Walter Cooley, 67, sprinkler fitter, Navy man
GREENPORT—Walter Oakes Cooley, “Gpa, Pepa, Pop Pop,” died Tuesday, November 22 at his home in Greenport. He was 67.
Born in Claverack, June 10, 1944, he was the son of the late John and Ruth (Oakes) Cooley.
He attended Hudson High School and later served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Piedmont during the Vietnam Conflict. He was a sprinkler fitter with the National Automatic Sprinkler Fitters local 669 in Albany.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend who enjoyed his family.
Mr. Cooley is survived by: one son, Shawn Cooley; two daughters, Shanan Cooley (Timothy Grossman) and Shari Cooley, all of Greenport; one brother, Gerald (Sue Ann) Cooley of Hudson; one sister, Joan Rockefeller of Claverack; grandchildren, Alexandra, Kairee-Anne, Jordan, Sydnee, Chase and Quynn.
He was predeceased by his wife, Kathleen (Graziano) Cooley February 11, 2009, as well as, one brother, J. Robert Cooley.
There are no calling hours. Burial of his ashes will be in Cedar Park Cemetery, Hudson at a date to be announced.
Memorial donations may be made to the ASPCA in Mr. Cooley’s name. Funeral arrangements are with Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home in Greenport.
Hilda Sherman, 83, housekeeper, liked to crochet and bake
SHARON, CT—Hilda June Sherman, 83, a longtime resident of Boston Corners, Ancram, passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at Sharon Hospital.
She was born June 22, 1928, the daughter of Frederick and Laura Hoysradt.
Mrs. Sherman worked at Lakeville Precision Molding in Lakeville, CT, and also as a private housekeeper.
She enjoyed crocheting, baking and taking care of her family.
Survivors include: her eight children, Barbara June Kelly of Copake Falls, Raymond Sherman of Dover Plains, Steven James Sherman of Ancram, Ralph Sherman of Millerton, John Sherman of Ancramdale, Kathy Sherman of Elizaville, Priscilla Murphy of Ancram and Michael Sherman of Craryville; several grandchildren; several special great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Elaine Decker of Ancramdale, and a brother, Alton Hoysradt of Clermont.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Sherman in 2004.
Graveside services were held Saturday, November 26, 2011 at the Copake Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22, Copake.
To sign the online register visit peckandpeck.net.
James Bowman, 94, teacher, history buff
HUDSON—James F. Bowman, 94, of Claverack, formerly of Weston, CT, passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born August 25, 1917 in Niagara Falls, he was the son of the late Francis and Frances (Wahle) Bowman.
He served in the US Navy during World War II.
Mr. Bowman received a BS from Colgate University and a MS from Western Connecticut State College. He was an elementary teacher for the Weston Public Schools, teaching well into his 70s. He was a substitute teacher until he was 82 and earned the title of “oldest substitute teacher in New York State.” Mr. Bowman excelled in teaching and was an influential role model to all of his students.
He was an avid history and Civil War buff. While he was studying for his master’s, he worked as a mink rancher in Ridgefield, CT. He was an avid tennis player and gave lessons in Weston, CT. He was also the director of Camp Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington.
He is survived by: his children, Michael S. Bowman of Claverack, Jorgen W. Bowman of Clifton Park and Jamison F. Bowman of New Market, MD; his brother, Richard Bowman of Florida; six grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 125 Humane Society Road, Hudson 12534.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. To leave a message for the family go to www.batesanderson.com.
Arthur Guarino, 93, science teacher, owned Obie’s Fish Fry
GREENHURST—Arthur “Art” Guarino, 93, of Philmont, and recently of Western New York, died November 23, 2011, at Heritage Green, Greenhurst, with Dorothy, his devoted wife of 66 years, at his side.
He was born in White River Junction, VT, January 9, 1918, son of Raffaele and Virginia Vega Guarino.
He graduated from Hartford High School in White River in 1936. He worked, for a time, for Swift and Company and later attended a trade school in Boston, MA.
In 1943, he enlisted in the US Army where he met Ohioan, Lt. Dorothy Dolores Benway, a nurse in the Women’s Army Corps. They were married in 1945.
They had two daughters, Christine Guarino (Mrs. William Beck) and the late Virginia Guarino Castle (partner of Peter Mullins) of Hudson, and a son, Michael Guarino (husband of Marygrace) of Bemus Point.
Mr. Guarino was predeceased by his daughter, “Ginger,” and 10 of 12 siblings. A sister, Lorena Guarino, who lives in Wilder, VT and a brother, Armand Guarino of Ayer, MA.
After graduating from the University of Vermont in 1949, Mr. Guarino began a teaching career that lasted 30 years. He taught science in Canton and in Corinth, and then, in 1957, after accepting a job at Hudson High School, moved his family to Philmont. At Hudson High, he was a dedicated and popular biology teacher until his retirement in 1980.
He and another teacher built, owned and operated Obie’s Fish Fry, a summertime drive-in restaurant on Fairview Avenue in Hudson from 1960 through 1964.
Ever the active and curious scientist/teacher, he lived surrounded by his students, animals, plants, insects, books, drawings, a barn and a basement full of seedlings, projects and experiments-in-progress. He was an avid gardener, outdoorsman, wine-maker and cook; the proud and loving grandfather of eight and great-grandfather of ten; the passionately opinionated “Uncle Tido” to dozens of nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, November 28 at the Bates and Anderson Funeral Home at 110 Green Street, Hudson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church in Hudson, Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at 11 a.m. Burial will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery on Martindale Road in Philmont. Following interment, friends and family are invited to a reception and light lunch in Philmont.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family may donate in his memory to either the Wounded Warrior Project or the Cornell University Cooperative Extension.