Death Notices for the week of
September 15, 2003

Charles Beaman, inventor, electrical engineer

North Chili resident Charles Allan Beaman, a 1948 graduate of Churchville High School, enjoyed working in the field of electronics. He graduated from Clarkson College in 1952, earning a degree in electrical engineering. He then went to work with Bell Aircraft where he worked on the Bell X-2. Chuck Yeager had flown the Bell X-1 faster than the speed of sound in 1947, and the testing of faster than sound aircraft was still very new. He later worked on the Rascal and Atlas missile programs. He married Helen E. Bresslin in 1953.

A veteran of the Korean Conflict, he joined Stromberg-Carlson after the war, working on several radio projects. Mr. Beaman built radio-controlled model airplanes and boats throughout his life and at one point began building full sized boats, founding a company called Aquasonics. Some believe his work in those years was decades ahead of the time and provided framework for today's personal floatation devices (jet skis) in a prototype machine with handle bars similar to a bicycle's called an Aqua-Jet. A fire at the plant on Murray Street in Rochester where the watercraft was built ended production of the boats. The company was purchased by the Hickock (Belt) company. When many of the top executives at Hickock were killed in an airplane crash, the company never recovered and production of the boat ceased.

Mr. Beaman also developed an ozone generator to purify drinking water, became a vice president of Alron Company which manufactured and sold units throughout western New York.

During his later years, Mr. Beaman worked as an engineer at Luster-Coate Metallizing Company in Churchville. He was diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis in 1981 and his health slowly declined, yet, in 1993, he joined his brothers, Ken, Larry and Joe, his son, Bryan, and nephews Steven and Scott in restoring antique and classic cars purchased in the 1950s.

Recently, Mr. Beaman lived at the Village Green Nursing Home in LeRoy.

Mr. Beaman is survived by his wife of 50 years, Helen E. (Bresslin) Beaman; his children Bryan (Barbara) Beaman, Joy (Pat) Catino and Cheryl Kells; his grandchildren Eric and Emmalie Beaman, Kassandra, Danielle and Kevin Catino; his brothers Donald (Sarah), Kenneth (Joyce) and Larry (Nancy) Beaman; sisters Diana Hamill and Linda (Brian) Dougherty; many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service was held September 2 at Walker Brothers Co. Funeral Home Inc., Spencerport. Contributions can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate NY Chapter, 1650 South Avenue, Suite 100, Rochester, NY 14620 or to the Association for the Blind or to the Spencerport Volunteer Ambulance in his memory.

AREA

•Elliott, James N., On September 3, 2003 at the age of 34. He is survived by the loves of his life, his children, Kaitlyn, Ashley, and Mary; his mother, Janice Elliott; father, Randall (Marilyn) Elliott; brother, Randall III (Lisa) Elliott; sister, Kara Elliott; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.

Funeral Services were held September 6 at Fowler Funeral Home, Inc., Brockport. Interment, Lakeside Cemetery, Hamlin. Donations can be made to James Elliott Childrens' College Fund, c/o 1349 Center Road, Kendall, NY 14476.

BROCKPORT

•Tobin, Willis J., On September 5, 2003 at the age of 78. Predeceased by his wife, Mary Louise. Survived by his children, David, Don (Ellen), Gary (Lori), Joan (Mark) Valle; 10 grandchildren; one great-grand-daughter.

Funeral Services were held September 8 at Fowler Funeral Home, Inc., Brockport. Interment, Garland Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association in his memory.

CHURCHVILLE

•Diltz, Richard C., September 4, 2003 at age 77. He was predeceased by his son, Larry B. Diltz. Survived by his wife of 57 years, Thelma (Boyd) Diltz; children, Connie (Jim) Smith, Deborah (Lee) Lindenmuth and Gary (Sharon) Diltz; grandchildren James (Jennifer) Smith, Brett (Valerie) Lindenmuth, Brian (Carrie) Lindenmuth, Tanya Lindenmuth and Roxanne (Randy Ham) Perrin; great grandchildren, Brittney Perrin, Mary and Jacob Lindenmuth; several nieces and nephews. He was a retiree of F.R. Ehrmentraut Hardware.

A Memorial Service was held September 8 at Union Congregational UCC, Churchville. Contributions can be made to Union Congregational UCC, 14 North Main Street, Churchville 14428 in his memory.

•Viggiano, Joan E. (Biek) (Barry), September 8, 2003 at age 50, after a brave fight. Survived by her parents John and Helen Barry; her sons, David (Angelica) Biek, Jeffery Biek and John Viggiano; her grandson Andrew Biek; sisters, Kathleen Beasom, Jan (Ron) Lee, Shirley (Rich) Duhan and Deb (Ed) Housel; brother John R. Barry and loving friend Keith Lape.

Funeral Services were held September 10 at Walker Brothers Co. Funeral Home, Inc., Churchville. Contributions can be made to the Humane Society in her memory.

HILTON

•DeNeve, Warren H. Jr., September 5, 2003, age 81. He was predeceased by his wife, Martha, 1998. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Carol DeNeve; his grandson, Chad; his brother, Joseph (Phyllis) DeNeve. Warren was a U.S. Navy WWII Veteran and a Kodak Retiree. He was a graduate of Hope College and West Michigan State (Chem. Engr.)

Funeral Services were held September 8 at the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Inc., Hilton. Private interment Parma Union Cemetery. Those wishing can contribute to GRHCA Hospice in his memory.

HOLLEY

•Schram, Paul B., Age 53, September 5, 2003. Predeceased by his daughter, Paula, brother-in-law, Raymond Hamblin. Survived by two daughters, Gina Poole of Dansville, Kellie (Mike) Gates of Albion; four grandchildren, Morgan, Melissa, Brian, Jordan; sister, Kathryn Hamblin of Greece; niece, Kristen (Robert) Green; nephew, Scott Graham; great-niece; two great-nephews and cousins.

A Memorial Service was held September 10 at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc., Albion. Interment, Mt. Hope Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or American Diabetes Association in his memory.

KENDALL

•Boyle, Robert J. Sr., September 6, 2003. Age 53. Survived by wife of 22 years, Laurel; sons, Sean and Case; his father, Robert Sr., as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Funeral Service was held September 12 at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc., Albion. Interment in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Memorials can be made to Hospice of Orleans or the VA Hospital, Batavia in his memory.

SPENCERPORT

•Gearing, Jennie "Aunt Jen," September 6, 2003 at the age of 107., She is survived by her nephew Stanley (Fran) Gearing; her great nieces Diane Odel, Janice Dorgan, Joyce Westcott and Jayne Gartley; her great nephews Harold, Dale and Donald Gearing; many great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services were held September 8 at Walker Brothers Co. Funeral Home, Inc., Spencerport. Inter-ment Fairfield Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Memorial Fund of the Parma Baptist Church, 4997 West Ridge Road, Spencerport, NY 14559 or Lakeside Beikirch Care Center, 170 West Avenue, Brockport, NY 14420 in her memory.