Obituary: John E. Dutra III

John E. Dutra III, 86, of Bedford, NH, died April 17, 2011 after a lengthy illness. The son of John E. and Marie (Nunes) Dutra, he was born in Niles, CA on July 27, 1924.

John entered the U.S. Navy on October 26, 1942, was selected for the V12 Officers Training program, and was commissioned on March 6, 1945. His service in the Navy included World War II, Korea and Vietnam. While stationed in Florida, California, Hawaii, Japan, and New York, he was assigned to eight different ships, commanding five of them: the USS Osprey, USS Bunting, USS George A. Johnson, USS Durant and the USS Epping Forest. In addition, as captain of the USS Durant, he was the youngest skipper of a destroyer in the Navy. His shore duty included serving as the Aide to the Admiral at the US Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA, serving on the staffs of Pacific Fleet Headquarters (CINCPAC) in Honolulu, HI and MSTS Atlantic in Brooklyn, NY. After 27 years of service he retired from the Navy in 1969 with the rank of Commander, followed by a second career as a hospital and school administrator.

Obituary: Louis V. Pisciotta

Dr. Louis V. Pisciotta, longtime Manhasset resident, passed away on Feb. 12, 2011, at the age of 86. He was the son of Joseph Pisciotta and Olinda Anello Pisciotta (both deceased). He was predeceased by one brother, Joseph C. Pisciotta.

Louis graduated from Manhasset High School. He received a BS in Piano from Juilliard School of Music, MS in Music from the University of Nebraska, and a Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition from Indiana University. He was a member of the American Guild of Organists. He taught piano and was the accompanist for the famed Boys Town Choir in Nebraska; he was an assistant professor at Indiana University; he was a professor of Music Theory and Composition at Queensborough Community College until his retirement; and he was head organist and choir director for St. Mary’s Church in Manhasset for 25 years. He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher. He was a prolific composer; he wrote and published music for voice and for many instruments.

Louis is survived by his sisters, Vita Pisciotta of Vermont, and Olinda Wheatley Bradshaw of Indiana. He is also survived by several nephews and nieces, and great-nephews and great-nieces, in Indiana, New Jersey and New York.

Obituary: Richard B. Locher

Richard B. Locher, 86, died March 15, 2011 after an extended hospitalization following surgery. He was the husband of Eileen L. (Morris) Locher.

Mr. Locher was born February 20, 1925 in Utica, NY. Son of Harry O. and Rose (Brady) Locher. After graduating from Regis High School in New York City, he entered the army and served in the Philippines during World War II.

Upon discharge from the army, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Rutgers University. He worked as National Accounts Sales Manager for Fisher-price Toys for 25 years and with Selchow & Righter maker of Scrabble, Parcheesi and Trivial Pursuit as vice-President of sales for 10 years.

Obituary: Kazimer Nawojchik

Retired Deputy Chief of Department, FDNY

Kazimer Nawojchik died peacefully at home surrounded by his family in Port Washington, on Saturday evening, April 9, 2011. He was born in 1923 in Brooklyn and graduated from Jefferson High School. He attended Queens College and Delahanty Institute with the goal of becoming a fireman.

Hearing the call to join the fighting forces in WWII, and after reading All Quiet on the Western Front, “Kaz” decided he never wanted to fight in the trenches. Always an avid swimmer and loving the sea, Kaz and a friend went off together to sign up for the Navy. But finding the Navy enlistment line too long, the pair headed to the Coast Guard recruitment booth, and Kaz trained for the LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) service, earning the rank of Seaman First Class. While waiting to be “called up,” he took a job as a propeller welder for the Curtis Wright Aircraft Company.

Obituary -Richard T. Lombard

Richard T. Lombard of Manhasset, NY, died on March 26, 2011. Beloved husband of Janet. Loving father of Richard T. Jr. (Johanna), Christine (Thomas) Barnard and Jennifer (Matthew) Sheerin. Loving grandfather of Douglas, Melissa, Mallory, Richard III, Brendan, Patrick, Courtney, Thomas, Ryan and Conor. Brother of Michael Lombard and William Lombard. Calling hours were at The Fairchild Funeral Chapel, 1570 Northern Blvd., Manhasset, Monday, March 28. Funeral Mass, was held Tuesday, March 29 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s RC Church, Manhasset. Interment, Locust Valley, NY. Donations in his memory may be made to HARC or Iona College.

 

Obituary: Dr. Louis V. Pisciotta

Dr. Louis V. Pisciotta, former choir director and organist at the Church of Saint Mary, Manhasset, died on Feb. 12, 2011. During his tenure from 1969 through 1994, he developed the modern music program for the parish. He recruited a choir where there had previously been none and introduced the use of cantors, instrumentalists and new hymnals. These greatly expanded the musical possibilities at the time. In 1988, he led the choir to Italy where they sang in Florence, Assisi and Rome. The highlight was a Papal audience during Holy Week where they sang for Pope John Paul II.

Dr. Pisciotta was a longtime resident of Manhasset, attending St. Mary’s Elementary School and Manhasset High School. He earned music degrees from the Juilliard School of Music, Columbia University, the University of Nebraska and finally a PhD from Indiana University. Besides his work at St. Mary’s, he was a Professor of Music at Queensborough Community College for 25 years. Dr. Pisciotta was also a published composer of many liturgical works, including motets and a setting of Panis Angelicus, which was recently performed by the St. Mary’s Adult Choir. His funeral was held on Feb. 22 with singing provided by numerous former and present choir members. He will be greatly missed.

Obituary: Lorraine Luciani Ralph

Lorraine Luciani Ralph, of Southampton, and formerly of Manhasset, passed away on March 2, 2011. She was the devoted daughter of predeceased Tom and Rose Luciani. Survived by, and cherished cherished wife of Skip, loving mother of four daughters; Caroline, Kiki, Liz, and Melissa, mother-in-law of Sean Kenlon and Mark Ughetta, and grandmother extraordinaire of Kade, Kelly, Caroline Rose, Kyle Kenlon and Jack Ughetta.

Lorraine lived life to the fullest and thoroughly enjoyed any chance to spend time with her beloved friends and family. She will be remembered for her generous spirit, warm heart, sense of humor and exuberant laughter.

Obituary: Virginia T. Cosgrove

Virginia T. Cosgrove, 79, of Wakefield, RI, passed away Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011 in her home.

Born in New York, NY, Ginny was the daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (Domanico) Russo, and the wife of the late James F. Cosgrove.

A longtime resident of Manhasset, Ginny spent summers in Narragansett before moving to Wakefield permanently three years ago. She was a graduate of Pembroke College at Brown University, a member of the Dunes Club in Narragansett, and enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bridge.

Obituary: Francis J. Sorg (Frank) Jr.

Francis (Frank) J. Sorg Jr. 89, of Scottsdale, passed away on Feb. 3, 2011. He was the oldest and last surviving child of Francis and Emily Sorg, born in the Bronx. He was a successful businessman, financier, philanthropist, and family man. His early days on Wall Street at Sorg (Financial) Printing Co. with his first wife, Florence, of 35 years, he launched a life of adventure as he became involved with non-profit hospitals, politics, the entertainment world, and international businesses.

Obituary: Ellen Chaney Wilkie

Ellen Chaney Wilkie, 88, a former resident of Plandome, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 in Southbury, CT. She and her late husband, James Sadler Wilkie had been residents at Pomperaug Woods for the past 15 years. Prior to that they had lived in Plandome and Manhasset for over 40 years.  

Ellen Wilkie was previously married to the late John T. Robinson who also resided in Manhasset where they raised their three children, Patty Robinson Mutkoski of Ithaca and Southold, NY, Penny Robinson Blaisdell of Marblehead, MA and their late son, John Thomas Robinson Jr., who formerly resided in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Ellen Wilkie was very involved with Long Island activities serving in the North Shore Junior League, The Southern Society and was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church. She was an avid artist and was a graduate of Parson’s School of Design and The Chevy Chase School. She is survived by her two daughters, six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. She will be buried in Rapidan, VA where her late father, a renowned Columbia Presbyterian Neurologist, Dr. Beverley Chaney owned the Spring Hill Farm.