Obituary: Kathy Timothy

Kathy Timothy died peacefully in her home on Sunday May 31, 2009. She was 66 years old. She was born Kathy Shanahan in Chicago, IL, in 1942 to Elaine and William Shanahan. The family moved to Chappaqua in the 1950s.

She worked at NBC TV in the early 60s where she met Ray Timothy and they were married in 1964. The NBC job required the family to move every two to three years and Kathy raised her boys, Matt, Pat and Luke in Cleveland, Washington DC, Cleveland (again) and Los Angeles. The final transfer brought Kathy and her family to Port Washington in 1976 when Ray was tapped as the vice president and general manager of WNBC TV (Channel 4) in New York City.

When she arrived here in Port, she had no college degree and no significant work experience. That soon changed. She went back to college, graduated from St. John’s University receiving an undergraduate and law degree- all while her boys were still in the Port school system. She subsequently opened a law practice with a classmate and friend; Timothy and Gill in Jamaica, Queens.

In addition, Kathy became an avid runner, an early morning fixture throughout the town. She eventually completed the New York City marathon twice and the wacky Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco. She also set her sights on mountain climbing, having achieved summits at the highest peak in the lower 48 states (Mt. Rainer in Washington State ) and the highest peak in Africa (Mt. Kilimanjaro). She most recently completed an arduous 14-day backcountry trek to Machu Pichu in Peru in May of last year.

Through the NBC experience, she met two US presidents, attended Wimbledon, the Super Bowl, the World Series and the Seoul Olympics.

In retirement, she and Ray built an island home in the San Juan islands, north of Seattle, WA. From there they traveled the world. Ireland, England, Italy, France (her favorite) Eastern Europe, South America, Central America, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and every state in the union.

After the death of her husband in late 2007, Kathy moved back to Port Washington to be near family.

The life of Kathy Timothy is an inspiration to those that knew and loved her. Her Port Washington roots were bookends on a remarkable life and a boundless energy that had only one direction; forward.

She is survived and missed by her three sons, Matt and Pat Timothy of Port Washington and Luke Timothy of Forest Hills, Queens; her two daughters in-law, Lee Anne Vetrone-Timothy and Mary Bell Timothy; her four grandchildren, Maggie, Sam, Jake and Anabel; her brothers, Richard and Bill Shanahan and her father William Shanahan, all of Connecticut. In addition, she is survived by her partners in grand-parenting here in Port Washington, Karen and Cosmo Vetrone, not to mention the countless wonderful friends both locally and across the world.

A private service was held on June 6. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Family and Children’s Organization of Long Island; www.familyandchildrens.org.

Obituary: Judith LeVeen White

Judith LeVeen White, of Vero Beach, FL, former 6-year resident of Port Washington, passed away on May 14, 2009. She was born in Jamaica, NY, on April 15, 1937 to William and Virginia LeVeen. She was the loving mother of Kelly Lowe (Timothy) of Port Washington and Kerry Pedersen (Glen) of North Carolina.

Judy was affectionately known as Jupy to her four grandchildren, TJ and William Lowe and Rileigh and Connor Pedersen.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Jerry and Jeffrey. She is survived by her sister Janice Wright of Phelps, NY, and her partner Patrick White, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She graduated from Paul D. Shreiber High School in 1955 and attended Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. Judy was an employee of Lord & Taylor in Manhasset for 43 years where she was the manager of several departments. She was active in the PTA in the Port Washington school district and a long time member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

A loving and caring lady, she developed a wide circle of life-time friends. She was especially fond of her high school classmates, with whom she continued to maintain strong friendships over the years.

A memorial service in remembrance of Judy’s life will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Port Washington on June 13 at 10:30 a.m. Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Peter of Alcantara School, 1321 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington, NY 11050. Interment Nassau Knolls Cemetery.

Obituary: Florence L. Merjan

Florence L. Merjan, born May 14, 1929 in Hyde Park, MA, passed peacefully on May 23, 2009 in the presence of her family. A resident of Port Washington for 54 years, she was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother.

She was a graduate of Pembroke College and worked as a clinical psychologist for the Navy and the Army. She later worked for the Community Services of Nassau County in the Meals on Wheels program. She also served as president of the Flower Hill PTA and the Weber PTA.

She is survived by Stanley, her loving and devoted husband of 55 years; her sister Sue Allen of New Haven, CT; her children, Barbara of Ossining, NY, David of Glencoe, IL, and Alice (Hirsch) of New York, NY; and her grandchildren, Jake, Julia, Alexandra and Olivia.

Donations may be made in her memory to The Heart Fund or St. Francis Hospital.

Obituary: Dr. Elizabeth Ufford

Dr. Elizabeth Ufford, of Southbury, CT, passed away on May 13, 2009. Born in Elmira, NY, on Aug. 19, 1909, she graduated from Dana Hall in Wellesley, MA, Vassar College in Poughkeepsie and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Ufford moved to Port Washington in 1939 and opened a pediatric practice. Along with her private practice, she was the Manhasset and Port Washington school doctor for several years and worked for the Department of Health in Freeport. She was also part of a research team at Columbia which followed the lives of 40,000 babies. In 1975, Dr. Ufford retired from pediatrics in Port Washington, moved to Southbury, CT, and worked for several years as the assistant director of health.

She is survived by her son Joe Carpenter of Port Washington; daughter-in-law Pat; granddaughter Jacqueline Carpenter Ivory and her husband Chris of Miami, FL; two great-grandchildren, Cameron and Laurel.

Graveside services will be held in Elmira, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to Columbia University, Attn: Laura Tenenbaum, 630 West 168th St., Suite 2-430, New York, NY 10032. The Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main St. North, is in charge of arrangements. To place an online condolence, visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

Obituary: Ethel K. Gebhart

Ethel K. Gebhart

Ethel K. Gebhart, 88, a resident of Port Washington for the past 69 years, passed away at home on May 20, 2009 . She was born on Aug. 22, 1920 , the daughter of Joseph and Marie Steinle. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Rudolf; her five children, Ellen Weingart and husband John of Kentfield Hills, CA, Lorri Erion of Nashua, NH, Kristin Ryan and husband Casey of Santa Fe, NM, Neil Gebhart and wife Maureen of Verona, WI, Curt Gebhart of Woodside, NY; her sister Alma Costello of Santa Barbara, CA; nephew Frank Heath of Santa Barbara, CA; eight grandchildren and 16great-grandchildren

Obituary: Pasquale Solomita

Pasquale Solomita

Pasquale (Tony) Solomita died on May 12, 2009. He was Grand Knight of the Port Washington Chapter of the Knights of Columbus. He had many dear friends in Port. He even ran for mayor of Manorhaven many years ago. Although he lost, it was not by many votes.

Obituary: Frances Gallic Maher

Frances Gallic Maher, loving wife of Richard D. and mother of Richard (Marianne), Brian (Jeanne Basior), Michael (Pam), Mary Frances Sauvigne (Mark), Elizabeth Marx (John) and Peter died peacefully on May 11, 2009. Frances grew up in Bayridge, Brooklyn, and Queens Village.

Obituary: Joyce Phillip Bethge

Joyce Phillip Bethge of Shelter Island, NY, passed away peacefully on May 8, 2009. Born in Port Washington on Dec. 17, 1932 to James Reid and Marion Young Phillip, Joyce Evelyn was raised there with her older sister Patricia (Axtell). She married Victor “Pete” Bethge in 1953, who survives her after 56 wonderful years of marriage. Pete and Joyce, who both graduated from Port Washington High School, became engaged after only three dates. As a Navy wife, she gave birth to their first child in Leavenworth, KS. They eventually settled in Glen Head and became long-time members of the Sea Cliff Yacht Club.

Obituary: Marvin Lubinsky

Marvin Lubinsky, 88, formerly of Port Washington, passed away on April 29, 2009 at Mease Hospital in Dunedin, FL. He was born on Dec. 12, 1920 in Lima, OH, and was the son of the late Max Lubinsky and Jennie Weinreb Lubinsky. He was preceded in death by brothers Leo and Sanford and sisters Molly, Ann and Ruth.

Marvin was a graduate of South High School in Lima and attended Blufton University in Blufton, OH. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Force and served his country during WWII as a B-17 pilot in the Eighth Air Force (447th Bomb Group). He and his crew flew 30 missions in Europe. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Obituary: Alexander Caliendo

Alexander Caliendo, 77, of Port Washington, died on May 7, 2009. Alexander is survived by his wife Carmela; his children, Pasquale (Maryanna), Rosa Land, Josephine Turner (Robert), Alexandra, Anna Maria Ryan (Keith), Gennaro (Angela) and Anthony (Jennifer); and his grandchildren, Alessandra, Kimberly, Lindsey, Annemarie, Elizabeth, Keith, Alexander, Gabriela, Michael Alexander, Isabella and Sophia. He is also survived by his sister Maria Guerra; and nieces and nephews. Arrangements were made by the Austin F. Knowles Funeral Home, Port Washington. Mass of Christian Burial celebrated May 12 at St. Peter of Alcantara RC Church. Entombment Holy Rood Cemetery.