Published:  08/26/03

Elizabethtown, N.Y. — Gerald Hall Jr., 87, of Elizabethtown, N.Y., died on the evening of Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at Horace Nye Home in Elizabethtown.

He was born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on June 14, 1916, the son of Gerald Hall Sr. and Marie (Inglis) Hall.

He attended Thornton Donowan School in New Rochelle, graduated from Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts in 1936, and Hobert College in New York State in 1940.

Gerald and Miriam (Tufts) Hall were married on April 25, 1942, in Larchmont, N.Y.

He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1940 to 1945. For most of' World War II, he saw action aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Ingham, on convoy escort duty in the North Atlantic. Later, he served aboard the USCGS Cepheus, transporting invasion troops and material from the British Isles to various ports in North Africa and Southern Europe.

From 1945 to 1970, Gerald worked in airport management for Pan American Airways. He moved with his ever increasing family from Larchmont, N.Y., to New Brunswick, Canada, to Lake Success, Long Island, N.Y., to Bremen, Germany, to New Rochelle, N.Y., to Hamburg, Germany, and finally back to New Rochelle. Along the way the family, whenever possible, spent their summers in Keene Valley.

In 1670, Gerald, Miriam and. son George moved to Water Street in Elizabethtown. He became a real estate broker and started Hall Realty in 1972. He retired in the early 1990’s.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Miriam; four children, Lorraine, Peter, Bill and George; five grandchildren, Kari Hall, Alison Guinan, Maisonneuve, Paul and Justin Guinan and Joseph Tufts and DeManuelle-Hall; and one great-grandchild, Gavin Reed Maisonneuve.

He was predeceased by his grandson, Lee Hall in 1993.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Elizabethtown, N.Y. Interment will follow at Norton Cemetery in Keene, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to High Peaks Hospice, P.O. Box 195, Mineville, NY 12956 or Horace Nye Home Memorial Fund, Park Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932.

Pittsfield, Mass. — Barbara Jean Stegner, 72, of 17 Pine Grove Dr., Pittsfield, Mass., died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at Berkshire Medical Center after a short illness.

She was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on Feb. 14, 1931, the daughter of the late Samuel W. and Violet (McElligott) Rice.

She graduated from State University Teachers College in Plattsburgh, N.Y., as a registered nurse. She worked in the local Plattsburgh hospital. After moving to Pittsfield in 1961 with her family, she worked in a number of private homes and nursing homes in the area, retiring in 1974. She enjoyed bird watching, gardening and flowers. She was a nature lover and loved her children and grandchildren and was a good friend to all.

She leaves her husband, Robert Stegner, whom she married June 5, 1954. She leaves three daughters, Michelle L. Stegner of Portland, Maine, Laura A. Stegner of Pittsfield and Deborah S. Weber of Lanesboro, Mass.; one son, Robert R. Stegner of Pittsfield; and two brothers, Samuel Rice III of Chazy, N.Y., and William Rice of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; and seven grandchildren.

Barbara, a good friend to all, will be lovingly missed by her grandchildren Thomas, Eric, Heidi, Katie, Kasey, Chelsea and grandchild-to-be; her sons-in-law, Michael J. Weber, Joe Herbest and Bruce W. Knowlton; and her daughter-in-law, Kim M. Stegner.

She was predeceased by her sister, Beverly Northrup, of Plattsburgh, N.Y.

A Requiem Eucharist service will be held at St. Stephen's Church on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, at noon, celebrated by Rev. Gay M. Rahn, associate rector of St. Stephen's Church. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Barbara's memory to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of Dery Funeral Home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

CADYVILLE — Henry B. "Hank" Wilson, 87, of the Adriene and Lawrence Gonyo Senior Housing Apartments in Beekmantown and formerly of the Hank Wilson Road, died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, at the Clinton County Nursing Home.

He was born in Redford on Jan. 2, 1916, the son of Charles and Lura (Bruce) Wilson.

In his early teens Hank left the family farm in Redford, N.Y., with his mother and father and moved to Lake Placed, N.Y. While in Lake Placid as a young teenager he became involved in driving "sled dogs". He entered and won a dog sled race in the junior races during the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. In the winter of 1934 Hank met in Lake Placid a young girl named Esther Jacobsen who had arrived in this country from Copenhagen, Denmark a few years earlier. He married this young girl a few months later and they were married for 69 years. During the rest of the 1930's and the 1940's Hank became very well known through Northern New York and Canada as one of the top sled dog drivers in the area and won many dog sled races throughout this region. During World War II when Hank's family grew to four boys, he moved back to the family farm in Redford, N.Y. During the war he worked on the family farm, cut wood and also began working at the Iron Ore Mines in Lyon Mountain, N.Y. In 1949, Hank was seriously injured in a cave-in at the Lyon Mountain Mines. Despite this life threatening injury, Hank always maintained that this was the best job he ever had. Upon recovering from this injury, Hank moved his family, which now included his wife Esther and six boys to a little farm just outside of Cadyville, N.Y., in 1951. In addition to driving school bus for Saranac Central School for over 25 years, Hank and his family established the "Flying W" Ranch which became well known throughout the area as a very popular horse riding stable. Hank also provided seasonal rental horses to many of the summer camps throughout the Adirondacks including Loon Lake and Saranac Inn. He also gained the reputation as a very savvy old time "horse trader". During the late 1970's and through the 1980's Hank with the help of some of his sons, grandsons, relatives and friends returned to driving dog sleds in Lake Placid, N.Y., providing dog sled rides to the general public on Mirror Lake. During the 1980 Olympics Hank was once again driving sled dogs in Lake Placid as he was in 1932. Hank lived his life to the fullest and maintained very few regrets.

Survivors include, his wife, Esther Wilson of Beekmantown; five sons, Henry J. and Rita Wilson of Redford, Frederick and Kathy Wilson, Lance and Lana Wilson of Cadyville, Charles and Joan Wilson of Lake City, Fla., and Larry and Karen Wilson of Cadyville; a daughter-in-law, Jean Wilson of Redford; 7 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Henry was predeceased by one son, Jeffery Wilson in 1992; two brothers, Gordon Wilson and Judson Wilson; and two sisters, Charlotte Jacques and Caroloyn Longtemps.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Saranac United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Hillside Cemetery in Redford.

Donations may be made to the Clinton County Nursing Home, the Cadyville Fire Department or to a charity of your choice in the name of Henry B. "Hank" Wilson.

The family will hold a reception immediately after the burial at 101 Hank Wilson Road in Cadyville.

Guilford — Gary F. Cook 70, of Guilford, died on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, at Binghamton General Hospital.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed his family.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Theresa Cook of Guilford; three sons and daughters-in-law, Roger and Gloria Cook of Binghamton, Jack and Debbie Cook of Endwell and Dale Cook of Oxford; one sister, Eileen Peck of Chateaugay, N.Y.; grandchildren, Matthew Lane, Charlene and Mike Meehl, Brad Cook, Casey Cook, Tiffany Cook and Dustin Cook; special companion, his cat Barney; and several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery, Churubusco, N.Y. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Barber Memorial Home, Inc. 428 Main Street, Johnson City. A prayer service will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Barber Memorial Home.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Meals on Wheels of Chenango County, 5 Court Street, Norwich, NY 13815.

EARL C. HARWOOD, 88, of the Wheeler Road, Malone, N.Y., died Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center.

He was born June 19, 1915, in Malone, N.Y., the son of Charles and Alva Jones Harwood.

There will be no calling hours. Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Burial will take place in Morningside Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are through St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home.

Wilfred Robert, 75, of State Route 11, Brushton, and formerly of Salmon Street in Fort Covington, died Monday morning, Aug. 25, 2003, at his late home under the care of his family and Hospice of the North Country.

He was born in Malone, N.Y., on Aug. 7, 1928, the son of the late Wilfred and Pearl (Rabideau) Robert.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Cappiello-MoKenzie and Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in Thursday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m. in St. Mary's Church in Fort Covington, with the Rev. Stephen Rocker, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

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