Published 2/09/02

Elizabethtown, N.Y. —Richard W. Lawrence Jr., 93, died on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002, at the Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

He was born Jan. 16, 1909, in the Bronx, son of Richard W. Lawrence and Ruth Earle.

He was a graduate of the Riverdale School, Princeton University and Columbia Law School.

In 1933, he married Marjorie Fitch. She predeceased him in 1945.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 and retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve as Lt. Col. in 1969.

He practiced law in New York and was the former chairman of Printers Ink Publishing and Bankers Commercial Corp.

In 1947, he moved with his second wife, Elizabeth Hand Wadhams, to the Adirondacks. His interest in education led him to serve on the Elizabethtown - Lewis School Board, as chairman of the College Council of Plattsburgh State, as founder of the Council of Councils of NY State Universities and as post chairman of North Country Community College. He served as president of the Crary Foundation in Elizabethtown from 1973 until his retirement in 2000. This organization, which he helped found, provides scholarships for Adirondack students to pursue higher education. He served as a trustee of the Elizabethtown library and was founder of the state’s first multi-county library association, the Clinton - Essex - Franklin system. He was founder of the Essex County Historical Society and served for many years as a trustee of the New York State Historical Association. His interest in the environment and conservation led to his appointment by Governor Rockefeller, in 1971, as firm chairman of the Adirondack Park Agency. He stepped down from that position in 1975, but continued for many years to serve on the Boards of the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks, the Adirondack Council, the New York Parks and Conservation Association and the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.

He received an award from the NY - Vermont Interstate Commission on Lake Champlain, The Velma Moore Award from the NY State Library Assoc., a North Country citation from St. Lawrence University, a conservation award from the Garden Club of America, a distinguished service award from Potsdam College and the Founder’s Award from the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake.

In addition to his wife Marjorie, he was predeceased by his sister, Ruth L. Wittmer in 1965; his wife, Elizabeth Hand Wadhams in 1987; and his daughter, Ruth L. Wilson in 1991.

He is survived by his daughters, Alida L. Currey of Grand Junction, Colo., and Elizabeth W. Lawrence of Elizabethtown, N.Y.; granddaughters, Lynn Chernushin and her children, Cole and Marina of Arvada, Colo., and Anne L. Wilson and her husband, Peter Q. Lawson and their son, Bates of Moab, Utah.

He was a man of humor and intellect who had a visionary and stubborn dedication to the creation of educational opportunities and the protection of the environment.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, Feb., 15, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Church of Christ in Elizabethtown.

His family requests that memorial donations be made to the Essex County Historical Society, Elizabethtown; the Residents Committee to Protect the Adirondacks, North Creek, or the Boquet River Association Elizabethtown.

W.M. Marvins Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown is in charge of arrangements.

PLATTSBURGH — Derrick Venne, 79, passed away on Feb. 7, 2002, at his home after a brief illness.

Derrick was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on. April 11, 1912, the son of Derrick J. Venne and Lillian (Fountain) Venne.

Following the untimely death of his parents, he and his siblings were raised by their maternal grandparents, Joseph and Jenny (Bourassa) Fountain.

He graduated from Mount Assumption Institute In 1942 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, serving as a crew chief for B-17 bombers stationed in England.

He is survived by his children, Ricky, John, and Cindy; and two grandchildren. Other surviving family members include three sisters, Honey (Venne) Light and her husband, Andre of Plattsburgh, Albina (Venne) Lysaght of Florida, Ramona (Venne) Heruska and her husband, Edward of Texas, and Theresa Venne of Champlain, N.Y.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Derrick is also survived by his longtime business partner and friend of 30 years.

Mr. Norman McCracken. Mr. Venne and Mr. McCracken were well known antique dealers, with French’s Antique Shops located in Arizona, Maryland, Florida and Mississippi. Although retired, Derrick continued to attend antique shows until his recent illness. Prior to becoming an antique dealer, he was the proprietor of the "Highway Restaurant" on Route 9 South in Plattsburgh and "French’s Restaurant" in Phoenix, Ariz.

Mr. Venne was preceded in death by three sisters, Genevieve (Venne) Laundrie, Geraldine (Venne) Bedard and Lillian (Venne) Rabideau; and by one brother, Robert Venne.

Visiting hours will be Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A private funeral service for the family will follow. Burial will be in the spring in St. Peter’s Cemetery.

BEEKMANTOWN — Virginia E. Rogers, 81, of Stafford Drive, died Friday morning, Feb. 8, 2002, at Cedar Hedge Nursing Home in Rouses Point.

She was born in Massena on April 23, 1920, the daughter of Leon and Ida (Lewis) Tracy.

Mrs. Rogers was a member of the First Baptist Church in Plattsburgh and the Baptist Church Guild.

She was a graduate of Massena High School in 1938 and attended Albany Business College, graduating in 1940.

In February of 1942, she was married by Rev. Lacey to Edward B. Rogers, at the home of her parents in Massena.

In the early 1940’s, Mrs. Rogers worked as a secretary at Alcoa Corporation in Massena.

She has lived in Plattsburgh since 1949.

Mrs. Rogers was an avid bowler and enjoyed traveling and camping. She loved gardening and was known for her beautiful living and dried floral arrangements.

Survivors include her husband, Edward; four sons, James Rogers and his wife, Joanne of Essex Jct., Vt., Wayne Rogers and his wife, Nancy of Malone, Donald Rogers and his wife, Jan of Plattsburgh and Port Charlotte, Fla., and Gerald Rogers of Winter Haven, Fla.; one brother, Lewis Tracy and his wife, Virginia of Buffalo; five grandchildren, George Rogers and his wife, Denise, Edward Rogers and his wife, Kathleen, Christopher Rogers and his wife, Christine, and Patrick and Nathan Rogers; four stepgrandchildren, John, Joseph, and Jeffrey Martineau and Julie Rowe; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the R. W. Walker Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery in Massena in the spring.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2681

Cadyville — Randall D. Drollette, 47, of Cadyville, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at Fletcher-Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt.

He was born in Plattsburgh on Nov. 23, 1954, the son of Lyman "Bub" and Shirley (Sullivan) Drollette.

He was a graduate of Saranac High School and Plattsburgh State University.

He was employed as a counselor at Camp Gabriels. He enjoyed the outdoors, woodworking and carpentry.

He is survived by a daughter, Adrianne Drollette of Cadyville; his mother, Shirley Drollette of Cadyville; his grandmother, Harriet Sullivan of Cadyville; three brothers and sisters-in- law, Wayne and Nancy Drollette of Saranac, Tim and Susan Drollette of Brainardsville and Jeff and Karen Drollette of Saranac; a sister, Judy Drollette of Kinderhook, N.Y., and her companion, Sam Harb; several nieces and nephews; and his companion, Sue Rolland of Malone.

His father, Lyman "Bub" Drollette died June 7, 1999.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the O’Neill - Redden - Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 1 pm from the Saranac United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Independence Cemetery in Saranac in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to the Randall Drollette Memorial Scholarship Fund.

For diiections and guest book, please visit www.legacy.com

Cadyville — Florence D. Pettis, 70, of Cadyville, died Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at her residence.

She was born in Cadyville on March 13, 1931, the daughter of Herbert Joseph and Delia (Rondeau) Rock.

She was a member of St. James Minor Church in Cadyville and was a religion teacher for several years.

She enjoyed crafts, cooking, and spending time with her family.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Terry Waldron of Redford; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Floyd Rock of Plattsburgh; Leonard and Eleanor Rock of Cadyville, Chester and Virginia Rock of Cadyville and Clifton and Beverly Rock of Cadyville; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Goldie and Orville Reid of Wallace Hill, Noma Rock of Texas, and Katherine Rock of Plattsburgh; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Rock of Morrisonville; three grandchildren, Ambrose Waldron, Ashley Waldron and April Waldran; a great-granddaughter, Alivia Waldron; 42 godchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Her husband, Gregg R. "Buster" Pettis died March 15, 1996; two brothers, Gilbert and Clarence Rock also died earlier.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the O’Neill - Redden - Drown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday from St. James Minor Church in Cadyville. Interment will be in the parish cemetery in the spring.

Memorial donations may be made to the Cadyville Fire Department.

For directions and guest book) please visit www.legacy.com

ROUSES POINT — Theodora S. "Teddy" Moffitt, 85, of Rouses Point, passed away Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born Feb. 3, 1917, in Rouses Point, the daughter of Tabor and Ellene Sweet.

She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America in Rouses Point.

She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth M. Moffitt who passed away in 1994; and two brothers, Loren Sweet and Bernard Sweet.

Theodora is survived by two sons and their wives, John and Kathy Moffitt of Manchester, Conn., and Bill and Evelyn Moffitt of Pembrook, N.H.; one daughter, Ellen Welch and her husband, Patrick of Rouses Point, N.Y. She is also survived by seven grandchildren.

Calling hours will be Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. from the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point. A Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. from St. Patrick’s Church in Rouses Point.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Rouses Point Ambulance Squad or St. Patrick’s Church Restoration Fund.

Josette L. Jolicoeur, 62, of York, Pa., and formerly of Plattsburgh, passed away Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002 at York County Nursing Home in York, Pa.

She was born in St. George, Quebec, Canada, on July 16, 1939.

There will be no calling hours. Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Church Cemetery in Chazy, N.Y.

Arrangements are with Keffer Funeral Home in York, Pa.

Giovina Portfolio Tribuno Mogensen, 90, of Lake Placid, died peacefully Feb. 7, 2002, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

She was born in New York City.

There will be a memorial service in the spring.

Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Lapham, 69, of Margaret Street, died Friday, Feb. 8, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Wayne Zacherias Coss, infant son of Wayne A. Coss and America L. Mena, died Wednesday Feb. 6, 2002, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial will be later in the year in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Plattsburgh. Arrangements are with the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.