Obituaries: 3/22/06

Oril V. Bashaw

CLINTONVILLE -- Oril V. Bashaw, 78, of Route 9N, Clintonville, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2006, surrounded by family and caregivers at CVPH Medical Center.

Oril was born March 26, 1927, in Trout Pond, the son of Roy S. and Florence E. (Benedict) Bashaw.

He loved hunting and fishing, gardening and nature and he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His special pal was Tilly, his golden retriever.

He is survived by his three children, a son, Toby Bashaw and fiancée Elizabeth Hendrix of Massachusetts, a son, Brian Bashaw and companion Patty Demeo of Plattsburgh, a daughter, Cathy and husband Ron Kodra of Tennessee; six grandchildren, Nathan, Jonas, Molly, Korey, Evan and Austin; four great-grandchildren, Robert, Marissa, Cameron and Logan; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife, Vesta (Coolidge) Bashaw; his parents; and two sisters, Carol Murcray and Shirleen Winch.

There will be no calling hours or funeral service and burial will be at a later date at the convenience of the family.

Memorials donations may be made to North Country Association for the Visually Impaired, PO Box 1338, 2693 Main St., Lake Placid, NY 12946.

Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Henry Paul

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- John Henry Paul died March 15, 2006, at his home in Palm Desert, Calif.

He was born Nov. 4, 1928, outside of London, England to Cyril and Mabel (Stone) Paul.

He was educated there locally and in Cornwall where his family evacuated during World War II. He received a degree in engineering from the University of London in 1950.

He served in the British Army where he received awards for marksmanship. He married the former Deirdre Herbert on May 30, 1956, and they immigrated to Canada three days later. All told, he and his family moved across the Atlantic five times. He was an Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He ended his career as an aerospace engineer at the European Space Agency based in the Netherlands, where he worked as a program manager in charge of communications satellites. One of his projects, the Olympus satellite, experimented with the technology that is used today in satellite television. It was while working at ESA that he had the opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II. After retirement, he lived in Marietta, Ga., and Keeseville, N.Y., before he moved to Palm Desert, Calif.

He was an accomplished pianist and golfer and could fix anything mechanical. He enjoyed building model railroads and genealogical research.

His beloved wife, Deirdre predeceased him on May 30, 2002. His parents and sister also predecease him.

He is survived by four children and their spouses, Michael and Robyn Paul of Charleston, S.C., Colin Paul and Christina Limberakis of San Francisco, Calif., Catherine Paul and Michael McCormick of Peru, N.Y., and Deborah Paul-Faller and Willis Faller of Newburgh, N.Y.; six grandchildren also survive him, Caitlin Paul, Henry, Emily and Allison McCormick, and Kina and Anya Paul. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters in-law, Bernard Boivin of Lavenham, England, Oonagh and William McElhinney of Killaloe, Ireland, Eithne and Paddy McLaughlin of Letterkenny, Ireland, Mary Herbert of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Richard and Nuala Herbert of Ennis, Ireland and Monsignor Leo Herbert of Lookout Mountain, Tenn. His dear friends, Mairead and Roy Crabb of Palm Desert, Calif., also survive him.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2006, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Keeseville with John's brother-in-law, Monsignor Leo Herbert, pastor of the Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church in Lookout Mountain, Tenn., celebrating. Burial will be later this spring in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery.

James L. Vanderhoff

WEST CHAZY -- James L. Vanderhoff, 54, of Barnaby Road, West Chazy, passed away unexpectedly at CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh on Sunday, March 19, 2006.

He was born on Jan. 8, 1952, in Ticonderoga the son of Walter R. and Betty (Alphonse) Vanderhoff Sr.

Jim was a graduate of Peru Central School and attended SUNY Plattsburgh. He was the owner and operator of Adirondack Claims, Inc.

Jim is survived by his wife of 33 years, Darlene R. (Daniels) Vanderhoff of West Chazy; two daughters, Dr. Holly Vanderhoff and her husband Michael Dupras of Liverpool and Katy Vanderhoff of Fairfax, Vt.; a grandson, Taylor Clark of Fairfax, Vt.; his mother, Betty of Plattsburgh; a brother and sister-in-law, Walter R. and Donna Vanderhoff of Peru; several nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2006, at 5:30 p.m. from Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's memory may be made to West Chazy Volunteer Fire Department or to the American Heart Association.

Benjamin Paul Coolidge

AUSABLE FORKS -- Benjamin Paul Coolidge, 87, passed on March 21, 2006, at CVPH Medical Center surrounded by his family.

Paul was born Jan. 10, 1919, the son of Walter and Grace (Fletcher) Coolidge of AuSable Forks.

He married Evelyn Lucille Bailey on July 13, 1940. They were married 54 years until the passing of his loving wife on Feb. 14, 1995.

Paul is survived by four children, three daughters, Jeanne Matyas (John) of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Grace Hoye (Paul) of Brownstown, Mich., Beth Coolidge of Peru, N.Y., and one son, Paul Coolidge (Valerie) of AuSable Forks. Pop Coolidge enjoyed his nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. He is survived by two brothers, Ken and Melvin; and one sister, Florence (Sis) LaDieu; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and his special friend, Millie Bombard.

He was predeceased by his wife; and his brother, Hubert.

Paul graduated from AuSable Forks Rural School. He volunteered to serve his country during World War II. He served as a sergeant in Company G-405th Infantry Division.

Upon returning, Paul worked numerous jobs as janitor, a plumber, farmer, cattle dealer, car salesman for George Parker and the owner of Coolidge Logging. Upon his retirement, he and Lucille spent many winters in Florida.

He served his community as a member of the AuSable Forks School Board during the merger of the AuSable Valley School District. He and his wife Lucille supported the local ambulance and fire department, as well as the United Methodist Church.

Coolidge was famous for his gardens that he shared with family, friends and neighbors. Known for his gift to gab, Lucille often stated that "he never met a stranger."

Calling hours will be Wednesday, March 22, 2006, 2 to 4 and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. At Zaumetzer-Funeral Home in AuSable Forks, N.Y. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 23, 2006, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in AuSable Forks with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery.

Memorials to be made to United Methodist Church in AuSable Forks.

Deaths:

ETHEL E. (CHASE) CONOVER, 88, a resident of Dedham, Mass., for many years, died Saturday, March 4, 2006, at the Ellis Nursing Home in Norwood, Mass., after a long illness.

She was born in Chateaugay, N.Y., the daughter of the late Elroy and Mame Chase.

A memorial service was held March 11 at 11 a.m. at the Allin Congregational Church in Dedham, Mass. Burial will be in the Brainardsville Cemetery in Brainardsville, N.Y.

CALVIN R. WOOD, 85, of Malone, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone.

He was born in South Colton, N.Y., on Dec. 4, 1920, the son of the late Harry B. and Olive J. Littlejohn Wood.

There are no calling hours. Services are at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in South Colton Cemetery later in the spring.

Arrangements are through the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Service of Malone.

DONALD E. RATTA, 85, of Route 9 North, Plattsburgh, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at the Birchwood Terrance Nursing Home in Burlington, Vt.

He was born in North Hero, Vt., on June 21, 1920, the son of Joseph and Della (Paquette) Ratta.

Calling hours and funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by the Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

Interment will be at a later date at St. Peter's Cemetery.

ROBERT A. SMITH, 89, of Margaret Street, Saranac Lake, died Tuesday, March 20, 2006, at the Adirondack Medical Center at Saranac Lake.

Born in Saranac Lake, N.Y., on June 9, 1916, he was the son of William and Mattie (Lyons) Smith.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Thursday, March 23, 2006, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A veterans service will be held at 7:30 p.m. followed by a Bible vigil at 7:45 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will take place Friday, March 24, 2006, at 11:15 a.m. at St. Bernard's Church, Saranac Lake, with Father Jeffrey Hubbard officiating. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery in May.