February 15, 2000

Robert S. Horton
Ret. DPW Laborer, 60

Robert S. "Bobby" Horton of Wurtsboro, a retired laborer for the Orange County Department of Public Works, died Sunday, January 23, 2000, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. He was 60 years of age.
The son of Alta Smith Horton and the late Robert M. Horton, he was born November 19, 1939, in Middletown.
Mr. Horton was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
He is survived by his wife, Karen J. Ryan Horton, at home; his mother of Otisville; two sisters, Hazel Budd of Otisville and Mildred House of New Mexico; two step-sons, Shaun Conklin of Wurtsboro and Shayne Conklin of Otisville; two step-daughters, Selee Conklin of Wurtsboro and Selyn Conklin of Green; and five step-grandchildren.
A memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Otisville/ Mount Hope Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Jeffery Farley officiating.

Loretta Fine
Homemaker, 81

Loretta Fine of Margate, Fla., a former Glen Wild resident, died Thursday, January 27, 2000. She was 81 years of age.
She is survived by her husband, Samuel; a daughter, Rosalie Ackerman; a grandson, Brian, who is a student at Columbia University; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were made by the Neptune Society in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Robert LoCastro, 46
Ret. Law Office Asst.

Robert G. LoCastro of Smallwood, a former office assistant for Sullivan and Cromwell law firm in New York City and an eight year area resident, died Thrusday, February 10, 2000, at his home. He was 46 years of age.
The son of Salvatore and Ann Memory LoCastro, he was born February 17, 1953, in Brooklyn.
He is survived by his parents of Smallwood; a sister, Rose Ann Castelli of Port Washington; a nephew; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Mongaup Valley with the Rev. Robert Ginsel officiating.
Burial was made in St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Kauneonga Lake.

Alex Briker, 92
Ret. Businessman

Alex Briker, a 82-year resident of Liberty and a 20-year resident of Dania, Fla., a retired owner/operator of Liberty Candy & Tobacco Company, died Tuesday, February 8, 2000, at his home in Florida. He was 92 years of age.
The son of the late Abraham and Bertha Jacobs Briker, he was born January 18, 1908, in Paterson, N.J.
Mr. Briker was a member of Ahavath Israel Synagogue in Liberty.
He is survived by his wife, Terry Rapps Briker, at home; a brother, Stanley Briker of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Leo and Harry Briker.
Services were held Sunday at the Ahavath Israel Synagogue in Liberty with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Burial was made in Ahavath Israel Synagogue Cemetery in Liberty.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Howard A. White
Ret. Comptroller, 72

Howard Arthur White of Kiamesha Lake and Boynton Beach, Fla., a retired comptroller for the Concord Resort Hotel for 47 years and a longtime area resident, died Thursday, February 10, 2000, at the Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey. He was 72 years of age.
The son of the late Julius and Rose Stern Weitzenhofer, he was born July 21, 1927, in New York City.
In a family statement, it was said, "He will be remembered as a kind and generous husband, father, brother, grandfather and friend."
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan Winarick White, at home; two sons, Steve and his wife, Suzanne White, of Monticello, and Dr. Richard White of Burlington, Vt.; a daughter, Riva White of New York City; a brother, Dr. Marvin and his wife, Blanche White, of New Jersey; three grandsons, Tyler, Logan and Nathanial White; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sunday at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello with Rabbi Irving Goodman officiating.
Burial was made in the Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemtery in Monticello.

Helen Benkowski
Ret. PO Chief Clerk, 87

Helen K. Benkowski of Wurtsboro, a retired Chief Clerk for the U.S. Postal Service in Wurtsboro and a longtime area resident, died Sunday, February 13, 2000, at the Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen. She was 87 years of age.
The daughter of the late Fred and Marie Wehinger Laskowski, she was born September 4, 1912, in the Bronx. She was the widow of Edward J. Benkowski.
Mrs. Benkowski was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Wurtsboro, and the Ave Maria Guild of the church. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to Mamakating American Legion Post #1266, the Westbrookville Senior Citizens, the Mamakating Senior Citizens and AARP in Middletown.
She is survived by a brother, Robert J. Laskowski of Islip, L.I.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church in Wurtsboro with the Rev. Hugh Dardis officiating.
Burial will be made in the Sylvan Cemetery in Wurtsboro.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro.

Minnie Cohen
Ret. Bookkeeper, 90

Minnie Cohen of Rock Hill, a retired bookkeeper for the American Umbrella Company in New York City and a short-time area resident, formerly of Brooklyn, died Saturday, February 12, 2000, at the Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen. She was 90 years of age.
The daughter of the late Jacob and Anna Hellman Pechenick, she was born September 9, 1909, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Henry Cohen.
Mrs. Cohen was a member of Hadassah.
She is survived by a daughter, Phyllius Farina of Rock Hill; a son, Dr. Myron Cohen of Guilford, Conn.; two sisters, Rivelle Dubin of Florida and Esther Marks of Brooklyn; three grandchildren, Amy, David and Hillary Cohen; and a great-granddaughter, Leah Rose Cohen.
Services were held Monday at the home of Myron Cohen in Guilford, Conn.
Burial was private.
Arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in

Fr. Daniel Egan, 84
"Junkie Priest" Author

Fr. Daniel Egan, a Franciscan Friar of the Atonement, died at Hudson Valley Hospital in Peekskill on Thursday, February 10, 2000. He was 84 years of age.
The son of the late Thomas and Mary Egan, he was born June 18, 1915, in the Bronx.
He attended school in the Bronx, entered the Friars of the Atonement in 1935 and professed his first vows in 1937. He received a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy in 1940 from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and received a Master's degree in Religious Education in 1945.
Ordained to the priesthood in 1945, he spent 15 years in teaching and pastoral work at Graymoor, at Kingston, North Carolina and at Gardiner Mines, Nova Scotia. During that period he became involved in drug rehabilitation, a field he entered full time in 1960 when he became a member of the first White House Conference on Drugs and of the White House Conference on Youth.
Fr. Egan became internationally known for his work in drug prevention and education. His biography, "The Junkie Priest," by John D. Harris, was published in 1970.
He founded Village Haven for drug addicts in Greenwich Village in 1962 and New Hope Manor at Graymoor for drug-addicted teenage girls in 1970. New Hope Manor has grown to include two facilities, one of which is located in Barryville, and is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in October. Special services throughout the year will honor the memory of Father Egan.
Fr. Egan is survived by three brothers, John, Philip and Gerard, and a sister, Veronica Egan of East Falmouth, Mass. He was precedeased by three brothers, Fr. Joseph, S.A., Thomas and Raymond, and a sister, Margaret Mary.
Following a Mass of Christian Burial at Graymoor on Monday, interment was made in the Friar's Cemetery.