Obituaries: 09/28/05

Bernice M. Jennings

PLATTSBURGH -- Bernice M. Jennings, 93, of 8 Lake Forest Drive, formerly of Cliff Haven, died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005.

Mrs. Jennings was born in Staten Island on March 18, 1912, the daughter of Steven and Johanna (Winters) Gilby.

She married her high school sweetheart William H. Jennings in Staten Island on Nov. 30, 1934. They were married for 49 years before Mr. Jennings died in 1983.

Mrs. Jennings was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Plattsburgh, were she was a deacon, a member of the Presbyterian Women, Bluff Point Country Club, Cliff Haven Home Dem, Ladies of the Elks and several bridge clubs. Beside being an avid bridge player, she was a voracious reader, loved to cook and knit, was always busy with her friends and very devoted to her family.

Survivors include one son, William S. Jennings and his wife Joyce of Wolfboro, N.H.; one daughter, Judy Regalia and her husband Andy of San Rafael, Calif.; one son-in-law, Neil Walters of Sacramento, Calif.; seven grandchildren, Stephanie Hamilton, Ashley Ingram, Robert Ingram, Bill Walters, Robert Walters, William H. Jennings II and Dr. Julie Jennings Ritchie; eight great-grandchildren, Sydney Walters, Avery Walters, William H. Jennings III, Leah Jennings, Lauren Jennings, Livia Jennings, Camden Ritchie and Colton Ritchie.

One daughter, Jacquelyn Jennings Walters died in 1978; and a grandson, Stephen Walters died in 1976.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, at 11:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Donations, in her memory, may be made to the CVPH Heart Center.

Theresa A. Castine

CHAZY -- Theresa A. Castine, 75, of Mattot Road, Chazy died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center.

Mrs. Castine was born in Mooers on Sept. 23, 1930, the daughter of Myrten and Matilda (Garrand) LaPorte.

She married Ronald E. Castine. Ronald died in 1998.

Theresa was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Cooperville.

Survivors include one son, Marcel "Beaver" Castine and his wife Barbara of Cassel Berry, Fla.; one daughter, Mrs. Evelyn "Pinky" LaBarge and her husband Larry of Chazy; four sisters, Mrs. Roy (Geraldine) Goyette of Chaplain, Mrs. Francis (Helen) Roberts of Champlain, Mrs. Reed (Lillian) Niles of Mooers and Mrs. Donald (Bernie) Bourdeau of Mooers Forks; five grandchildren, Todd Castine, David Castine, Kevin Castine, Lonnie Barriere and Jodi Barriere; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by three brothers, Clifford, Joseph and Bucky LaPorte; and four sisters, Geneva Peryea, Vivian Monette, Rena Castine and Myrtle LaPorte.

Private calling hours will be held for the family. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Cooperville. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the North Country.

The R.W. Walker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Loretta M. Genier

MINEVILLE -- Loretta M. Genier, 80, of Harmony Road, Mineville, N.Y., died Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Horace Nye Nursing Home in Elizabethtown, N.Y.

She was born Feb. 15, 1925, in Crown Point, N.Y., the daughter of the late Henry and Jennie (Perkins) Beeman.

She was predeceased by her husband, Frank T. Genier; and her son, Joshowa J. Genier.

She is survived by her son, Wayne Genier of Mineville, N.Y.; her daughters, Beverly Garrow of Mineville, N.Y., Frances O'lcott of Moriah and Holly Grass of North Carolina; 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home, Port Henry, N.Y. A graveside service will be conducted Thursday 11 a.m. at the South Moriah Cemetery, Moriah, N.Y.

Donations may be made in Loretta's memory to the Town of Moriah Ambulance Squad or to the Horace Nye Nursing Home.

J. Mark Ross

TICONDEROGA -- J. Mark Ross, 45, of Ticonderoga, passed away Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt., due to a respiratory illness.

Born in Ticonderoga, March 6, 1960, he was the son of Richard Livingston Ross of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and the late Elizabeth "Betty" (Garland) Ross.

Mr. Ross was a graduate of Ticonderoga High School. He was a lifetime carpenter and woodcrafter, in recent years, employed in the Saratoga area.

Mark loved the outdoors, whether in the Adirondacks or on a Florida beach. He also enjoyed cooking and baking.

He loved his family and friends and the good times he shared with them.

Throughout his prolonged illness he held a sunny disposition and a positive outlook.

Survivors in addition to his father, Richard L. Ross of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; include one son, Joshua Gerald Ross of Albany; and three older brothers, Richard "Rick" Ross and his wife Linda of Stuart, Fla., Robert "Rob" Ross and his wife Joni of Centennial, Colo., and David "Dave" Ross and his wife Christine of Ticonderoga. He is also survived by one nephew; four nieces; and one great-niece, who endeared him with the nickname "Uncle Sparky"; and his loving aunts; uncles and cousins. Mr. Ross also had a close companion, Jolene and her children, who he loved very much.

Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, 11 Algonkin St., Ticonderoga. A funeral service will take place Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga.

Travis R. Merritt

BELMONT, MASS. -- Travis R. Merritt, a college dean and longtime professor of literature who taught MIT students the art of reading, writing and living life in style, died of a heart attack Sept. 2, 2005, at Belmont Manor Nursing Home in Belmont, Mass. He was 71.

A scholar of 19th and 20th century prose, Dr. Merritt published "Style and Substance: Reading and Writing Prose" in 1969, which is still used as a teaching text.

But teaching and interacting with undergraduates took priority over scholarship for Dr. Merritt. Although an advocate of a "hardball" teaching approach, Dr. Merritt, who was noted for his personal style and wit, knew when to use a light touch. In 1994 he began a program that was an instant success: an annual, one-day "charm school" for MIT undergrads. Bothered by students shuffling their feet and lowering their heads as they walked through the corridors, Dr. Merritt decided to offer his calculator-toting scholars a full education in the art of social grace and style.

In addition to his teaching, Dr. Merritt played a variety of administrative roles. He was dean for undergraduates academic affairs; director of the Experimental Study Group, an alternative course on study within the college; and director of the Humanities Undergraduate Office. Dr. Merritt took a special interest in helping new students navigate through the notoriously difficult first year at MIT.

Dr. Merritt founded the Freshman Advisor Seminar series and helped establish the Concourse program, a special program of small classes designed for freshmen.

Dr. Merritt was born and raised in Plattsburgh, N.Y. The oldest of seven, including his twin brother, who died in infancy, he grew up in a family of educators. His father was the superintendent of school and his mother was a physical education teacher. Three of his siblings became teachers. He graduated from Williams College in 1955 with a bachelor's degree in English literature and received master's and doctoral degrees in English literature from the University of Chicago in 1956 and 1965, respectively. He taught at Wesleyan College before going to MIT.

In addition to his daughter Grace, Dr. Merritt leaves three other daughters, Lisa C. of Lexington, Mass., Amy V. Easton of Concord, Mass., and Susannah C. of Seattle, Wash.; three brothers, Richard of Peekskill, N.Y., David of Long Lake, N.Y., and Stephen of Malden, Mass; two sisters, Clare Fisher of Wiscasset, Maine, and Martha Shugrue of Sudbury; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. in the MIT Chapel.

Deaths:

HOWARD L. BUSHEY, 79, of State Route 11, North Bangor, N.Y., died Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at his home while under the loving care of his family and Hospice of the North Country Inc.

Born in Fort Covington, N.Y., Aug. 30, 1926, he was the son of the late John and Margaret Boadway Bushey.

Calling hours will be Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Constable. Burial will be in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Constable.

MARION E. WILSON, 87, of Water Street, Fort Covington, was dead on arrival at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone on Monday, Sept. 26, 2005, after being stricken at her home.

Born in Westville, N.Y., on Nov. 2, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Herman and Ella Hoadley Avery.

There are no calling hours. Services will be at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in Coal Hill Cemetery in Westville. Arrangements are through the Cappiello-McKenzie and Cosgrove Funeral Home of Fort Covington.