August 22, 2000

Charles McAllister
Contractor, 62

Charles David "Chuck" McAllister of Loch Sheldrake, a self-employed contractor and a 40-year area resident, died Thursday, August 17, 2000 at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. He was 62 years of age.
The son of David and Stella Budravich McAllister, he was born Dec. 6, 1937, in Carbondale, Pa.
A U.S. Army veteran having served during the Korean Conflict, he was a member of Immaculate Conception Church, Woodbourne; a life member of Loch Sheldrake Fire Department; the "Mayor of Loch Sheldrake;" a member of Liberty Elks Lodge #1545; and a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, Newburgh.
Survivors include his mother, Stella Bachmaga of Dothan, Ala; his loving wife, Patricia "Pat Mac" Lloyd, whom he married Sept. 1, 1962, in Carbondale, Pa., at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles C. and Carla McAllister of Loch Sheldrake and Michael D. and Robyn McAllister, at home; a daughter, Kelly McAllister, at home; two sisters, Joan Adessa of Dothan, Ala. and Rosemarie Tech of Jermyn, Pa.; and five grandchildren, Alyssa, Sean, Allan, Charlie and Delaney McAllister.
He was predeceased by a sister, Marion Balsavage.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday at Immaculate Conception Church, Woodbourne, with the Rev. John Lynch officiating.
Cremation will be in Cedar Hill Crematory, Newburgh.
Funeral arrangements were made by Ramsay's Funeral Homes Inc., Liberty.

James V. Slevin
Ret. General Manager, 68

James V. Slevin of Long Eddy, a retired 38-year general manager of the Knickerbocker Office of New York Life Ins. Co., died suddenly in his sleep Saturday, August 19, 2000 at home.
Born in Queens, he grew up in East Orange, N.J. and moved his family to Wayne, N.J. in 1963. Mr. Slevin and his family began spending summers in Long Eddy in 1970. After his retirement in 1991, he and his wife enjoyed summers in Long Eddy and winters on Hutchinson Island, Fla.
Mr. Slevin was a parishioner of Holy Cross Church, Callicoon, and St. Mark the Evangelist Church, Fort Pierce, Fla.; and as an avid golfer, was a member of Tennanah Lake Golf Club, Roscoe, and Panther Woods Country Club, Fort Pierce, Fla.
A devoted family man, he is survived by his mother, Bridie Devaney Slevin; his wife of 46 years, Patricia Dunigan Slevin, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, James and Elizabeth Slevin and Thomas and Kimberly Slevin; a daughter and son-in-law, Gayle and Dante DeNicola; two grandchildren, Michael and Lori Slevin; two brothers, Jack and Patrick Slevin and one sister, Eileen.
He was predeceased by his cherished daughter, Maureen Slevin, in 1975.
A family statement says, "Jim will be remembered for his generosity, guidance, hospitality, and overall caring demeanor. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son, brother and loyal friend to many."
Family and friends may call at Vander May Funeral Home in Wayne, N.J. on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Wednesday at Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Wayne, N.J., at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Benedict's Prep. Alumni Fund, 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, N.J. 07102-9128 or to Holy Cross Church, Star Route 97, Callicoon, N.Y. 12723.

Hon. Lawrence H. Cooke
Retired Chief Judge, 85

The Honorable Lawrence H. Cooke of Monticello, former Chief Judge of the State of New York, died Thursday, August 17, 2000, at home. He was 85.
The son of the late Sullivan County Judge George L. Cooke and Mary Pond Cooke, he was born Oct. 15, 1914, in Monticello.
He graduated from Monticello High School and then graduated, cum laude, from Georgetown University, ultimately receiving its John Caroll Award. He received an LLB and LLD (hon) from Albany Law School, Union University and an LLD (hon) from Siena College, as well as similar degrees from Brooklyn Law School, NYU, Pace University and Syracuse University.
After his admission to the New York Bar in 1938, he was an individual practitioner until his election as Sullivan County Judge, Surrogate and Children's Court Judge in 1954. He was named to the New York Supreme Court in 1962 and was elevated to the Appellate Division, Third Department, in 1969. He was subsequently elected to the New York Court of Appeals as an Associate Justice and appointed Chief Judge of that Court by Governor Hugh Carey in 1979. As Chief Judge, he served as Chairman of the Conference of Chief Judges and became President of the National Center for State Courts in 1982.
Judge Cooke served as Supervisor of the Town of Thompson and became Chairman of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors in 1947. He was active in firefighter organizations and served as President of the Monticello Fire Department, Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association. He was recently awarded the "Golden Trumpet Award" by the Firemen's Association of the State of New York.
He was a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Monticello, and received awards from other religious denominations. He was keynote speaker for International Jewish Jurists and Lawyers Convention in Jerusalem and received the Golda Meir Memorial Award from the Jewish Lawyers Guild. He was awarded the Torch of Liberty by B'nai B'rith.
Judge Cooke was proud of his association with women's Bar organizations throughout the state and received awards recognizing the reforms he had initiated on their behalf. He was keenly interested in First Amendment issues and was honored by the New York Society of Newspaper Editors in 1985 in granting him their Friend of the Press award.
At the time of his death, Lawrence Cooke was Of Counsel to the Albany Law Firm of Couch, White, Brenner and Feigenbaum and served as a member of the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Jeffersonville.
Survivors include his wife, Alice McCormack Cooke, at home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Edward and Colleen Cooke of Monticello and George L. and Karen Cooke II of Rock Hill; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Lauren and Richard Opie of Amesbury, Mass.; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by a brother, George Bradford Cooke.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at St. Peter's Church, Broadway, Monticello.
Burial was in Rock Ridge Cemetery, Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be sent to the charity of one's choice.
Funeral arrangements were by Van Inwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 195 Broadway, Monticello.

Justin Balzano
Sullivan West Student

Justin Jorge Balzano, a second grade student at the Jeffersonville campus of Sullivan West Central School, died on Saturday, August 19 as the result of injuries from being hit by a Chevy Tahoe. He was seven years old.
Balzano was born on February 9, 1993 in Harris.
Balzano was the son of Joseph and Theresa Saenz Balzano of Harris, formerly of North Rd. in Youngsville.
Besides his parents, Balzano is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Jordan, at home; maternal grandparents George and Elaine Saenz of Harris; paternal grandmother Joan Balzano of Liberty; paternal grandparents Ralph and Elizabeth Balzano of Sea Brook, Texas; great grandmother Marie Balzano of Brooklyn; great grandmother Marie Houston of Harris and many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Friends may call at Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville on Tuesday, August 22 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held on Wednesday, August 23 at St. George's Church, Jeffersonville at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Robert Nee, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial will be in the Rock Ridge Cemetery, Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Justin J. Balzano Fund, c/o First National Bank of Jeffersonville, P.O. Box 398, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.