Obituary: Gertrude Rooney

Gertrude Rooney, née Haffey (82), left this earth Sept. 28, 2011. Longtime Manhasset resident, most recently residing in Port Washington, she will be forever remembered for her love and devotion to her family, her compassion and her kind words for all whom she encountered, her gift with language, marked especially by her quick wit, and her deep faith in God. She is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, Peter F. Sr.; loving children Kevin, Joseph (Kathleen), Maureen, Brendan (Guadalupe), Timothy (Julie), Theresa, Peter Jr. (Christine), Eileen McCarthy (Patrick); her cherished grandchildren, Dr. Kellie Foster (Matthew), Tara, Katie Rooney-Appel (Patrick) Andi, Alexandra, Peter, Christopher, Maria, Brian, Paddy, Conor, Matty and her loving caretaker, Alba Sanchez.

Obituary: Roy G. Nester

Roy G. Nester, a 53 year resident of Port Washington, died on Oct. 2, 2011 in Port Washington at the age of 90. Predeceased in 2005 by his wife of 60 years, Eleanor, he leaves behind his son John Nester (Marie), formerly of Glen Cove, who now resides in Lighthouse Point, Florida, his daughters Linda Cronin (Denis) of Manhasset and Carol DiConza (Peter) of Port Washington, 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He also leaves his sister Ruth Cox (Ken), the last of 14 children born to John and Bessie Nester of West Virginia, and 65 nieces and nephews.

Obituary: Kathleen M. Kelly

Kathleen M. Kelly passed away on Sept. 18, 2011. Kathleen, nee O’Leary 89, of Manhasset, passed away at home surrounded by loving family and friends.

Kathleen and her beloved late husband, Jack, had been residents of Manhasset for some 52 years where they raised five children all of whom attended St. Mary’s elementary and high schools. Kathleen was a loving and devoted mother to John (Carol) of Oakton, VA., Shawn (Carol) of Manhasset, Christine Fabbri (Eugene) of Fairfield, CT., Brian (Gail) of Manhasset and was predeceased by her loving youngest child, Timothy (Julie) of Port Washington who was a victim of the attack on America on 9/11. She is survived by 14 glorious grandchildren whom she adored and she outlived all five of her O’Leary brothers.

Obituary: Barbara Z. Woodring

Barbara Z. Woodring, 81, of Port Washington, died Sept. 24, 2011.

Barbara was born to Marcel and Francis Zutter, March 10, 1930, in Providence, RI. She graduated from the Northfield School for Girls which is now Northfield Mount Hermon in 1948 and received a BSN in Nursing from Skidmore College in 1952. She married George Woodring later that year, and they raised their family together in Plandome. Barbara was widowed in 1976, and moved to Port Washington in 1981.

Obituary: Peter F. Bonafide

Peter F. Bonafide, 97, died peacefully at Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia, NH on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011 with family by his side.

Mr. Bonafide had been a resident of Meredith Bay Colony Club (MBCC) in Meredith, NH since April 2010, and had made many friends there. Previously he resided in Munsey Park, Manhasset, New York, where he lived for more than 50 years in the home he built.

Obituary: Helen Fitzgerald

A longtime resident of Plandome, she was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Plandome Country Club and Sands Point Golf Club. Helen spent many happy years in Tequesta, FL, where she continued playing golf at Jonathon’s Landing Golf Club and Riverbend Country Club.

Obituary: Charles Stuart Nahles

Charles Stuart Nahles of Manhasset, passed away peacefully at his home on Aug. 10. He was the beloved husband of Joan (nee Carlyle), loving father of Linda, Patti and Sue and Jeff O’Brien, and devoted grandfather of Kate, Jack, Tommy and Connor.

Obituary: Grace Dorothy Pisciotta

Grace Dorothy Pisciotta of Manhasset passed away on July 3, 2011. Beloved wife of the late Joseph. Devoted mother of Janet (Jim), Grace (Angelo) and Joe Jr.  Loving grandmother of Jimmy, Patricia, Michelle, Ang, Joey and Stephanie.  Origanally from the Bronx she was a longtime resident of Manhasset and organized and cofounded the Manhasset Legion Ladies Auxilary. She enjoyed spending time with her family, her grandchildren, going to seniors and tending to her beautiful garden.  She will be greatly missed by all.

Obituary: William H. Kollmer

William H. Kollmer, 95, of Juno Beach, FL, and Pascoag, RI, died peacefully on Aug. 21, 2011 at his Juno Beach home. A resident of Juno Beach, FL, for two years and Pascoag, RI, for 30 years, he was born on March 19, 1916 in New York City, the son of Gertrude “Jane” (Oleski) and William Henry Kollmer, Sr. He graduated from Southold High School on Long Island in 1934 and from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY, in 1938, where he was a member of Alpha Omicron chapter of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and reigned as King of the Winter Carnival with his wife-to-be, Phoebe Lapham, of Providence, RI. After graduation, he and Phoebe moved to Manhasset, NY, where they lived for 40 years. During World War II, he served as a corporal in the US Army, European Theater of Operations, from which he received an honorable discharge. He worked as a buyer of women’s fashions, first at Montgomery Ward and later at Lane Bryant in New York City. In Manhasset, he was a Boy Scout Leader, a member of the Congregational Church, served as president of the Manhasset Youth Center and volunteered for the School Community Association. An avid golfer, he also played tennis and ran with the Manhasset Joggers. He enjoyed sailing and bowling with his son. In retirement, he was a member of the Smithfield YMCA and Quinnatisset Country Club. Survivors include his devoted children: Leah Kollmer Puzzo (Anthony) of Leonia, NJ, Phyllis Kollmer Santry of New York, NY, and William Lapham Kollmer (Marianne) of Juno Beach, FL. His beloved wife, Phoebe Lapham Kollmer and his four sisters, Dorothy Kane, Viola Kollmer, Muriel Kollmer, Roberta Lorraine Dwyer, predeceased him. He had four grandchildren: Brian Walsh, Phyllis Ann Puzzo, Anthony John Puzzo, the late Ryan Kollmer; and three great granddaughters: Samantha Walsh, Jessica Madore and Leah Walsh. Funeral will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be sent in his memory to The Ryan Kollmer Memorial Scholarship Fund, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, 700 South Dixie Highway, Suite 200 West Palm Beach, FL 33401.

Obituary: Cecile Emma Lovas

Cecile Emma Lovas passed away on Aug. 9, 2011. She was a Manhasset resident for 56 years, the wife of Joseph Lovas (deceased), president of East River Wire Works. She was a past Manhasset Club Life Woman of the Month and past president of Strathmore Vanderbilt Woman’s Club. Cecila was a volunteer for American Legion Auxiliary, Nursing Sisters of the Poor, North Hempstead Senior Citizens, St. Francis Hospital and Nassau County Senior Citizens. She is survived by sons Andrew of San Francisco, CA, Joseph of Manhasset and grandson, Joseph.