James J. King
Retired Frame Technician, 72

James J. King, a longtime resident of Callicoon, entered into eternal rest on January 14, 2008. He was 72 years young. James King was a retired Frame Technician with the New York Telephone Company, in Ridgewood, N.Y.
He was born on June 4, 1935, in Cloonmore, County Mayo, Ireland, and was the son of the late Anthony and Anna Kate Fitzmaurice King.
James is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Anne Moran King; his daughters, Suzanne King of Chester; Eileen Feeley and her husband, James, of Mount Pleasant, S.C.; his sons, James J. King and his wife, Kristen, of Campbell Hall; Neil A. King and his wife, Elizabeth, of Annapolis, MD.; and six grandchildren, Erin Ann Feeley, Katelyn, Meaghan, and Makayla King, and Anna and Thomas King.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Stewart Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon, 845-887-4900. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Thursday, January 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Stewart Murphy Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 18, at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Church, Callicoon. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Obernburg.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Holy Cross Church in Callicoon, St., Mary’s Church in Obernburg, and the Callicoon Volunteer Fire Department.

Max Gersten
Gersten Insurance Agency, 101

Max Gersten, a longtime resident of Monticello, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died on January 9, 2008 at the age of 101.
Born on August 8, 1906, in New York City, he was the son of the late David and Sarah Rosenkrantz Gersten.
For more than 50 years, he worked with his brother at the Joseph H. Gersten Insurance Agency (now Gersten-Hillman Agency). He also, for many years, ran the complaint window at Monticello Raceway. He worked fulltime until his eyesight began to fail him at the age of 89. He was a Navy veteran, having served in the Pacific in WW II. He was also President of the Monticello Chapter of Rotary Club.
Max’s many hobbies included an abiding passion for competitive bridge, in which he achieved the rank of “grandmaster” and played in tournaments throughout the country. He was also an avid stamp collector and loved to solve crossword puzzles. He and his wife were well-known in Monticello for taking daily long walks together. He continued to play bridge, do crossword puzzles and take long walks even after he eventually lost his eyesight.
He loved people and had a brilliant mind. In August 2006, Max was honored by the Monticello Senior Citizens Group for reaching the age of 100. More than 130 people attended the celebration of his long and fruitful life. Max received a congratulatory note from President George Bush for his accomplishments.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Dorothy, of Monticello; sons, Jeffrey Gersten and his wife, Patricia of Monticello, Ronald Gersten and his wife, Joey of San Francisco, William Gersten and his longtime companion, Lucia of Buffalo, and Bruce Gersten and his wife, Lucy of San Francisco; and his grandson, Daniel.
He was predeceased by a sister, Bertie and brothers Joseph and Nathan.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, January 13 in the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., Monticello. Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz officiated.
Burial will be in the Landfield Ave Cemetery, Monticello.
Donations in memory of Max may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., in Monticello.

Helen Dwyer Hoffman
Former Callicoon resident, 93

Helen Dwyer Hoffman of New Bern, North Carolina and Lowman, passed away on January 2, 2008 at home with her daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Ed Jacunski. She was 93.
She was born in New York City in 1914, one of eight children of Francis and Caroline Weisenbach Dwyer.
In 1927, the family moved to Callicoon to operate the Franklin Hotel, which they owned. The Hotel would later become Davis’ and is now known as Sidetracks.
She lived a life devoted to family and caring for others. She was a school teacher for thirty years and retired from the Elmira City School District.
She was a member of Saint James Catholic Church in Waverly for fifty-eight years, being active in many ministries. She was instrumental in establishing a charity fund through Catholic Daughters that lives on today. She was especially fond of her association with the Bible Study Group and the Hospital Auxiliary at Fairfield Harbour. Mrs. Hoffman touched the lives of many family members, neighbors, friends and students. Her spirit and wisdom will be long remembered by all who knew her.
She is survived by her son, Edward Hoffman and wife, Sharon; and daughter, Carol Jacunski and husband, Edwin of New Bern; four grandchildren, Julie Cain and husband, Beaumont of Denver, Colorado, Michael Cain and wife, Eileen of Oakland, California, and Sean and Matthew Hoffman of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and one sister, Marion Roche, 98, of Callicoon; five great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral service with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. James Church Blessed Trinity Parish to celebrate her life was held on Monday, January 7. The Reverend Thomas Watts officiated.
She will be laid to rest in the spring at the Saint James Cemetery with her husband, Edward F. Hoffman, who predeceased her in 1972.
In support of Mrs. Hoffman’s dedication to education, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to the Danny Van Tassel Scholarship Foundation,, 307 East Water Street, Elmira, NY 14901.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Luckner Funeral Home, Waverly.

James Bickham
Ret. Heavy Equip. Operator, 77

James ‘Jimmie’ Bickham, a retired heavy equipment operator for the Town of Thompson Highway Department, and a resident of Monticello for close to 60 years, passed quietly away after a lengthy illness, on Saturday, January 12, 2008 in the Achieve Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Liberty. He was 77 years of age.
Jim was born in Covington, LA on July 20, 1930, the son of William and Myrtle Finn Bickham.
Jim was employed by the Town of Thompson for 30 years. He was a member of the Bethlehem Temple Church in Monticello, a 42-year member of the Monticello Fire Department and an honorary member of the Fallsburg Fire Department, and a life member of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Ceola Bickham; his children, Marion B. Tinsley, James Jr. and Monica Bickham, Marie and Allan Bonner, Seth and Sharon Brown, Lydia Brown, LaVarn and Delvin Prince; his siblings, Mitchell Ankrum, Myrtle Dennis, Gladys Taylor and Katherine Fabre; his loving grandchildren, Ryan, Monica, Monique, Rena, Ronnell and MaVar Tinsley, Jourdan and Megumi Bickham, Cassondra and Toribio Garcia, Gerard Bonner, Brendon and Stacey Bonner and Justin Bonner; along with seventeen great grandchildren; and host of nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by four brothers, including Cliff Bickham, and two sisters.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 16, from 5 to 8 pm at the Monticello Fire House 23 Richardson Ave. Monticello. Firematic services will be held at 7 pm.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 17, from 11am to noon and Funeral Services will be held at noon at the Bethlehem Temple Church on Fairgrounds Road, Monticello.
Burial will be in the Rock Ridge Cemetery on Broadway, Monticello.
Donations in memory of Jimmie may be made to the Monticello Fire Department, 23 Richardson Ave Monticello, NY 12701.
Funeral arrangements by VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home Monticello.