Published: 11/24/04

Gary J. Sheffield

Lake Placid — Gary J. Sheffield, 68, of River Road, Lake Placid, N.Y., died suddenly Nov. 20, 2004, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Lake Placid.

He was born in Lake Placid, Aug. 18, 1936, the son of James "Bunny" Sheffield and Rita (Hennessey) Sheffield.

He was a graduate of Lake Placid High School, class of 1955. Following high school Gary started his career in the military. Gary was a Vietnam veteran. He served in the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force retiring in 1979.

Gary’s career in bobsledding spanned over half a century. He began sliding when he was 16. He was on four world teams, winning a gold metal in the four man in St. Moritz, Switzerland in 1959. In 1961, he won two silver medals in the two man and four man in Lake Placid. Gary was selected for three Olympic teams. He retired from competition in 1973 and began coaching. Gary was a bobsled coach from 1974 to 1991. He was the coach for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games held in Lake Placid, N.Y. After his coaching career ended Gary become a volunteer at the bob run until his death.

He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman, hunter, trapper and camper. He also took part in the pre-1800 Rendez-Vous gatherings.

Gary was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team Alumni Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Veterans of the Vietnam War, The Marine Corps League and the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club. He worked as a caretaker for several camps in the Lake Placid area.

Gary is survived by two sons, Shane Devin Sheffield of Lake Placid, Gary James Sheffield Jr. and his wife Kelly of Monument, Colo.; one stepdaughter, Heidi Leonard her husband Joseph of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.; his companion for the past 24 years April Dixon of Lake Placid, N.Y.; one brother, William Sheffield of Lake Placid, N.Y.; one sister Patia Sheffield Gunaer of Albany, N.Y.; and two grandchildren, Brook and Jack Sheffield of Monument, Colo. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call at the Clark Funeral Home in Lake Placid from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday. An American Legion prayer service will be held at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at the Adirondack Community Church in Lake Placid at 1 p.m. Saturday. Rev. Mark Demers, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Saranac Lake.

Friends wishing to remember Gary may make donations in his memory to the Lake Placid Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Moriah — Margaret M. Woronicz, 85, of Center Road, Moriah, N.Y., died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown, N.Y.

She was born May 28, 1919, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Robert and Nora (Lenehan) Lambert.

She is survived by her daughters, Maria and Steven Karkoski of Moriah and Patricia and Louis Cummiskey of Staten Island; her sons, John Duane of Newark, N.J., and Anthony Comite of Port Charlotte, Fla.; her brother, Robert and Claire Lambert of Montville, N.J.; her grandchildren, Corey, Jason, Keith, Michael, Doreen, Danny and Lynn; and six great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Church of All Saints in Mineville, N.Y. Burial will be in St. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Moriah.

Donations may be made in Margaret's memory to the Horace Nye Nursing Home, Elizabethtown, N.Y.

Esther M. Hughes, 99, of Champlain Avenue, Westport, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born in Utica, Sept. 15, 1905, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Ownes) Hughes.

A memorial service will be held during the summer of 2005 on a day and time to be announced.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home in Westport.

Roland Hauf, 71, formerly of Albany, N.Y., died of cancer on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, at his winter residence in Haines City, Fla.

Memorial services will be held upon Mrs. Hauf’s return from Florida.

Cremation Services of Mid-Florida, Davenport is in charge of arrangements.

Robert McGettigan, 80, of Kellogg Court, Plattsburgh died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Port Reading, N.J., May 11, 1924, the son of Charles and Katherine (Einhorn) McGettigan Sr.

Calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. from St. John's Church with the Rev. David Gearwar, parochial vicar as celebrant. Entombment will follow in Whispering Maples Mausoleum on the Tom Miller Road.

A complete obituary will be run in Thursday's Press-Republican.

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