Published: 7/5/04

Richard Murray Coonrod

ELIZABETHTOWN — Richard Murray Coonrod died on Saturday, July 3, 2004, in the arms of his family, the result of a massive stroke.

Richard was a loving father, stepfather, grandfather and husband. He was an honest, happy man who added joy to many people’s lives.

He was born April 21, 1933, in Elizabethtown to Albert and Alma (Murray) Coonrod and lived in Reber and Lewis most of his life. He worked for Eastern Artificial Insemination Company for 30 years and got to know most of the farmers in Essex County. Richard was a farmer himself, taking over Meadowmount Farm from his parents. In later years, he logged in the woods and worked with firewood.

On July 1, 1952, he married Margaret Riley and had four daughters. On August 30, 1986, he married Katharina Dickerson and became stepfather to three children.

Richard was an avid hunter and got his trophy buck last fall. He enjoyed the sport with his friends from Reber. He always maintained excellent health, a beautiful garden and a love of the outdoors. He enjoyed running, and ran three marathons while in his fifties. He loved his trips to Austria and became an avid horseback rider in later years. Recently, his goal was to become an Adirondack 46er. In June, he completed his seventh high peak.

Richard’s love of live and joyful outlook are gifts he regularly gave to others, always bringing a new joke to tell. The biggest love of his life was his family.

Richard is survived by his wife, Katharina Coonrod and a brother Eugene Coonrod. His parents and sister, Alberta West, predeceased him. He is survived by four daughters and their families: Dianne and Toby Ahrent, Suanne Coonrod and Eric Coons, Michelle and Daniel LaDuke, Laurie and Mike Malek. Three stepchildren: Peter and Christine Dickerson, Larry and Jean Dickerson, and Briget and Dan Levesque. Ten grandchildren: Lacey and Riley Ahrent, Rose and Tim DeLise, Emily Coonrod, Jack Malek, Joshua and Jessica Dickerson, and Matthew and Alison Dickerson, and an extended family in Austria.

Calling hours are Monday, July 5, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Marvin¹s Funeral Home in Elizabethtown. A celebration of his life will be held at Lewis Congregational Church on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with a reception following at the Reber Methodist Church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Lewis or Reber Volunteer Fire Departments.

QUEENSBURY — Mario Scarselletta, Jr., 72, died Friday, July 2, 2004, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Glens Falls to Mario and Isabel (DeCarolis) Scarselletta, Mario Jr. was a lifelong area resident and respected labor leader.

Mario attended Abraham Wing Elementary School and Glens Falls High School. He was very proud of his Glens Falls roots, and often told stories of playing ball in East Field and selling newspapers or shining shoes on downtown street corners during his youth.

From 1949 to 1953, Mario served in the United States Army. He served in the Heavy Mortar Division during the Korean War. He was awarded several medals for his service, including the Good Conduct Medal, a Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, an Army of Occupation Medal with Japan Clasp, The Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award and the Purple Heart Medal.

He was a charter member of the Korean War Veteran’s Association, the American Legion Post 133, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 02476, and the Glens Falls Elks Club Lodge 81.

Mario began his career in the paper industry in 1953 when he worked on a rewinder machine at Finch, Pruyn and Company in Glens Falls. He became president of the Pulp Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers’ Union Local 18, a post he held for 10 years.

He attended labor relations courses at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and at Rutgers University. He went on to become an International Representative for the United Paperworkers’ International Union (UPIU) in 1963 and was elected regional vice president for UPIU Region II in 1991. He served as vice president until his retirement in 2000.

During his tenure with the union, Mario accomplished many things. He organized workers into unions at several local paper mills. He served on the NYS AFL-CIO Board of Directors, was vice president of the New York Consumer Assembly, served as chairman of the UPIU Pension Fund, was a member of the Statewide Labor Advisory Committee at Cornell University, served on the United Way Board of Directors, was appointed by Governor Pataki to the NY State Hazard Abatement Board and the Governor’s Advisory Board for Forest Products, active on the planning committee for the Capital District Labor Parade, and he was a founding member of the Cooper’s Cave Credit Union.

Most importantly, he was a steadfast advocate for workers’ rights and labor-management collaboration. Mario treasured the many friends he made on "both sides of the table" throughout his long and distinguished career.

Mario’s greatest pride was his family. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 40 years, Marie (Mangini) Scarselletta; four children: Anthony (Lisa) Scarselletta of Virginia; Susan (Richard) St. John of Glens Falls; Diana (Richard) Straut of Voorheesville; and Mario (Felicia) Scarselletta of Rochester. He was very proud of his nine grandchildren: Tony and Lindsay Scarselletta; Erica (St. John) Fenton; Thomas, Eli and Luke Straut; and Leo, Rocco, and Liam Scarselletta.

In addition, he is survived by his brother, Joseph, of Pennsylvania; and sisters, Helen (Hefkey) of Pensacola, Fla., Isabelle (Griffin) of Riverdale, Md., and Sister Theresa Scarselletta, SA, in Garrison, NY. He was predeceased by his parents and four brothers: John, Orlando, Albert, and Frank.

He will be greatly missed by his Yorkshire terrier, Kelsey.

Mario’s family wishes to thank all of the wonderful nurses at Glens Falls Hospital and at the Glens Falls Renal Unit for the compassionate care they gave Mario throughout his illness. Special thanks are also given to Dr. Joseph Mihindu for his skilled and dedicated attention to Mario and Mario’s family.

Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, July 6 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Singleton-Healy Funeral Home on Bay Road. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 7 at St. Mary’s Church on Warren Street. A military burial will be held at Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville immediately following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following: The Mario Scarselletta Jr. Scholarship Fund, to support the children of area paper-mill employees who wish to pursue studies in labor relations, or to the Glens Falls Hospital Renal Dialysis Center, 4 Broad Street in Glens Falls or St. Mary’s Church, 62 Warren Street, Glens Falls. Scholarship donations can be sent to the Mario Scarselletta, Jr. Scholarship Fund, GF National Bank, Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 ATTN: Sandy Mc Lean.

JEAN Z. SPARKS, 73, died Saturday, July 3, 2004, at her home. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, July 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fortune-Keough-Rennell Funeral Home. A funeral Mass will be Thursday, July 8, a 11 a.m. at Holy Name Church. Burial will follow in St. Alphonsus Cemetery

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