Lottie M. Brock (1970 – 2012)
TROY—Lottie M. Brock, 42, of Dyken Pond Road, Berlin died Monday evening, December 31 at Samaritan Hospital after being stricken at home.
Born July 11, 1970 in Pittsfield, MA, she was the loving wife of Karl D. Brock, Sr., whom she married June 20, 1992 in the Grafton Baptist Church. Raised in Stephentown, she was a 1988 graduate of Berlin Central High School.
Mrs. Brock worked at the Energy Answers Corp. now known as Covanta Energy with offices in Pittsfield and Agawam, MA. At the time of her death, she had worked there for 23 years as a senior account specialist. She was a former member of the Berlin Rod and Gun Club and served as club treasurer. She enjoyed cooking and going on the family’s yearly camping outing at Floodwood Pond in Saranac Lake.
Her true love was for her devoted family.
Survivors include: her husband, Karl; her mother, Roberta Shackett and her step-father, Leonard of Stephentown; her two children, Karl D. Brock, Jr., of West Sand Lake and Tonya M. Brock of Berlin; siblings, James (Tonya) Rathbun of Hancock, MA, Vincent Rathbun of Warrensburg and Leanna Bailey of Stephentown; in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Saturday, January 5 at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, with the Reverend Mark Norland officiating. Her cremated remains will be placed in Floodwood Pond later this summer.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Berlin Rod and Gun Club, c/o the funeral home, P.O. Box 361, Petersburgh 12138.
Julia Needham (1933 – 2012)
NASSAU—Julia Needham of Nassau died Monday, December 31, 2012 at her home.
She was born in Minnesota in 1933 and was the daughter of Tom and Dr. Laura Howard. She was a successful academic and was the valedictorian of her high school and Carleton College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mrs. Needham earned a Fulbright scholarship and studied at Nottingham University in England, where she met her future husband, Gerald Needham, Ph.D.
Mrs. Needham worked for many years as a writer and editor. She was the editor of Mother Earth magazine, and then for Gardenway publications from which she retired. She loved her grandchildren and the arts, but her great passion was gardening. A master gardener, she spent spring through fall tending the family’s garden.
She is survived by: her daughter, Catherine (Chris Smith); son, Michael (Tracy) and daughter-in-law Sabine Needham; grandchildren, Anja, Alex, Michaela and Keelin; her niece, Jennifer McMahon (Drea Thew); great-niece, Zella; nephew, Tom McMahon (Missy) and great-niece, Haley. Funeral services and burial will be at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond funeral home, Valatie.
Cynthia Myrtle Henderson Smith (1939 – 2013)
GERMANTOWN—The family of Cynthia Myrtle Henderson Smith grieves the passing of their beloved mother, grandmother, sister and wife, Friday, January 4, 2013 after a short but valiant battle with cancer. She died with her family at her side at her home in Germantown.
She was born April 14, 1939 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to Phillip and Myrtle Henderson.
She moved with her family to western Ohio at an early age, growing up in the towns of Lynchburg and Oxford, where her father was president of Western College. She attended high school at Northfield School in Northfield, Massachusetts, followed by college at Miami of Ohio and the Ohio State University, where she majored in education.
After graduation, she moved to Massachusetts to teach, where she met and married her first husband, Ronald Payson. After the birth of her children, Melinda and Ronald, Jr., the family moved to Germantown.
In 1976, Mrs. Smith began teaching fulltime at Germantown Central School, where she taught first, fifth and sixth grades through 2001. She found great satisfaction in her career as a teacher and was a lifelong proponent of education in her family and the community. She was also active with the Teacher’s Union, and served as its president for a number of years. After retirement, she became involved in local politics, serving for two terms on the Germantown Central Board of Education.
She married Jeremy Smith in 1985, and the couple continued to reside in Germantown until her passing. She traveled extensively throughout the world with her husband and was a lover of the arts, history, gardening, and especially enjoyed spending time with her eight grandchildren. She instilled in her family and friends a love of life, and learning which will be her legacy to them.
She is survived by: her husband, Jeremy Smith; her daughter, Melinda Payson of Pittsfield, Massachusetts; sons, John Young of Brooklyn and Ronald Payson of Williston, Vermont; step-children, Anna Smith of Somerset, England and Daniel Smith of Brooklyn; her brother, Phillip of Lansing, Michigan; half-sister, Lillian Miller of Greenville, Mississippi; eight grandchildren, Isabel, Chai, Meredith, Liam, William, Nicholas, Eli and Alistair, all of whom have fond memories of summers around the pool with Grammy, who thanks to a Swiss clock acquired in her travels, was also known as “Cuckoo”.
A celebration of her life will be held 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 9 at the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, Germantown. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Warren Street, Hudson at a date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Germantown Student Education Foundation would be welcomed.
Albert H. Herbold, III (1945 – 2013)
ALBANY—After a private, year-long battle with cancer, Albert “Rusty” H. Herbold, III, passed away peacefully at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn, January 3, 2013.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois, April 6, 1945 to Albert H. Herbold, Jr., who predeceased him, and Helen Barry Herbold, who is currently a resident of Kinderhook.
He is also survived by: his brother, Barry; sisters-in-law, Jacquelyn Carter and Gloria Douyon; niece, Laura (Herbold) Zavala and her fiancé, Edward French, III; nephew, Barry M. Herbold, II; family caregiver and friend, Norma Louie and dozens of cousins.
Mr. Herbold moved from Georgia to Kinderhook recently to be with his family. For 25 years, he lived in Georgia, where he retired from the market research department at the United Parcel Service. But his heart was always in Newtown, Connecticut, where he grew up, went to school, had many friends and spent his formative years.
Mr. Herbold was a connoisseur of good food, fine wine and Cuban cigars, and an unparalleled raconteur with a wide breadth of knowledge, owing, in part, to degrees he held in animal husbandry, psychology and business administration.
His family deeply thanks the caregivers at The Eddy Visiting Nurses, Columbia-Greene Community Hospice and St. Peter’s Hospice Inn for their true compassion, and encourages anyone so inclined to make a memorial donation in Mr. Herbold’s name to any or all of these fine, community-based organizations.
There are no calling hours. A memorial service to beat all memorial services will be conducted in the spring.
Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, Valatie.
W
alter Stephen Stahowski (1925 – 2013)
PHILMONT—Walter Stephen Stahowski passed away January 4, 2013 at the Pine Haven Nursing Home.
He was born November 16, 1925 to the late Stephen and Mary (Napieracz) Stahowski of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Mr. Stahowski is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Josephine (Alauria) Stahowski; two daughters, Joanne Craft (John) of Ghent and Theresa (Joseph) Nostrand of Walden; four grandchildren, Audrey, Laura, Robert and Steven; great granddaughter, Emily Quell; three sisters, Helen Phaneuf of North Adams, Massachusetts, Alice (Alfred) Corrigan of Massachusetts, MaryAnn (Paul) Lapinsky of Connecticut;11 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded by his beloved sister, Virginia (Mario) Zanconato; niece, Frances Zanconato and nephew, Michael Lapinsky.
Mr. Stahowski served his country in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Wisconsin from 1942 to 1946. He was a 60-year member of VFW Post 8348 and a 50-year member of the Philmont Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Stahowski worked for many years at the Canada Dry Company in Hudson then later for the Lorbrook Corporation. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed yard work. He loved the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and the New England Patriots sports teams. Mr. Stahowski loved going to the American Legion to play and call bingo on Thursday nights. He also enjoyed working on puzzles.
A religious service was celebrated at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham, Monday, January 7. Interment followed at the Sacred Heart Cemetery.
Contributions in Mr. Stahowski’s name may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA, 02241-7005. For directions to or to send an online condolence visit www.frenchblasl.com.
