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Death Notices for the week of
May 26, 2003 Nat O. (Bud) Lester, Jr., attorney, community leader, sports supporter Nat O. Lester, Jr., (Bud) a lifelong resident of Brockport, died May 17, 2003. Born on April 20, 1925 to Helen (Conway) and Nat O. Lester, Sr., he resided at the family home on State Street his entire life. He received his elementary and high school education in the Brockport schools. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Army. After his army career, he attended St. Bonaventure University where he played basketball. Later, he graduated from Albany Law School. Immediately upon graduating from law school, he passed the New York State Bar examination and in 1952 joined the law firm of Lester and Lester in Brockport and practiced law with his father and his uncle, Herbert G. Lester. At the time of his death he was practicing law with his son, Nat O. Lester III, at the historic Lester Building located in downtown Brockport. Nat Lester was appointed attorney for the Brockport Central School District in 1952 and held that position for over 30 years. From 1956 to 1961, he served as town attorney for the Town of Sweden. In 1962, he was elected Supervisor for the Town of Sweden. He served on the Monroe County Board of Supervisors until 1967 and thereafter on the Monroe County Legislature until his retirement from politics in 1978. His most memorable accomplishments during his years of civic duty were the transformation of the old Star Market on State Street into the current Sweden Town Hall and the establishment of the former Brockport-Clarkson-Sweden Joint Recreation Commission. He was equally proud of other community improvements during his administration such as the development of Sweden Village subdivision in the early 1960s, the construction of Owens Road, and the construction of the town highway garage on White Road. Recently, he was enthusiastic about the expansion of recreational opportunities in the community. In particular, he enjoyed observing the development of the first Town Park on Redman Road and the new Recreation Center on Lake Road. Mr. Lester was past president of the Brockport Junior Baseball League; former member of the Board of Management of the Brockport YMCA; member of the Church of the Nativity and past president of the Holy Name Society; an originating founder of the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles Booster Club. He was an avid sports fan and he was a founding member of the Brockport-Clarkson-Sweden Joint Recreation Commission. On March 16 of this year, Mr. Lester was awarded the Bill Corbin Award by the Brockport Basketball Booster Club. In remarks made at the group's banquet, President Tony Liccione said of Lester: "Buddy did it all … he was an All-County basketball player at Brockport High School, he was a coach, he ran a semi pro basketball team called the Brockport Monarchs (and played some of the finest teams around including the World Champion Rochester Royals and the Buffalo Barons), he started the Golden Eagles Booster Club at SUNY Brockport, he helped needy athletes in the past. He truly was a promoter, a "goodwill ambassador" for the sport of basketball throughout his entire life. The name Nat 'Buddy' Lester is synonymous with the great sport of basketball in Brockport. Bud is very much loved, admired and respected by his family, friends, parents, players and by his peers. He attends just about all the Brockport High School games (Varsity, JV and CYO games) and truly, you never experienced a basketball game as a spectator until you sit next to Buddy at a game. This man comes alive with cheering and enthusiasm for all the Brockport teams." Mr. Lester is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joan Peers Lester; his children: JoEllen (Jeff) Clements, Judi (Chris Barnett) Lester, Nancy (Woody) VanDenburg, Nat O. (Karen) Lester III, Michael E. (Lisa) Lester; 13 grandchildren; his sister, Marilyn Lester Losee; his aunt, Frances Lester; many nieces, nephews, cousins and life-long friends. A Mass of Christian Burial was said May 22 at the Church of the Nativity. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Sweden-Clarkson Recreation Center, (c/o 18 State Street, Brockport, NY 14420), a community facility where he enjoyed watching his grandchildren and other youth of the community participate in athletic activities. AREA •Faulconbridge, Bernard A., May 4, 2003 at age 76. He leaves his loving wife of 53 years, Stell; his sons, and family: Bernard T. (Nancy), Ian W.; grand dad "PaPa" of Rebecca, Michael, Melissa and great granddaughter, Marissa; sisters, Minnie of Scotland and Nan of Wales, Ron, Holly and family of Rochester; dear friends, Dorothy Shannon and family of Rochester. He was one of the first Commissioners of Greece Little Guys Soccer League, a coach in the Little League Baseball 40 and 1, played soccer for Rochester Soccer League. A Celebration of Life was held May 7 at New Comer Family Funeral Home, Greece. BERGEN •Brew, Bertha M., May 14, 2004 at age 94. Mother of Theodore (Leslie), Howard (Sandra) Enid (Dean) Baker, Laura (Robert) Baleno and Cordelia (Al) Cohill; also survived by 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchil-dren. Wife of the late William. Funeral Services were held May 17 at The Bergen Presbyterian Church. Memorials can be made to the church or the charity of one's choice. •Steedman, James A., May 15, 2003. Survived by his wife of 56 years, Shirley (Beedham) Steedman; his children, Ronald (Dawn) Steedman, Sandra (Dale) Knab, Sheryl (Steve) Hohn and Susann (Bill) Hall; his granddaughters Stephanie, Stacey, Tiffany and Ashley Hohn; grandsons Ronald Steedman and Codey Hall; step grand-children Heidi and Quinn Schmidt; his step great grand-son Christian Browne; brother Robert (Connie) Steedman; sisters Norma Christopher, Sheila (Richard) Ouwleen and Doris Hessenthaler; several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his sister Rose Wood. He was a member of Sackett Merrill White American Legion Post #575. He retired from General Electric in Brockport in 1982. Funeral Services were held May 17 at Walker Brothers Co. Funeral Home Inc., Churchville. Interment Mt. Rest Cemetery, Bergen. Contributions can be made to his family for a memorial in his memory or to the Bergen Rescue Squad. BROCKPORT •Ballard, Beatrice E., May 12, 2003. She is predeceased by her husbands, Martin Connors and William Ballard; daughter, Helen Hoy. She is survived by her sons, Wayland (Bonnie) Park, Harold (Debbie) Park; daughters, Beverly Wetzel, Janet (Wendell) Applegate, Dorothy Knapp and Lois (Peter) Perry; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and great-great-grandchildren. Funeral Services were held May 17 at Fowler Funeral Home, Inc., Brockport. Contributions can be made to Lakeside Memorial Hospital in her memory. •Lester, Nat Owens Jr., Esq. (Bud), May 17, 2003. Survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Joan Peers Lester and children, Jo Ellen (Jeff) Clements, Judi (Chris Barnett) Lester, Nancy (Woodie) VanDenburg, Nat O. (Karen) Lester III, and Michael (Lisa) Lester. He is also survived by his 13 grandchildren; his sister, Marilyn Lester Losee; brothers-in-law, Irv Lee and Bob Peers; sister-in-law, Patricia Peers Tisdale; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A lifelong resident of Brockport, he was a practicing partner in the law firm of Lester & Lester. He was also a former Town of Sweden Attorney, Attorney for the Brockport Central School District, Monroe County Legislator, and Supervisor for the Town of Sweden. A Funeral Mass was said May 22 at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Brockport. Interment, Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Sweden Clarkson Recreation Center, c/o 18 State Street, Brockport 14420. CHILI •Gnage, Matthew J.F., Suddenly, May 16, 2003 at the age of 14. He is survived by his beloved parents, Mother, Robyn (James) Francis and Father, John (Collette Follett) Gnage; sister, Lindsey Gnage, Jamie Francis; brother, Ronald Francis; good friend, Matthew Follett; grandparents, Donald Gnage, Ron and Nolee Feiock; great-grandparents, Fred and Cora Diehl and great-grandmother, Loretta Redmond; several aunts; uncles; cousins and many dear friends. Funeral Services were held May 22 at Fowler Funeral Home, Inc., Brockport. Interment at the convenience of the family. GREECE •Mannoni, Milena (Palluconi), May 16, 2003. Predeceased by her husband Goffredo Mannoni, brother Ferdinando Palluconi; sister and brother-in-law Ovidia (Umberto) Mariucci; brother-in-law Antonio Gambucci. Survived by her children, Sante Mannoni, Adele "Lina" Battista, Aldo (Margaret) Mannoni, Linda (Lee) Struble; 10 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; sister Veridiana "Vera" Gambucci; brother Antenore (Santa) Palluconi; sister-in-law Cecilia Palluconi; several nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass was celebrated May 19 at St. Charles Barromeo Church. Entombment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Donations can be sent to Alzheimer's Association, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620 in her memory. HAMLIN •Schuth, Erich J., May 15, 2003 at age 37. He is survived by his two children, Stephanie and Dustin Schuth, and their mother, Sandra Lapinski; his mother, Marilyn (Irving) Sloan of Chandler, Arizona; his brother, Brent (Shelly Cone) Schuth; his maternal grandmother, Julia Bayer; his aunt and uncle Marjorie and Kermit Gavigan; several cousins. He was predeceased by his maternal grandfather John A. Bayer. A Memorial Service was held May 19 at Walker Brothers Co. Funeral Home Inc., Spencerport. Con-tributions can be made to the Sleep Disorder Center of Rochester, 2110 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618 in his memory. SPENCERPORT •Gnage, Carolyn R. (Ehrhardt), May 16, 2003 at the age of 65. She is survived by her loving husband, Donald Gnage of 44 years; her children, Christopher (Theresa) Gnage, David Gnage, Robert (Deanna) Gnage, Mary (Alvin) Hazelwood, John Gnage and Kathy (Dirk) Lammes; mother, Loretta Redmond; brother, Peter (Donna) Ehrhardt; grandchildren, Ashley, Joshua, Rachel, Michael, Joseph, Andrew, Kaitlyn, Kailey, Matthew, Lindsey and Samuel; several nieces; nephews; cousins and many dear friends. She owned and operated Festival Flowers and was a Deaconess in the World Wide Church of God. Funeral Services were held May 20 at Fowler Funeral Home, Inc., Brockport. Interment Lake View Cemetery. |