Michael Hill, Jr., 27, landscaper, golfer
NORFOLK, VA—Michael John Hill, Jr., 27, a resident of Stottville, formerly of Copake, passed away Monday, March 26, 2012 at the Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
He was born May 4, 1984 in Mount Kisco, the son of Deborah (Sencen) Hill and Michael J. Hill, Sr.
The family relocated to Copake from Yorktown Heights in 1998.
On March 25, 2011, he married Tylor Smith in Las Vegas, NV. She survives him at home.
Mr. Hill graduated from Taconic Hills High School and was a self-employed landscaper with the family business, Hill Landscaping, LLC.
He was an avid golfer, and a huge Jets and Yankees fan.
He is survived by his loving wife, Tylor Hill of Stottville; his parents, Michael and Deborah Hill of Copake; his paternal grandmother, Ellen Hill of Hudson; maternal grandparents, Herbert and Barbara Sencen of Yorktown; as well as, his two Boston terriers, Bella and Lucy.
A Celebration of Mr. Hill’s life was held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22, Copake.
Funeral services and interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Peck and Peck Funeral Home. To access the online register visit peckandpeck.net.
Roger Van Tassel, 87, economics professor, WWII bomber pilot
WORCESTER, MA—Roger C. Van Tassel, PhD, 87, of Briarwood Circle, MA, professor emeritus of economics at Clark University, died peacefully under the loving care of his wife and daughter, Friday, March 23, 2012 at the Knollwood Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born in Germantown, the son of Elizabeth (Whitney) and Archie S. Van Tassel, November 27, 1924.
During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a B-25 bomber pilot. He taught cadets how to fly the B-25s during the war, and was discharged as a lieutenant. Mr. Van Tassel graduated from Germantown Central School and Union College in Schenectady with a BA degree, Cornell University with a MA degree and from Brown University with a PhD in economics.
He went on to become a professor of economics at Clark University in Worcester, MA, where he taught for 42 years. During that time, he was department chairman for 21 years, and held other positions such as director of the Institute for Economic Studies, director of the Summer School and director of the Evening College (now known as Copac graduate dean). Mr. Van Tassel was also an economics consultant to the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston.
His passion for and dedication to the field of economics led him to become a much sought after speaker on the topics of U.S. and international economics. At one time, he wrote a column on economics for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. He also authored an economics text book, Economic Essentials: A Core Approach, as well as, co-authored many articles.
Early at his time at Clark University, Mr. Van Tassel spent a month in South America learning about gold. Later in his career, he was a visiting professor for a semester at the University of Leuven (Louvain), Belgium. He then taught a short course at the Univers de Trier at Trier, Germany. Lastly, in 1985, he taught a semester on economics at the Italian branch of the John’s Hopkins in Bologna, Italy.
Mr. Van Tassel and his wife loved traveling, and so while in Europe on these assignments, they spent much of their spare time sightseeing throughout the different countries. They also traveled throughout the U.S. and Mr. Van Tassel was even a visiting professor at the University of California in Los Angeles during two of their summer sessions.
Mr. Van Tassel and his wife lived in the same house in Holden for 51 years. Even though he was so involved in his career he still found time to become active in various civic offices. At one time, he was moderator of the First Unitarian Church on Court Hill in Worcester. He also loved gardening and filled his Holden yard with flowers and flowering bushes. If he hadn’t chosen to become an economist he quite possibly would have become a horticulturist.
He is survived by his wife, Grace M. (Evans) Van Tassel; daughter, Linda Van Tassel; a granddaughter, Ashley Van Tassel; a brother, Alan of Germantown; a brother-in-law and his wife of New Lebanon and 12 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, Richard Van Tassel.
A funeral service honoring Dr. Van Tassel’s life was Saturday, March 31 at the First Baptist Church, 1216 Main Street (Route 122A), Holden. Burial followed at Grove Cemetery, 1286 Main Street (Route 122A), Holden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts Chapter, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472. Funeral arrangements were under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, MA. To share a memory or offer a condolence visit www.milesfuneralhome.com
Laura Moore, 52, nurse’s assistant, liked science fiction
HUDSON—Laura J. Moore, 52, of Hudson died Wednesday, March 28 at Columbia Memorial Hospital after a long illness.
Born April 13, 1959 in Greenwich, CT; she was the daughter of the late: Harold and Alice (Hagadorn) Carver.
Mrs. Moore had worked as a certified nursing assistant for more than 18 years at Columbia Memorial Hospital and for the past 6 years at the Whittier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Ghent.
She was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed reading and watching science fiction.
Survivors include: her son, David Moore of Hudson; two daughters, Laura (Steve) Nicholos of Catskill and Lisa (Randie) Hodges of Hollowville; a brother, James; four sisters, Dorothy, Harriet, Jackie and Debbie; seven grandchildren, Hannah, Samantha, Kayla, Brandon, David, Brooklynn and Saria and one great granddaughter, Catalina.
She was predeceased by her husband, David Moore, who died August 5, 2000 and her brother, Warren Carver.
Services will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Arrangements are with the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, Germantown.
Paul Holloway, 59, career in accounting
ALBANY—Paul Alan Holloway, 59, of Albany and Linlithgo died March 25, 2012 at Albany Medical Center, of heart failure and complications of kidney disease.
He was the beloved husband of Stephanie Mumford Brown; father of Emerson Holloway Brown; and grandfather of Emerson Holloway Brown, Jr. He was born in Elmira, August 12, 1952, to Norma King Holloway and Ronald Ivor Holloway.
He earned degrees from Southside High School and the University of Hartford. He and Stephanie were married January 10, 1990, at New York City Hall.
After a career in accounting at Bloomingdale’s and various small firms, Mr. Holloway retired in 2001 and focused on his family and pastimes.
He is also survived by siblings, Ralph Holloway of Jacksonville, FL, Joan Grinolds of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Donald Holloway of Southport and 10 nieces and nephews. The family invited friends and relatives to toast Mr. Holloway’s life March 30 and March 31 at their home at 292 State Street, Albany. Memorial donations may be made to Walkway Over the Hudson, www.walkway.org/donate or to the charity of one’s choice. For online condolences visit www.simplechoicescremation.com.