Blog Archives

Janet Mary Crane

4/30/2022

    Janet Mary Crane, 84 passed away April 30, 2022. She was born to the late Richard and Edna Anderson on December 5, 1937, in Auburn, NY.
    Janet was a long-time resident of Mottville, NY. She was raised there and went on to raise her own five children and two of her grandchildren there. She worked in the food and retail industry for her whole life.   She was a member of St. Andrews Methodist church in Mottville.
    Janet loved spending her time in the sun tending to her gardens. She kept an “open door” at her home where she often had family and friends visiting. She would welcome anyone and insisted they stay for “supper”. She loved to travel and attended many trips with her senior citizens group which she enjoyed very much. Above all, Janet loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sitting and watching the family at their many gatherings made her happiest.
    Janet was predeceased by her son, Daniel Crane, a daughter Valerie Ware, a grandson Joshua Ware, her son in law Gary Sweet, 2 sisters Helen (Dave) Shepherd and Betty (Bob) Ryan.
    Janet is survived by her daughters Teresa Crane (Mottville), Wanda Sweet (Mottville) and Kim (James) Oberlender (Camillus), 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, a sister Joan (Ed) Quigley (Elbridge) and several nieces and nephews.
    Calling hour will be held on Wednesday, May 4th from 10:30 to 11:30am with a funeral service to follow at 11:30 at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles.
  In lieu of flowers donations in Janet’s name can be made to the Local SPCA.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

13 Comments

Helen Simkulet Milliman

4/23/2022

4 Comments

    Helen Simkulet Milliman, 102, formerly of Skaneateles Falls, passed away on Saturday, April 23rd at Loretto Nursing Home.
    Helen retired from Auburn General Electric of 30 years as a Quality Control Inspection Monitor. She enjoyed bowling, golfing, belonged to Skaneateles Seniors and Sennett Seniors. Helped at St. Michael’s Church making Easter bread and making pierogi. Helen spent the winters in Naples, FL.
    Predeceased by her husband Arthur R. Milliman in 1997. Survived by daughter Dona M. Savage, son Donald R. Milliman, 7 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
    Calling hours and funeral service will be at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Auburn on Thursday, April 28th from 10:30 to 12n with a service at Noon. Helen will be buried in Half Acre Cemetery.
    In lieu flowers donations can be made to the St. Nicholas Cemetery Fund.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

4 Comments

Harry E. Goetzmann, Jr.

4/20/2022

11 Comments

        Harry E. Goetzmann Jr., 84 passed away peacefully at his home in Skaneateles NY on April 20, 2022, after a long illness. Harry was born in Amherst, NY in 1937, to the late Harry and Ruth Goetzmann.
    Harry was a serial entrepreneur and began his first job at the early age of five when he would rise at 5:00 a.m. as a substitute paperboy with the Buffalo Courier Express; he secured his own route at the age of nine through high school alongside his five siblings who held paper routes as well. Harry excelled in the classroom as a member of the National Honor Society, as well as in athletics on the track team, baseball team and as Captain of his high school football team. He was the treasurer of his senior class and later in life he was voted the “Most Successful Alumnus, class of 1955” of Amherst Central High.
Harry graduated college in 1959 with a Business degree from Syracuse University attending on a full scholastic scholarship. He captained the football and basketball cheerleading team and played on the Syracuse lacrosse team. Harry was an Army ROTC cadet at Syracuse graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate. Harry went on to serve his country flying helicopters as an officer in the Army.
    Harry began his professional career with IBM in Syracuse as a salesman and later as a sales manager. Six years after joining IBM Harry left to start a new company, Syracuse based Continental Information Systems (CIS) which was a company that bought, refurbished and leased IBM computers to businesses. Harry began the company in his home. CIS eventually grew to 1,200 employees, had over fifty offices in the United States, Germany, England, Switzerland and Japan. CIS excelled at re-leasing computer equipment and eventually ventured into the leasing of commercial aircraft, trains and ocean-going ships. As the Chairman, President and founder of CIS one of Harry’s greatest achievements was listing his company on the New York Stock Exchange.
    Harry was a founding partner for Schomann Entertainment, an entertainment and communications company. He then founded and developed MegaCom Limited, the first cellular company in the Republic of Georgia. MegaCom provided the ability for Georgians to communicate on an international level.
    Harry supported numerous business and civic organizations. Harry served as Trustee for Syracuse University, Cazenovia College and WCNY. Harry was on the Board of Directors for Chase Lincoln First Bank, Salvation Army, Hiawatha Boy Scout Council of America, Crouse Irving Memorial Foundation, American General Life Insurance Company, Central N.Y. Leukemia Society, Citizens Foundation, Computer Dealers and Lessors Association, Central NY Metropolitan Development Association and Syracuse Symphony. Harry was Chairman of the Board for the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Syracuse Services Corporation.
    Harry met his Syracuse University sweetheart Sylvia Ingraham in 1956 whom he later married and they raised five children while residing in Skaneateles, NY. Harry’s greatest joy came from spending time with his children, fifteen wonderful grandchildren and most recently one adored great grandchild. Harry was happiest spending time with his family and friends on Skaneateles Lake, in the Adirondack Mountains and at St. Augustine Beach. Harry could always be found smoking his cigar while sharing stories about his days in the military, flying and his hunting adventures.
    Harry is survived by his wife of 63 years Sylvia, his children Craig (Jean) Goetzmann, Dan Goetzmann, Eric (Sheila) Goetzmann, Harry Goetzmann III (Partner Janet Winkelman) all of Skaneateles, NY, and Darlene (Mark) LaFontaine of Hudson OH. He is also survived by his brother Clark Goetzmann of Honeoye, NY, sister-in-law Katie Goetzmann of Marco Island, FL, sister-in-law Cynthia Goetzmann of Honeoye, NY and many nieces and nephews. Harry was predeceased by his parents, sister Grace Drew Kerns, brothers Paul Goetzmann, Col. Philip Goetzmann, and Don Goetzmann.
    Calling Hours will be held, Saturday, April 30, from 1 to 3pm at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles NY.
    If you choose donations can be made to Hospice Foundation of Central New York.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

11 Comments

Ruddick Crain Trowbridge

4/17/2022

11 Comments

    Ruddick Crain Trowbridge passed away on April 17, 2022 at the age of 90. He is survived by his four sons; John, Thomas, Stephen and James. He is also survived by four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
    Rud grew up in Monticello, New York, where he graduated from High School. He attended Fredonia State Teachers College and Ithaca College School of Music. He taught instrumental music in the Albany area as well as the Phoenix and Oswego City School Districts. Rud performed and conducted in several area music ensembles throughout the years; most recently, playing tuba in the Finger Lakes Brass Quintet and Hobart William Smith Colleges Brass Choir.
    Rud also enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting, camping, fishing and gathering with family on the 4th of July. After a short illness, Rud passed quietly in his sleep early Easter morning.
    A Masonic ceremony will be at 10:45am with a funeral service at 11am on Friday, April 22nd at Robert D. Gray Funeral Home, Skaneateles. Private burial in Lake View Cemetery.
    In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Skaneateles Masonic Lodge, 13 East Genesee Street, Skaneateles, NY 13152.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

11 Comments

Marian Berry Loftus

4/4/2022

30 Comments

    Marian Berry Loftus passed away April 4 having just celebrated her 98th birthday with her family 10 days before.
Born and raised in St. Louis, she was the eldest of 7 children. Her life took a turn when her mother died when Marian was a teenager and she became the “mother” of her younger siblings. She attended the Rosati-Kain High School in St. Louis, where she graduated top of her class.
    Marian met her husband, David, in St. Louis where he was attending the St. Louis University School of Dentistry. After David graduated, they married, spent a few years in Brooklyn while David finished service in the United States Navy, and then moved to Skaneateles where they spent their entire lives.
Marian’s greatest joy was raising her family of 10 children. The low point of her life was losing her daughter Elizabeth (Betsy) in a boating accident in 1966.
    Despite a busy home life, she made several significant contributions to the Skaneateles community. Working with a few of her good friends, she helped start the first nursery school in Skaneateles which still exists today. She was also a founding member of the Skaneateles Vincent House Guild. Her faith was very important to her and she was a life-long communicant at St. Mary’s of the Lake Roman Catholic Church in Skaneateles. As part of her religious duty, she served many terms as president of the Stella Maris Retreat Guild. For many years, she also made dinners for the men at Unity Acres in Orwell, NY, and worked annually as a captain of a team going door to door to collect money for the American Cancer Society.
    Marian was predeceased by her husband, David; daughter, Elizabeth, and five of her siblings.   She is survived by her children David Loftus Jr. (Jane), Pamela Pidhirny (John), Jo Ann Loftus, Mary Ann Loftus, Margaret Newland (Fergus), Jon Loftus, M.D. (Tayloe), Philip Loftus, Amy Kimm (Todd), Mark Loftus (Linh) and sister, Pat Berry.    She also has 14 grandchildren, six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
    Funeral service will be held Saturday, April 9 at St. Mary of the Lake Church in Skaneateles at 10am. With private burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
    For much of her life, Marian asked her family to make contributions to the many charities she supported instead of giving her gifts.
    Please help continue this tradition and in lieu of flowers, make a donation to SAVES in Skaneateles, Doctors Without Borders (can be made online), or a charity of your choice.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

30 Comments

Richard Frederick Bates

4/4/2022

5 Comments

    Richard Frederick Bates (Rick) passed away April 4, 2022 at his home in Skaneateles NY. He had a two-year battle with cancer that ended peacefully. Rick was born on July 14, 1941, in Boston MA. He spent first-grade attending school in South Bristol ME. The family moved to Dorchester MA where he graduated in 1959.
    While at Dorchester High School, he was a co-captain of the basketball team and high scorer for two years. His love of basketball continued throughout his adult life. He played full court at the YMCA into his 70’s. For his 70th birthday he treated himself to the Jim Boeheim Fantasy Basketball Camp where he competed against men half his age. Rick scored 8 points in their final game at the SU Dome.
    After graduating from high school Rick attended Suffolk University receiving his bachelor’s degree.   Following college, he enlisted in the Army and from 1964 to 1967 he was part of the Army Intelligence unit out of New Haven CT. Once he returned to civilian life, he followed a career in human resources. In 1967 Rick married Marylynn Swiman and they raised their two children Tracey and Fred in Walpole MA.
    Rick met Maggie Culleton in Ft Myers, FL in 2005. They bought a home in Skaneateles NY, two years later. They spent winters in Florida and the summers in New York. During his retirement, Rick took up golf and excelled in duplicate bridge.   He worked for the Minnesota Twins in their ticket office during spring training. He became an avid Syracuse University sports fan and attended the Final Four basketball tournament in Atlanta.
    Maggie’s family adopted Rick instantly, and he vacationed with them frequently.   The extended family traveled to France, Italy, Costa Rica, Belize and many places across the U.S.   Rick and Maggie visited Rick’s daughter in Dublin and his son in London and Buenos Aires as well.
  Rick is predeceased by his wife Marylyn and his parents Helen and Frederick Bates Jr.   In addition to Maggie Culleton, Rick is survived by his daughter Tracey Bates of Quincy MA, son Frederick Bates (Sarah) and grandchildren Alex and Melissa Bates of Coral Gables, FL, as well as his sister-in-law Toby Rapp Walsh of Woonsocket RI.
    At his request there will be no service. Contributions may be made in his name to your local animal rescue or SAVES ambulance.
To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

5 Comments

Welcome

Janet Mary Crane

Helen Simkulet Milliman

Harry E. Goetzmann, Jr.

Ruddick Crain Trowbridge

Marian Berry Loftus

Richard Frederick Bates

Archives