86. Wife of the late Lonnie O. Daughter of the late Kate Furrell. Godmother of Jacqueline Francis. She will be missed by her extended family Kenneth and Ethel Wright. Bertha relocated to Oyster Bay form Dadeville, Alabama in the early 1950s. It was then that she moved her membership to Mt. Olive Baptist Church under Christian Experience. She was an active member of Floral Ways and Means Ministry and the Culinary Committee. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral. Visiting was held at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, with funeral services immediately following. Interment Calverton National Cemetery.

Obituary: Robert E. Benson

Robert E. Benson

Robert E. Benson, Benson, of Locust Valley, died peacefully on April 18, 2009, just short of his 93rd birthday. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Helen. Father of Lanie Ganzenmuller (Peter), Christine Pell (Peter), William (Sara), David and the late Robert Jr. Grandfather of 10 and great- grandfather of seven.

Bob graduated from Brooklyn Friends School, Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, MIT and Harvard Business School. He served as major in the Army during WWII. After the war he moved with his family back to Sea Cliff where he had lived during the summers as a child. He commuted to New York City and worked for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the U.S. until 1966, becoming vice president. He then went to work for ITT as special projects vice president until 1975, when he joined White-Weld Merrill Lynch as vice president until 1985.

He served on the boards of the Dime Savings Bank, the YWCA Retirement Fund, the Village of Matinecock as police commissioner, the New York City Rescue Mission, the Locust Valley Library, the vestry of St. John’s of Lattingtown and until his death, Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club.

As a young man he was an avid sailor and raced his victory boat Blue Jacket all over Long Island Sound, winning the championship for the summer of 1937.

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s of Lattingtown, Locust Valley, May 7 at 11 a.m. Memorial gifts may be made to New York City Rescue Mission, 90 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10013, or St. John’s of Lattingtown. Arrangements made by Whitting Funeral Home, Glen Head.

Obituary: John S. Buc Jr.

John S. Buc Jr.

John S. Buc Jr. passed away April 28, 2009 at the age of 89. Father of John F. Buc (Kathleen), Susan Panetta (Anthony) and Kelly Thorn (Eugene). Grandfather of Justin Panetta. Brother of Mildred Capra (Nelson). He was a member of Oyster Bay Fire Co. #1 for many years, a member of Mill River Rod & Gun Club and a veteran of WWII. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral Home. Funeral Mass St. Dominic RC Chapel. Interment Calverton National Cemetery.

Obituary: Robert B. Gardner Jr.

Robert B. Gardner Jr.

Robert B. Gardner Jr., of Mill Neck, passed away April 28, 2009 after a short illness. A graduate of Hotchkiss and Yale. Bob served in the Navy as a pilot during WWII. Bob, an avid walker, was known as “the man with the backpack.” He was a strong supporter of the Grenville Boys & Girls Club and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. He is survived by his daughter Kate of Merritt Island, FL; his nieces, Jane and Melissa Flug; and his companion Marjorie Rosenberg of Locust Valley. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at The Matinecock Quaker Meeting House, corner of Duck Pond Rd. Piping Rock Rd., Locust Valley, on May 16 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers make donations to your favorite charity in Bob’s memory.

Obituary: Herbert F. Schramm

Herbert F. Schramm

Herbert F. Schramm, from Ridge, NY, formerly of Melville, passed away April 28, 2009 at the age of 86. Husband of the late Eileen. Father of Clinton (Lisa), Jeffrey, John-Todd (Colleen, Beth and the late Clifford (Helen). Grandfather of Kristy, Glenn, Amanda, Scott, Heather, Steven, Eric, Christopher, Patrick, Michael, John, Kate and Carina. He was also a great-grandfather and survived by relatives and friends. Arrangements were made by Oyster Bay Funeral Home. Interment will be held privately at Calverton National Cemetery,