Jerry Williams of Gardiner, passed away Thursday, Sept. 30, 2010 at Benedictine Hospital, Kingston. He was born March 6, 1942 in Greenport, NY to the late Henry and Esther (Crocker) Williams, and grew up in Southold on Long Island’s north fork. Active in sports, he earned a basketball scholarship to Drew University, NJ. He later decided on a teaching career and enrolled at SUNY New Paltz where he met his wife of 42 years, Rose Marie (Moraglia). Like many New Paltz graduates they decided to remain in the beautiful New Paltz area.
Jerry began teaching sixth grade in the New Paltz Middle School in 1968 and later taught fourth grade at the Duzine and Lenape elementary schools. He was spontaneous, unconventional, creative and thrived on chaos. His classroom was like a three-ring circus with several projects going on simultaneously. With an extremely upbeat and positive personality, he made learning fun for all his students and spread sunshine wherever he went. Each morning he would greet the faculty by saying, “Get ready for another fun-filled day.” He retired in 2000.
In his early years of teaching he arranged for his sixth graders to have a flying experience at the tiny New Paltz airstrip with a parent who was a commercial pilot. He loved gardening and built a small greenhouse adjacent to the middle school parking lot for students to have a hands-on experience with growing flowers and vegetables. He even planted flowers in front of the Lenape School after it was built. Teaching science offered many opportunities for fun, including shooting off rockets from the school field and hoping they didn’t land on any nearby roofs, making maple syrup and the annual egg drop off the school roof. He found spelling books uninspiring and preferred to use the comic strip Calvin and Hobbs to teach spelling and vocabulary.
Jerry was a member of the Gardiner Fire Department and an EMT with the Rescue Squad for over 25 years. He was the first elected president of the Gardiner Homeowner’s Association. Besides gardening, Jerry loved ballroom dancing with his wife, traveling, visiting friends and extended family, playing volleyball and occasional golf. While not formally affiliated with any church, he enjoyed helping prepare many community dinners at several local churches and was a big supporter of Family of New Paltz.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Family of New Paltz, 51 North Chestnut Street, New Paltz, NY 12561, or to the Gardiner Fire & Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 271, Gardiner, NY 12525.
He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie; two daughters, Jessica Williams and her husband Todd Leland of Highland, and Justina Williams and her husband Rob Strignano of Astoria, Queens; four brothers, Wayne and his wife, Marlene of Port Jefferson, NY, Tom and his wife Shirley of Upper Black Eddy, PA, Bob and his wife Sue of Harbinger, NC, Mark and his wife Maryann of Stanfordville, NY; and sister-in-law Helen of Georgetown, DE. He was predeceased by his brother Bill Williams. He is also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews and their spouses.
Jerry loved chaos, controversy and being around people. He was constantly in motion, a veritable whirlwind of energy. And so was his passing on Thursday, Sept. 30 during an unusual rainy, warm and extremely windy night.
A celebration of his life is being planned for the summer of 2011 with details to be announced at a later date.
Cremation already took place. Funeral arrangements are by Copeland Funeral Home Inc. If anyone wishes to express condolences online, please go to www.copelandfhnp.com.
Lynn Snyder
Lynn Snyder, also known to many as Lovely Lynn, age 67, of New Paltz, entered Heaven on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010, at Elant at Newburgh Inc. with her family by her side.
Mrs. Snyder was born on Oct. 9, 1942 in Jersey City, NJ. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and the late Frances (DiNatali) Caruana. She married Roy P. Snyder Sr., on May 20, 1961 at Cliffside Park, NJ.
She was a member of the Bayville Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Bayville, NJ.
She was an amateur bird watcher. She loved to speak Italian and could play the piano by ear. She will be missed greatly. She was loved by her children and adored by her grandchildren.
She was retired from Health Shield, Poughkeepsie.
She is survived by her husband: Roy P. Snyder Sr. at home; one daughter, Danielle and husband Bob Bollenbach of Monroe; two sons, Roy and wife Donna Snyder of Wallkill and Joe Snyder of Wallkill; three sisters, Eleanor and husband Frank Petrone of Fort Mill, SC, Josephine and husband Mike Calderone of Wallkill, Jeanette and husband Tim McGuire of FL; step-daughter, Kelli Perry of OK; granddaughters, Samantha and Amanda Snyder of Wallkill; grandsons, Joey and Mikey Snyder of Wallkill and Bobby Bollenbach Jr. of Monroe. She was predeceased by her son, Darrin Snyder, who died on Oct. 13, 1967.
Funeral arrangements are by Copeland Funeral Home, Inc.
Milton Charles Gravatt
Milton Charles Gravatt, age 76, of Gardiner, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2010 at his residence, surrounded by his family after a long illness.
Mr. Gravatt was born on Aug. 30, 1934 in Fairlawn, NJ. He was the son of the late Milton Earl and the late Millicent (Samson) Gravatt. He married Virginia Mae Barton on March 7, 1959 in Zurich, Switzerland. Mrs. Gravatt survives at home.
He was retired from Volvo Cars North American, Rockleigh, NJ as the Marketing Service Manager.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Mae (Barton) Gravatt of Gardiner; two daughters, Christine Benjamin of Apalachin, NY and Nicole and her husband Steve Gorski of Abingdon, MD; one son, Marc and his wife Tenney Gravatt of Gardiner; one brother, Charles Gravatt of West Milford, NJ; grandchildren, Angela Morales and Alicia Benjamin of Apalachin, NY; Daniel, Ben and Sara Gorski of Abingdon, MD; Abigail and Josephine Gravatt of Gardiner; Alex Gravatt of Plymouth, WI; and great grandchildren, Alyssa and Paydon Morales of Apalachin, NY. He was predeceased by two sons, Craig Gravatt and Milton Joseph Gravatt.
Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 103, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Cremation already took place at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Funeral Arrangements are by Copeland Funeral Home, Inc.
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