Category Archives: 2020

Arthur E. Frank, Jr.

December 22, 2020

Alexandria Bay, NY – Arthur E. “Art” Frank, passed away Monday evening, December 22nd, at Samaritan Medical Center, in Watertown.

He was born March 6, 1938 in Bayonne, New Jersey, son of Arthur E. Sr., and Catherine J. Nelson Frank. He graduated from Bayonne High School and then from various aviation schools. Art was a career pilot in the aviation industry. He worked for many of those years for Wideworld Service, based in Argentina.

He was a member of the Alexandria Bay Rotary Club.

He married Miao Ling Wang on November 19, 2010 in China.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Jessica W. Frank, at home, a son, Glenn Frank, New Jersey, two brothers, Frederick P. Frank, Tallahassee, FL and Neil N. Frank, Palm Bay, FL and a sister, Catherine E.  Kucharski, Newark, DE.

 There will be no services.

Memorial donations may be made in Art’s memory to the American Cancer Society, at cancer.org.

Joseph M. Docteur

December 21, 2020

Cape Vincent, NY – Joseph M. Docteur, 59, passed away Monday evening, December 21st, at Upstate Medical Center, in Syracuse.

He was born June 27, 1961 in Johnson City, NY, son of David H. and Anne E. Mannigan Docteur. He graduated from South Jefferson High School and attended BOCES for diesel and tractor mechanics. As a young man he worked at Panorama Horse Farm in Rodman, NY.

Joe worked in the commercial construction industry. He supervised and assisted in many family and local projects and was happiest when working to improve the lives of family and friends. He loved all animals and always gave a greeting and scratch of the ear for any dog he encountered.

Joe was married to Marion Parker (Hess) in 1984. They made a home in Adams Center, NY. Two children were born from this union, Vanessa C. (Matthew) Siver Clayton, NY and Travis J. Docteur, Adams Center, NY [this marriage ended in divorce].

His children made him immensely proud. Their dedication to the goals they outlined in their lives gave him hope for the future and strength in his days. He was most proud of becoming “Papa Joey” to Celeste Siver (2 yrs), his tiniest dancer.      

Along with his daughter, son, and granddaughter, Joe is survived by his mother and step-father, Anne and James Bleier, St. Petersburg, FL, his father and step-mother, David and Mary Docteur, Cape Vincent, NY, sisters and brothers, Aimee M. Biedekapp, Dexter, NY, Theodore A. Docteur, Hamilton, MT, Gloria A. Docteur-Pratt, Watertown, NY, Thomas L. Docteur, Cape Vincent, NY, James D. (Nadra) Docteur, Cape Vincent, NY, and Susan E. Ingerson, Cape Vincent, NY, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, December 29th at 11:00am at St. Vincent of Paul Catholic Church with Fr. Ray Diesbourg officiating. Spring burial will in St. Vincent of Paul Cemetery, Cape Vincent.

Memorial donations may be made in Joe’s name to the Cape Vincent Ambulance Squad, PO Box 835, Cape Vincent, NY 13618.

Donald W. Bryer

December 15, 2020

Alexandria Bay, NY – Donald W. Bryer, 79, of 9 Fuller Street, passed away early Tuesday morning, December 15th, at his home.

He was born June 4, 1941 in Herrings, NY. He was educated in Morristown, NY schools.

He married Jill Simmons on November 2, 1984, in Morristown, NY. The couple resided in Croghan, NY for a number of years.

Don worked as a young man in the paper industry in Carthage, NY for 5 years. He then went to work for the New York Airbrake, in Watertown. He retired in 2004, after 37 years of service.

He enjoyed golf, cars and formula one racing.

Besides his wife, Jill, he is survived by a son, Daniel and two daughters, Sonja and Rhonda. A half brother, Peter Putnam, predeceased him.

Graveside services will be held in the spring of 2021 at Highland Park Cemetery, Alexandria Bay.

Memorial donations may be made in Don’s name to the Alexandria Bay Fire Department, 110 Walton St. Alexandria Bay, NY 13607

Robert C. Anderson

December 9, 2020

Alexandria Bay, NY – Robert C. Anderson, 70, of Avery Ave, passed away Wednesday, December 9th at Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, in Ogdensburg.

He was born June 11, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois, son of David and Ruth Piech Anderson.

He married Adrienne Stryczek on July 14, 1984, in Flossmoor, Il.

Bob was a graduate of Chicago State University, with a bachelor’s degree in education. He taught for 5 years before beginning his career with the U.S. Army. He proudly served his country for 18 years before retiring in 1994 as a Sergeant First Class.  Bob then returned to school, graduating in 1996 from Angelo State University, with his Registered Nurse’s degree. He worked for a number of years at River Hospital, as an RN, retiring again in 2015.

Be sides his wife Adrienne, he is survived by his brother, David T. Anderson, Slidell, LA and his four dogs that he referred to as his “fur babies”.

He will be buried in Irving Park Cemetery, Chicago, with full military honors.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Spay Neuter Now, at spayneuternow.org.

Joanne E. Burritt

Oswego, NY – Joanne E. Burritt, 78, passed away peacefully, Thursday, November 26th, at her home.

She was born August 3, 1942 in Sackets Harbor, NY, daughter of Donald A. Sr. and Ellen E. McGrath Cronk. She graduated from Pulaski Academy & Central School and then from Crouse Irving School of Nursing.

She married the love of her life, William H. Cook, on August 28, 1961, at St. John’s Church in Oswego. Following Mr. Cook’s passing, she also had marriages to Richard Rucynski and Hugh Burritt.

Joanne was a mother, grandma, nurse, secretary, real estate and life insurance agent, customer service representative, reference source “go to”, office manager and Mary Kay consultant. She retired in 1997.

She played a pivotal part in developing the Salmon Fish Hatchery, which started in Pulaski, NY. She was a Girl Scout Leader and a huge leader in orchestrating events to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network, among many other community fund raising events.

She is survived by her mother, Ellen E. Cronk, sons, William H. Cook, Jr, David Burritt, Scott Burritt and Jamie Burritt, daughters, Suzanne Cook, Kimberly(William) Sloan, Michele Cook and Maureen (Wink) Rucynski, a brother, Donald Cronk, Jr, a sister, Katherine (Tony) Folino, five grandchildren, Zachary Sizemore, Cole W. Shurtleff, Colin Sloan, Kennedy Shurtleff and Carly Sloan, a great grandson, Connor Sizemore, and in laws, Carol Cook Vescio, Cathy Cook and George L. Cook, Jr. Besides her husband William, she was predeceased by her father Donald Sr., by her loving daughter, Katherine M. Cook.

Her motto in life was “Eat your dessert first”.

A celebration of life service and burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery will be announced in the spring of 2021.

Memorial donations may be made to the K M Cookiefight, c/o Suzanne Cook, 14 Thistle Dr., Oswego, NY 13126.

Monica Fitzsimmons

Monica Fitzsimmons services planned

Alexandria Bay, NY – A mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, May 21st

 at 2 pm at St. Cyril’s Church.  Burial will follow at St. Cyril’s Cemetery.

November 25, 2020

WEBSTER, NY/SYRACUSE, NY – Monica Fitzsimmons, 78, passed away early Wednesday morning, November 25th, at Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, NY.

Monica was born August 14, 1942 in Syracuse, NY, daughter of Frederick DeLany and Monica Skehan. She graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral High School, Syracuse, NY and then from the Eastman Dental School of Dental Hygienists. She worked as a dental hygienist early in her marriage and then transitioned to the full-time job of raising a family with her husband. 

Monica married Thomas Christopher Fitzsimmons May 23, 1964, in Syracuse, NY before settling in Rochester.  Monica is survived by her husband, “Chris”, daughter Suzanne of Rochester, NY, two sons Matthew (Anna) of Rochester, NY, Robert (Lisa) of Kinderhook, NY and three grandchildren Alexander, Nora and Kasey. In addition she is survived by two sisters Margaret DeLany, MaryAnne DeLany Hesters, and two brothers Frederick DeLany and George DeLany.  She was predeceased by her brother Daniel DeLany.

A memorial mass and burial at Barnes Settlement Cemetery, Alexandria Bay, will be announced in the spring of 2021.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org or the Shrine of St Jude.

Monica Fitzsimmons services planned

Alexandria Bay, NY – A mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, May 21st

 at 2 pm at St. Cyril’s Church, for Monica Fitzsimmons.  Burial will follow at St. Cyril’s Cemetery.

Lila E. Side

EVANS MILLS, NY- Lila Elaine Side, 93, passed away Thursday afternoon, at her residence, Carthage Center, Carthage, NY.

She was born August 6, 1927 in Watertown, NY, daughter of Clifford and Vera Barnes Ingerson. She was educated in Watertown Schools. She was happily married to Earl J. Side for over 55 years. Mr. Side passed away on December 12, 2000.

Lila was housekeeping manager at Mercy Hospital in Watertown.  She retired in 1986, after 26 years of service.

She is survived by two sons, Michael (Tina) Side, Evans Mills, NY and Patrick (Lisa) Side, Watertown, NY, three daughters, Judy(David) Ashley, Black River, NY, Kathy (Norris) MacCue, Evans Mills, NY and Valerie (Rick) Bain, Redwood, NY , a sister, Donna Heirhozer, Morristown, NY, grandchildren,  great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. She was predeceased by three daughters, Sharon Engelhardt, Vera Pierce and Barbara Cook, three brothers, Richard, James and Allen Ingerson and a sister, Isabelle Fram.

Due to Covid 19, her funeral services will be private and limited to family.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, at stjude.org.

Edwin R. Smalling

November 8, 2020

Edwin R. “Ed” Smalling, 79, native of Alexandria Bay, passed away Sunday, November 8th, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, NY.

He was born October 3, 1941 in Alexandria Bay, son of Norbert and Flora Smalling. He graduated from Alexandria Central High School, received his bachelor’s degree from Springfield College, and his master’s degree from Ithaca College.

He married Nancy Beaulieu on August 29, 1982 in Fonda, NY.

Ed taught and coached at Gloversville High School for 15 years. He then went into the restaurant and motel business at Poplars Inn.  He later was coach and athletic director at Johnstown High School, retiring in 1993. After retiring, he bought and sold antiques on Ebay. Ed had always dreamed of having a camp on the St. Lawrence River and in 2008 he built a home on #9 Island. 

Besides his wife, Nancy, he is survived by two stepsons, Mark (Patricia) Roten, Johnstown, NY and Richard (Angelia) Beaulieu, Jr., Marietta, GA and a stepdaughter, Shannon Beaulieu, Florida, three grandchildren and three nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Norbert Smalling.

Graveside services will be planned for the spring of 2021 at Riverside Cemetery, Wellesley Island, NY.

Memorial donations may be made in Ed’s name to River Hospital Foundation, PO Box 567, Alexandria Bay, NY, 13607 or www.riverhospital.org.

Sean R. Dillon

SEAN R. DILLON

September 22, 2020

Cape Vincent, NY.  Sean R. Dillon, 32, of Route 12E, passed away with his family by his side on Tuesday morning at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, where he had been a patient for many months.

Sean was born to Linda Dillon in Council Bluffs, IA on July 5, 1988. He was a graduate of Thousand Islands High School.  He married Courtney Gould on July 22, 2017 in Cape Vincent with Hon. John Blodgett officiating.

Sean was employed for the past three years as the assistant manager at Valvoline in Watertown.  He enjoyed golfing, coin collecting, and auto mechanics, but especially loved spending time with his family and friends.  Following his death, per his wishes, Sean was an organ and tissue donor.

Sean is survived by his wife, Courtney and their daughter, Haisley; his wife’s parents and grandmother, Marylynn and Brian Leech, Erin and Floyd “Butch” Gould, and Rosalyn Robbins, all of Cape Vincent, and his many friends that were more like family to him.

A celebration of life gathering will be held on Sunday, October 4th from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at the Recreation Park facility/picnic area on James Street in Cape Vincent.  Attendees are reminded to wear face masks and respect distancing rules.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Sean’s name may be made to the fund for his daughter, Haisley Dillon, c/o the Citizen’s Bank of Cape Vincent, 154 East Broadway St, Cape Vincent, NY 13618.

Judith S. Rothermel

September 21, 2020

Theresa, NY – Judith S. Rothermel, 77, Clear Lake Camp Road, passed away Monday morning at her home.

She was born January 21, 1943, in Oneonta, NY, daughter of Clyde and Elma Southern Salisbury. She graduated from Oneonta High School. She married John S. Rothermel on May 2, 1972, in Cooperstown, NY.

Judie worked at Bresee’s Department Store as an IBM key puncher and for 5 years at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The couple lived in Concord, NH, Cape Elizabeth, ME, Springfield, MA, Keene, NH and Watertown, NY for many years, before retiring to their home on Clear Lake. Judie was a member of the Clear Lake Cottage Association.

Besides her husband John, she is survived by her brother, Bruce L. Salisbury, Milford, NY, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life gathering will be held Saturday, September 26th at 2pm on the shores of Clear Lake, at the home of friends, John and Mary Weagraff, 26861 Clear Lake Camp Road, Theresa, NY.