Deaths
So, it's been a bad month for the Campbell/Johnson families.
On February 26th, my brother-in-law's Uncle Ralph died. (interesting obit under the cut)
On March 12th, my father died.
On March 24th, my Uncle Bill died. He had lung cancer that had moved into his bones. Unlike my father who survived the cancer, but died for the cure, Bill died from it and I hear it wasn't good. So, for my Aunt, it was almost a relief as he was no longer in pain. He was married to my Aunt Roberta, so in 12 days she lost both her little brother and husband. My parents got married in the little church a block form the house they shared for years. I went to one of her daughter's weddings in that same church when I was a kid. Next to my Uncle Tom and family, I was closest to them and actually stayed with them a time or two without my family in Junior High.
Uncle Ralph's very long obit:
STEVER, RALPH BOSCHEN SR.
A Tribute to a Patriarch Ralph Boschen Stever, Sr. was born to Arthur Jay Stever and Elfrieda C. L. Boschen Stever on February 28, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a modest dwelling on Avenue J in Brooklyn until leaving to serve his country during World War II as a radio operator for the United States Army based in Kodiak, Alaska. Returning to Brooklyn after four years in the military he nurtured the relationship he began through childhood acquaintance and developed further by correspondence during his time away, with the girl next door - Ruthie Johnson, and eventually they joined together in a marriage that lasted 57 years until her death in December of 2004. Together they produced four children; with their wives they are Ralph Boschen Stever Jr. and Joan, Charles Donald Stever and Joyce, Richard Bradford Stever and Jowanna and Jonathan Leonard Stever. Grandchildren with their spouses include Dawn Rain Lyga and Mark, Skyler Robin Stever and Jennifer, Travis Craig Stever and Abigail, Azure Rose Stever and Jaymin Zachary Stever. Great Grandchildren include Ocean Apthia Stever and Sage Adella Stever. After serving his country he returned to Brooklyn and established Kings Highway American Legion Post #1358 in honor of his fellow soldiers serving in the armed forces and was also a past Commander of the American Legion, eventually achieving honorary life membership. Ralph was first hired by Citibank as a teller at one of their branch locations and during the same time period accomplished his Associates degree in Banking and Finance at The College of the City of New York. While providing for his then growing family he attended night classes in an effort to accomplish his Bachelors of Arts degree in the same area of study at New York University; this he achieved in June of 1955. In the years that followed, when circumstances allowed he moved his family from their home in Brooklyn to Pearl River, New York and established a residence on East Nauraushaun Avenue. Ralph and Ruth quickly developed lifelong friendships with neighbors in the area and the surrounding community that hold strong and true to this day. In recognition of his service to the local community, his leadership in the Conservative Party and overall life achievement he was awarded a proclamation by the Town of Orangetown establishing October 14, 1976 as Ralph Stever Day in the Town of Orangetown. He continued to rise through the ranks during his career with Citibank and eventually after 40 years retired as assistant vice president at their primary branch location in Manhattan, New York. Ralph always had an abiding love for his country and took great pride in regard to his connection, through genealogy, to past family members who served the cause of freedom in Washington's army during our country's struggle for independence from Britain. Interest in keeping these ideas alive along with a strong love of country led him to seek membership in an organization dedicated to these same principles. The Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York introduced him to kindred spirits that shared and expressed his own patriotic values. He rose in stature from his initial membership to Captain of the Color Guard for the State of New York in 1957 and 58', through various other leadership positions and eventually achieved the highest ranking conferred as National General Society President of the Sons of the Revolution for a period of three years, and Honorary General President for Life. This was the culmination of a lifetime of service to an organization that brought much satisfaction and recognized achievement to a man highly regarded by his peers. It is not unfitting to say that he had no equal outside the pantheon of founding fathers in regard to his commitment and dedication to the cause of freedom and constitutional integrity as represented and embodied in the ideals expressed by the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution. Our father passed away peacefully with family by his side on the evening of February 26, 2009. He was not known for his overt expressions of emotion, indeed, his dry sense of humor at times disguised a genuine sense of concern but as is revealed in his letters and poetic writings, and through sympathetic gestures to those in need during troubling circumstances he had a compassionate heart and a sacred obligation to those he held dear. His devoted wife Ruthie was the main stay of his world, he took pride in his sons and the wives that they chose, he cherished his grandchildren and the families they made, he was faithful to friends and he lived his life as an ongoing testimony to that which is honest and good. As a family we are grieved at the loss of a patriarch, as individuals we take note of what a tall skinny kid from Brooklyn can accomplish through hard work, integrity and a willingness to serve. It does our heart good to know that he is dancing with Ruthie, crooning softly in her ear, in the comfort of Heaven and bathed in the light of the Lord. A Funeral Service will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, N. Main St., Pearl River, NY. Burial will follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY. Visiting is Monday and Tuesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home Inc. WYMAN-FISHER FUNERAL HOME INC. 100 Franklin Ave. Pearl River, NY 10965 845-735-2161
The Travis mentions is the guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, whom I met at the Christmas, just days after Ruthie's death.
Dad's current short obit (a longer one will eventually come out when my sister finally finishes writing it):
CAMPBELL, JOHN A.
CALABASH, N.C. | John Alexander Campbell, 74, of Deer Path S.W., died Thursday, March 12, 2009 in the Sea Coast Medical Center.
Mr. Campbell was born on February 24, 1935 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to the late John A. and Muriel Portmore Campbell.
He attended and graduated from Crosby High School, Waterbury, Conn., and the University of Connecticut. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mr. Campbell owned and operated the Campbell-Solberg Associates, Inc. insurance agency in New York, N.Y.
Surviving are his wife, Julia A. Campbell; son, John A. Campbell III, Van Nuys, Calif.; daughter, Sharon L. Johnson, Colts Neck, N.J.; two sisters, Lois C. Oziolli, Marston Mills, MA., and Roberta C. Blecher, East Hartland, Conn.; and two grandchildren, Ryan Johnson and Brianna Johnson.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in the Brunswick Funeral Service Chapel.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2009 at the funeral home.
Please sign a guest book at brunswickfuneralservice.com and at TheSunNews.com.
Brunswick Funeral Service & Crematory, Shallotte, N.C., is assisting the family.
Edited for mistakes. And I changed the middle initial for my sister from a C for Campbell (like his sisters) to her actual one because the C just looks wrong to me.
Uncle Bill's:
BLECHER, William Andrew
William Andrew Blecher, 78, of East Hartland, beloved husband of Roberta (Campbell) Blecher, went to be with the Lord Tuesday (March 24, 2009) surrounded by his loving family at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford. Born in Queens, NY, son of the late William and Minnie (Rank) Blecher, he grew up in Forest Hills, Long Island, moved to Middletown and lived in East Hartland for the past 49 years. Bill graduated with a BSME from the College of the City of New York and received his MSME at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He served in the US Army during the Korean War and was employed for over 30 years as a mechanical engineer at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, retiring in 1988. While at Hamilton Standard, he worked on the Apollo 11 project and received the Apollo Achievement Award and the Apollo 11 Medallion Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for his work on the project. While living in Forest Hills, NY he was an assistant Boy Scout Master for five years and was active in the Hartland community and served as the Chairman of the Board of Education for 10 years and was a member of the town building committee. He was a member of Living Word Ministries in West Haven. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, twin daughters Nancy and her husband Robert Cannavo of Winchester, Joyce Nalette of West Haven, and Katherine and her husband Kenen Vance of Milford; eight grandchildren, Joshua Nalette, Jessica Nalette Gerken, and Christopher Nalette, Lindsay, Seth and Maria Cannavo, Ryan and Austin Vance; four great grandchildren Anna and Gabrielle Gerken, Zachary and Benjamin Nalette; and his former son-in-law Timothy Nalette of West Stafford. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. at the Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., Granby with his son-in-law Rev. Kenen Vance officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the East Hartland Cemetery with Military Honors. His family will receive friends on Friday, March 27, from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405-4906 or to Living Word Ministries, 225 Meloy Rd., West Haven, CT 06516. For online condolences, please visit carmonfuneralhome.com.
Cricket, you met him and Aunt Roberta and Nancy and Joyce and Maria at my dad's 70th party. I'm trying to remember how many others listed here were there.
Dude, he worked on Apollo 11. I find it oddly interesting that both he and Ralph attended the same college for a time, just not at the same time. As I've said before, I was glad my dad made it to his 74th b-day. Ralph died two days before his 88th.
I'm still putting off the post about the service until the weekend. There will be a couple of pictures and I need to get them in the computer and stuff.
On February 26th, my brother-in-law's Uncle Ralph died. (interesting obit under the cut)
On March 12th, my father died.
On March 24th, my Uncle Bill died. He had lung cancer that had moved into his bones. Unlike my father who survived the cancer, but died for the cure, Bill died from it and I hear it wasn't good. So, for my Aunt, it was almost a relief as he was no longer in pain. He was married to my Aunt Roberta, so in 12 days she lost both her little brother and husband. My parents got married in the little church a block form the house they shared for years. I went to one of her daughter's weddings in that same church when I was a kid. Next to my Uncle Tom and family, I was closest to them and actually stayed with them a time or two without my family in Junior High.
Uncle Ralph's very long obit:
STEVER, RALPH BOSCHEN SR.
A Tribute to a Patriarch Ralph Boschen Stever, Sr. was born to Arthur Jay Stever and Elfrieda C. L. Boschen Stever on February 28, 1921 in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in a modest dwelling on Avenue J in Brooklyn until leaving to serve his country during World War II as a radio operator for the United States Army based in Kodiak, Alaska. Returning to Brooklyn after four years in the military he nurtured the relationship he began through childhood acquaintance and developed further by correspondence during his time away, with the girl next door - Ruthie Johnson, and eventually they joined together in a marriage that lasted 57 years until her death in December of 2004. Together they produced four children; with their wives they are Ralph Boschen Stever Jr. and Joan, Charles Donald Stever and Joyce, Richard Bradford Stever and Jowanna and Jonathan Leonard Stever. Grandchildren with their spouses include Dawn Rain Lyga and Mark, Skyler Robin Stever and Jennifer, Travis Craig Stever and Abigail, Azure Rose Stever and Jaymin Zachary Stever. Great Grandchildren include Ocean Apthia Stever and Sage Adella Stever. After serving his country he returned to Brooklyn and established Kings Highway American Legion Post #1358 in honor of his fellow soldiers serving in the armed forces and was also a past Commander of the American Legion, eventually achieving honorary life membership. Ralph was first hired by Citibank as a teller at one of their branch locations and during the same time period accomplished his Associates degree in Banking and Finance at The College of the City of New York. While providing for his then growing family he attended night classes in an effort to accomplish his Bachelors of Arts degree in the same area of study at New York University; this he achieved in June of 1955. In the years that followed, when circumstances allowed he moved his family from their home in Brooklyn to Pearl River, New York and established a residence on East Nauraushaun Avenue. Ralph and Ruth quickly developed lifelong friendships with neighbors in the area and the surrounding community that hold strong and true to this day. In recognition of his service to the local community, his leadership in the Conservative Party and overall life achievement he was awarded a proclamation by the Town of Orangetown establishing October 14, 1976 as Ralph Stever Day in the Town of Orangetown. He continued to rise through the ranks during his career with Citibank and eventually after 40 years retired as assistant vice president at their primary branch location in Manhattan, New York. Ralph always had an abiding love for his country and took great pride in regard to his connection, through genealogy, to past family members who served the cause of freedom in Washington's army during our country's struggle for independence from Britain. Interest in keeping these ideas alive along with a strong love of country led him to seek membership in an organization dedicated to these same principles. The Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York introduced him to kindred spirits that shared and expressed his own patriotic values. He rose in stature from his initial membership to Captain of the Color Guard for the State of New York in 1957 and 58', through various other leadership positions and eventually achieved the highest ranking conferred as National General Society President of the Sons of the Revolution for a period of three years, and Honorary General President for Life. This was the culmination of a lifetime of service to an organization that brought much satisfaction and recognized achievement to a man highly regarded by his peers. It is not unfitting to say that he had no equal outside the pantheon of founding fathers in regard to his commitment and dedication to the cause of freedom and constitutional integrity as represented and embodied in the ideals expressed by the General Society of the Sons of the Revolution. Our father passed away peacefully with family by his side on the evening of February 26, 2009. He was not known for his overt expressions of emotion, indeed, his dry sense of humor at times disguised a genuine sense of concern but as is revealed in his letters and poetic writings, and through sympathetic gestures to those in need during troubling circumstances he had a compassionate heart and a sacred obligation to those he held dear. His devoted wife Ruthie was the main stay of his world, he took pride in his sons and the wives that they chose, he cherished his grandchildren and the families they made, he was faithful to friends and he lived his life as an ongoing testimony to that which is honest and good. As a family we are grieved at the loss of a patriarch, as individuals we take note of what a tall skinny kid from Brooklyn can accomplish through hard work, integrity and a willingness to serve. It does our heart good to know that he is dancing with Ruthie, crooning softly in her ear, in the comfort of Heaven and bathed in the light of the Lord. A Funeral Service will be held 10:30 AM Wednesday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, N. Main St., Pearl River, NY. Burial will follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY. Visiting is Monday and Tuesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home Inc. WYMAN-FISHER FUNERAL HOME INC. 100 Franklin Ave. Pearl River, NY 10965 845-735-2161
The Travis mentions is the guitarist for Coheed and Cambria, whom I met at the Christmas, just days after Ruthie's death.
Dad's current short obit (a longer one will eventually come out when my sister finally finishes writing it):
CAMPBELL, JOHN A.
CALABASH, N.C. | John Alexander Campbell, 74, of Deer Path S.W., died Thursday, March 12, 2009 in the Sea Coast Medical Center.
Mr. Campbell was born on February 24, 1935 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to the late John A. and Muriel Portmore Campbell.
He attended and graduated from Crosby High School, Waterbury, Conn., and the University of Connecticut. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mr. Campbell owned and operated the Campbell-Solberg Associates, Inc. insurance agency in New York, N.Y.
Surviving are his wife, Julia A. Campbell; son, John A. Campbell III, Van Nuys, Calif.; daughter, Sharon L. Johnson, Colts Neck, N.J.; two sisters, Lois C. Oziolli, Marston Mills, MA., and Roberta C. Blecher, East Hartland, Conn.; and two grandchildren, Ryan Johnson and Brianna Johnson.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in the Brunswick Funeral Service Chapel.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2009 at the funeral home.
Please sign a guest book at brunswickfuneralservice.com and at TheSunNews.com.
Brunswick Funeral Service & Crematory, Shallotte, N.C., is assisting the family.
Edited for mistakes. And I changed the middle initial for my sister from a C for Campbell (like his sisters) to her actual one because the C just looks wrong to me.
Uncle Bill's:
BLECHER, William Andrew
William Andrew Blecher, 78, of East Hartland, beloved husband of Roberta (Campbell) Blecher, went to be with the Lord Tuesday (March 24, 2009) surrounded by his loving family at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford. Born in Queens, NY, son of the late William and Minnie (Rank) Blecher, he grew up in Forest Hills, Long Island, moved to Middletown and lived in East Hartland for the past 49 years. Bill graduated with a BSME from the College of the City of New York and received his MSME at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He served in the US Army during the Korean War and was employed for over 30 years as a mechanical engineer at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, retiring in 1988. While at Hamilton Standard, he worked on the Apollo 11 project and received the Apollo Achievement Award and the Apollo 11 Medallion Award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for his work on the project. While living in Forest Hills, NY he was an assistant Boy Scout Master for five years and was active in the Hartland community and served as the Chairman of the Board of Education for 10 years and was a member of the town building committee. He was a member of Living Word Ministries in West Haven. Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, twin daughters Nancy and her husband Robert Cannavo of Winchester, Joyce Nalette of West Haven, and Katherine and her husband Kenen Vance of Milford; eight grandchildren, Joshua Nalette, Jessica Nalette Gerken, and Christopher Nalette, Lindsay, Seth and Maria Cannavo, Ryan and Austin Vance; four great grandchildren Anna and Gabrielle Gerken, Zachary and Benjamin Nalette; and his former son-in-law Timothy Nalette of West Stafford. A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. at the Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home, 364 Salmon Brook St., Granby with his son-in-law Rev. Kenen Vance officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the East Hartland Cemetery with Military Honors. His family will receive friends on Friday, March 27, from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Connecticut Hospice, 100 Double Beach Rd., Branford, CT 06405-4906 or to Living Word Ministries, 225 Meloy Rd., West Haven, CT 06516. For online condolences, please visit carmonfuneralhome.com.
Cricket, you met him and Aunt Roberta and Nancy and Joyce and Maria at my dad's 70th party. I'm trying to remember how many others listed here were there.
Dude, he worked on Apollo 11. I find it oddly interesting that both he and Ralph attended the same college for a time, just not at the same time. As I've said before, I was glad my dad made it to his 74th b-day. Ralph died two days before his 88th.
I'm still putting off the post about the service until the weekend. There will be a couple of pictures and I need to get them in the computer and stuff.