Obituary: Ann Louise Stokes

Ann Louise Stokes died peacefully of natural causes in Livingston, NJ, on Feb. 26, 2012. She was born in Brooklyn on Feb. 20, 1926. Ann was a long time resident of Manhasset and was an active and lifelong member of the town’s Congregational Church. She was also a member of the Plandome Women’s Club and of the Great Neck Teachers Association. Ann traveled extensively touring China, Africa, South America and extensively throughout Europe. She enjoyed reading, golf, sailing and boating.

Obituary: Maria Luisa Fornari

Maria Luisa Fornari (nee Della Seta), died on March 4, 2012. Beloved wife of Harry D. Fornari. Mother of James D. Fornari and Daniel J. Fornari. Nonna of Matthew J. Fornari, Sasha G. Fornari and Simon J. Fornari and mother-in-law of CL Fornari and Amy Gillenson. Cremation private. Future memorial to be announced to friends and family. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Great Neck Public Library (http://www.greatnecklibrary.org/) would be appreciated. Arrangements were made by the John Lawrence Funeral Home, Marston Mills, MA.

Obituary: Joyce Marsella Freedman

Joyce Marsella Freedman, 88, of Great Neck and Mystic, CT, passed away on Feb. 25, 2012. She was born Dec. 14, 1923 in Long Branch, NJ, the eldest child of Anna and Alexander Marsella.

Growing up on the New Jersey Shore, as a young girl she worked at the Knick Knack Nook, a souvenir shop on the Long Branch boardwalk owned and operated by her Aunt Nettie. She later attended and graduated Monmouth Junior College.

Obituary: Robert Lewis

Robert Lewis, founding partner of the labor and employment law firm Jackson Lewis, LLP, died peacefully on Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, following complications from pneumonia at the age of 88. He was a long term resident of Great Neck and an active member for many years of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Committee. Born in Brooklyn on Jan. 2, 1924, even his earliest baby pictures reveal Bob’s quintessential grin. He met his wife Ethel Padnick as a teenager, and after several years of courtship, from which the family still holds his elegant letters, the couple embarked on what would become nearly 65 years of marriage. He enlisted in the Army shortly after graduating from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1942. It was his time stationed in Italy as a secretary for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate that sparked two of his lifelong interests: law and archaeology. He enrolled in Brooklyn Law School on the G.I. bill and married Ethel in 1947.

Obituary: Morris Frank Phillips

Morris Frank Phillips died on Feb. 5, 2012 at the age of 98. Till the end, along with his wife Betty, Frank fought passionately for peace, education, and social justice. Frank was unusually smart, loving and committed to improving the lives of all people.

Frank championed peace, women’s rights, innovative education and civil rights. He found common ground for people of diverse religious and ethnic groups. Frank’s work was so fearlessly outspoken and courageous in support of civil rights that WCBS chronicled his work in the documentary Guess Who’s Coming to Great Neck. Faced with a decision that he knew would displease many people, in the late 1960s, as a member of the school board, Frank voted his conscience and voted to allow African American children from Queens to be bused into Great Neck Schools.

Obituary: Gloria Trotter

Gloria Trotter, 84, former resident of Great Neck, died on Jan. 26, 2012. She was a former resident of Flushing and Great Neck. Funeral service at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, Natick, MA, on Feb. 4. Interment Feb. 6 at St Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale. Additional information available at www.everettfuneral.com/obituaries. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in her name to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure at http://ww5.komen.org/GetInvolved/Donate.html.

Obituary: Vera Cross

Vera Cross, of Glen Cove, died peacefully on Jan. 5, 2012 at age 93. She was a head ice skating professional at the Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club 1972 - 1998. Vera Cross was the head skating professional of the Parkwood Ice Rink between 1950 and 1972. She was the last and only head ice skating professional ever appointed at Parkwood. Vera was a wonderful ice skating teacher and taught so many of our residents, the beautiful sport of figure skating. The children and grandchildren of her students can be seen at the rink on any given weekend. Loving mother of Ginny Outten and proud grandmother of Ross and Sarah Outten. Service held at St. John’s of Lattingtown. Interment St. John’s Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. John’s. Arrangements by Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home, Glen Cove.

Obituary: Mary A. Otruba

Mary A. Otruba, beloved wife of the late Jerry, mother of Danita, Elizabeth, Terrie and Jerry Jr., grandmother of 10 (Brittney, James, Jennifer, Julia, Carter, Caroline, Christopher, Jack, Anna and Christopher), sister to Joseph Cipko, and daughter to Paul and Jenny Cipko, passed away on Jan. 3, 2012 at the age of 76. Mary was born in New York City and lived in Thomaston, Great Neck, for more than 50 years. For the past five years, Mary had suffered from memory loss and cognitive impairment due to dementia. Prior to this, she led her life with vigor, determination, intellectual curiosity and learning, hard work, charity and devotion to family, friends and God. She was very active in the Great Neck community and with the St. Aloysius Church. She will be missed and always remembered by those who loved her. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association on Mary’s Tribute Page at this link -http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid= 32992&fr_id=1060&pg=fund.

Obituary: Vera Cross

Vera Cross, of Glen Cove, died peacefully on Jan. 5, 2012 at age 93. She was a head ice skating professional at the Beaver Dam Winter Sports Club 1972 - 1998. Former director of the Great Neck Figure Skating Club 1950 - 1972. Loving mother of Ginny Outten and proud grandmother of Ross and Sarah Outten. Service held at St. John’s of Lattingtown. Interment St. John’s Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. John’s. Arrangements by Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home.

Obituary: Arthur Lerner

Arthur Lerner died at home in Danville, CA, of natural causes at the age of 97. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Elizabeth Goldman Lerner; his children, Dr. Hilary Lerner of Alamo, CA, Jeanie Lerner of Orinda, CA, Dr. Charles Lerner of Bantam, CT, and Dr. Melanie Lerner of Canmore, Canada; and eight grandchildren. He was predeceased in 1971 by his eldest child, Carla Lerner Hart. After living in Great Neck 61 years and contributing in many ways to their community, Arthur and Elizabeth Lerner moved to California in 2008 to be closer to most of their family. In these last years, Arthur continued to charm everyone he met. Nobody who knew him will forget Arthur Lerner. Donations may be made to Natural Resources Defense Council.