John Phillip Them of Midland, Texas, passed away on September 24, 2007 at home. He was 75.
He was born January 25, 1932 to Phillip Them and Susan Waltman Them in Schoharie.
He married Josephine Pirone on September 11, 1954, and they were together for 52 years, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2005. They owned a dairy farm in Callicoon for many years before moving to Midland in 1978. He helped build many houses in Midland, before working at Ranchland Hills Country Club, and later Green Tree Country Club, as head of maintenance. He then retired and spent his time in woodworking and gardening. John has been a faithful member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church for many years. He enjoyed volunteering for Helping Hands Charity and Christmas in Action.
John was a tower for strength for his family and friends, literally and figuratively. Whenever anyone had a need, John was the first one to respond. He loved working with wood, and leaves behind many hand-crafted pieces for his family and friends to remember him. As a grandfather he delighted in giving his grandchildren anything they wanted and spending time with them. He was a faithful attendee of all their sports games, their #1 fan. He spent many hours doing home improvement projects, on his own home and those of his children. His passing has left a hole in their lives that God will have to fill.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jo Them of Midland, Tx.; one son, John Them and wife, Leighann, of Oyster Bay, Long Island; two daughters, Diane Houghtaling and husband, Keith, of Callicoon; and Lorianne Lightfoot of Midland, Tx.; six grandchildren, Rebecka Houghtaling, Aaron Houghtaling and wife, Naomi, Jaime and Michael Them, and Caleb and Abigail Lightfoot; one great-granddaughter, Cierra Roth; two sisters, Teresa Yanacek and Margaret Hillriegel and husband, Lester; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Jeff Lightfoot.
Memorial services were held Thursday, September 27, 2007 at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Midland. Memorial services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Callicoon at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to Odyssey Health Care, 1330 E. 8th St., Ste. 410, Odessa, TX 79761 as an expression of the loving care John received in the last days of his life.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home, Midland.

George E. Irwin
U.S. Army Veteran, 94

George Ezra Irwin of Selkirk, formerly of Neversink, passed away Saturday morning, September 22, 2007 peacefully in his sleep. He was 94.
The son of Matthew J. and Martha Calkins Irwin, he was born April 22, 1913 in Neversink.
On September 1, 1939, he married the love of his life, Edith Yonker of Woodridge and they moved to Selkirk where they resided for over 50 years.
George loved hunting, camping and was a founding member of the Buckaroo Lodge. George and Edith also loved to travel and drove to Alaska many times to visit their son. George was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in WWII in the Philippines. He worked for Killian Trucking, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District and for the Conrail Railroad for many years.
Survivors include his son, Frank George Irwin, and granddaughter, Sonya Anne, both of Anchorage, Alaska; and many loving relatives, friends and neighbors.
Mr. Irwin was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Gerald and Winthrop Irwin; and sister Regina Irwin Perry.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Babcock Funeral Home, 19 Pulver Ave., Ravena. The Rev. Alan Baumback officiated.
Burial will be made in Grove Cemetery, Coeymans, at a later time in the week.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Ravena Rescue Squad, PO Box 144, Ravena, NY 12143.

Solomon Katzoff, 82
Retired owner of Katzoff Realty

Solomon Katzoff, a lifetime area resident and the retired owner and operator of Katzoff Realty in Jeffersonville, died on Wednesday, September 25, 2007 in Catskill Regional Medical Center Harris. He was 82.
‘Sol’ was a World War II Army veteran, serving in the Philippians and in Japan. He was a thirty-plus year member of the Board of Directors of The First National Bank of Jeffersonville.
He is survived by his wife Gertrude at home; his son, Jan Katzoff and his wife Lynn of Whitefish, Mt.; his daughter, Sharon Katzoff of New York City; his brother, Herbert Katzoff and his wife Doris of Syracuse; his sister-in-law, Elaine Katzoff of Lake Huntington; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. in the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., 388 Broadway Monticello.
Burial will be in the Jeffersonville Synagogue Cemetery, Route 52, between Jeffersonville and Youngsville.
Funeral arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc. Monticello. For directions or send the family a condolence note, visit our website at www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.

Pamela J. Jones
College Student, 54

Pamela J. Jones, a 25-year resident of Liberty, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 22, 2007. She was 54.
The daughter of Roland and Peggy Rupp, she was born September 10, 1953 in Brooklyn.
Pam worked for Grossinger’s Resort in the reservations office from 1982 until it closed in 1987. She then secured a position at Marcel Dekker, Inc. Publishers in Monticello in the Journal Customer Service Department, where she was later promoted to supervisor. She remained there until they were bought by another company and moved out of New York. In 2006, Pam had a six-month stint as a proofreader/ typesetter at the River Reporter in Narrowsburg.
Pam was working toward a second associate’s degree at Sullivan County Community College, majoring in computer graphics, graphic design and photography. A graduate of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, she attended Columbia University for a year, and also earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kingsborough Community College before she relocated.
Pam was an accomplished author and poet, and many of her pieces were published in journals, newspapers and periodicals in Sullivan County and on the World Wide Web. Some of her work can be found at www.associatedcontent.com.
Survivors include her mother, Peggy Rupp of Liberty; a sister, Linda Johnsen of Brooklyn; husband, Charles Jones of Half Moon Bay; a son and daughter-in-law, Dana and Lauren Jones; a granddaughter, Haley Jones of Albany; Yogi and Tayla of the canine persuasion, and Calvin, Kevin, Sandy and Honey Bun, who follow the feline calling, all of Liberty.
She was predeceased by her father, Roland Rupp; aunts, Mildred Blackler and Beatrice Rupp, and sister, Sally Jacobsen.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 1 p.m. at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty.

Francis Edward Hitt
WWII Vet., 80

Francis Edward Hitt of Astor, Fla. and a longtime resident of Woodbourne, passed away on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Hospice of Lake and Sumter in Tavares, Fla. He was 80.
The son of the late Luton and Nora Stangle Hitt, he was born on November 30, 1926 in Roscoe.
Fran was a veteran and served our country in WWII.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Irene at home; two children, Edward Hitt and his wife, Peggy of Colorado and Denise; three step-children, Carol Canfield and her husband, John of Albany, Richard Wells, and his companion, Elf of Virginia and Howard Wells and his wife, Paula of Syracuse; his sister, Della Smalls of Monticello; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Luther Hitt, his sister, Irene Zamansky; and his daughter, Diane Decker, formerly of Monticello.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 11 a.m. at the Woodbourne Fire Department, State Route 52, Woodbourne. Pastor Thomason of the United Methodist Church of Monticello will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fran’s name to the Woodbourne Fire Department, PO Box 45, Woodbourne, NY 12788.

Carol A. Homer
Retired Teacher, 75

Carol A. Homer of Jeffersonville and Freeport, LI, entered into rest on September 24, 2007 at home. She was 75.
The daughter of Everard K. and Carrie Vogt Homer, she was born April 19, 1932 in Livingston Manor.
She was a retired teacher.
Survivors include five nieces and nephews, Stephen Clifford, Thomas Clifford, Patrick Clifford and his wife, Lorraine, and Susan Clifford, all of Jeffersonville, and Mary Margaret Green and her husband, Troy, of White Sulphur Springs.
She was predeceased by her sister, Freda Clifford, and her brother-in-law, Patrick J. Clifford.
A Rosary Service was held Wednesday evening at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, Sept. 27 at St. George's Church, Jeffersonville, with Father Ignatius Smith, OFM, officiating.
Burial was made in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Livingston Manor.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Lillian C. Piatt, 70

Lillian C. Piatt of Summitville, a lifelong area resident, died Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown, with her loving husband at her side. She was 70.
She was born August 2, 1937 in Port Jervis, the daughter of the late Charles and the late Lillian McConnell.
Lillian had worked at the Dirty Duds Laundromat in Middletown and was a member of AARP.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Robert E. Piatt Sr. at home; and two sons, Robert E. Piatt Jr. and Shawn M. Piatt both of Summitville.
She was predeceased by a son, Jonathan Robert Piatt; a daughter, Barbara Ann Piatt; and a brother, Edward McConnell.
Funeral services and burial in the Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddebackville will be private.
Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.

Dorothy M. Dolgas
Homemaker, 86

Dorothy Marie Kehrley Dolgas, formerly of Livingston Manor, died on Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was 86.
The daughter of Joel and Letha Simpson Kehrley, she was born October 14, 1920 in Livingston Manor. She was the widow of Michael Dolgas, who passed away in 1989.
She was a member of the Livingston Manor Seniors and the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by five sons: James Dolgas and his wife Andrea of Schaghticoke; Richard Dolgas and his wife Sandi, and Michael Dolgas and his wife Elizabeth, all of Cape Coral, Fla.; Thomas Dolgas and his wife Lorraine of Essex Junction, Vt.; Brian Dolgas and his wife Jean of Stillwater; four daughters, Jill Iorio and her husband Richard of Suffern; Jo Beth Spellicy of Loch Sheldrake; Lori O’Shaughnessy and her husband Joe of Queensbury; and Mary Pardi and her husband Terri of Picknes, SC; three sisters, Edith Irwin of North Carolina, Ann Jersey of Livingston Manor, and Nancy Bornemann of Syracuse; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by one son, John Michael; two grandchildren, Sherri Stevenson and Kelly Coll; and two sisters, Ruth and Betty.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor.
Burial of the cremains was made in the Lew Beach Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Livingston Manor Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 1, Livingston Manor, NY 12758 or to the Kelly Coll Scholarship Fund, 21 Vangogh La., Suffern, NY 10901.

Henry W. Edwards
Ret. Slinger, 70

Henry W. Edwards of Walden, a retired slinger for the former Orange County Packing in Chester and an area resident since 1981, died Monday, September 24, 2007 in Middletown after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 70.
The son of James Edwards and Eunice Scott Cuttler, he was born March 15, 1937 in Livingston Manor.
Henry had also worked at Clemsen Brothers Equipment, Middletown Psychiatric Center and the New Hampton Training School. He was a member of AARP, and loved hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Starr Coy Edwards, at home; two sons, Henry Edwards and companion Karen Radivoy of Montgomery, and Andrew Edwards of Walden; three daughters, JoAnne Vail of Wurtsboro, Michelle Leonard and husband Rebel of Parksville, and Jannette Munoz and husband John of Loch Sheldrake; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Alfred Cuttler and wife Sandy of Youngsville; three sisters, Grace Spevak of Hackettstown, NJ, Euphemia Gongelosi of Wurtsboro, and Eva Munoz of Livingston Manor; and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a son, James Henry Edwards; a daughter, Robin Edwards; and three brothers, Sam, George and Charles Cuttler.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 28 at Millspaugh Funeral Home, 22 Bank St., Walden with the Rev. James Van Houten officiating. Burial will be made in Wallkill Valley Cemetery, Walden.

Michael Galligan Sr.
Ret. Ass’t. Manager, 72

Michael E. Galligan Sr. of Forestburgh, a retired assistant manager of the Motor Vehicle Office at the Sullivan County Clerk's Office in Monticello and a lifetime area resident, died Monday, September 24, 2007 at his home. He was 72.
The son of the late Vincent C. Sr. and the late Florence Bushweller Galligan, he was born August 17, 1935 in Port Jervis.
Since his mid-20s, Michael fought a courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
A U.S. Air Force veteran, he served from 1955-1959 and was stationed in Germany as an air traffic controller. He enjoyed hunting and ice fishing, and his secondary interest was building patios, sidewalks and stone walls which dot the county, of bluestone taken from the quarries of the Galligan estate.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia J. Starr Galligan, at home, whom he married January 28, 1967 in St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Forestburgh; a son, Michael E. Galligan Jr. of Cuddebackville; a daughter, Theresa Wolf of Mahwah, NJ; three brothers, John W. Galligan and his wife Gerry, Vincent C. Galligan Jr. and his wife Kathleen, and James P. Galligan and his wife Ellen, all of Forestburgh; a sister, Kathleen Greco and her husband Gerard of Rockville, Md.; three grandchildren, Michelle Galligan of Cuddebackville, Molly Wolf and Thomas Wolf of Mahwah, NJ; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by his loving and devoted aunt Margaret “Mimi” Galligan, who retired from teaching in the Monticello Schools.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 27, with a Mass of Christian Burial held at St. Thomas Aquinas R.C. Church. The Rev. Ivan Csete officiated.
Burial was made in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Forestburgh.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.

Berverly Isberg
Ret. Health Care Aide, 66

Beverly Isberg of Woodridge, a retired home health care aide and longtime area resident, died Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla. She was 66.
Beverly was born January 27, 1941 in Brooklyn, the daughter of Joseph and Betty Mednick.
She was a member of Hadassah, and volunteered at Catskill Regional Medical Center where she was also in the Adult Day Care Program.
She is survived by her daughter Lisa Mednick at home in Wood-ridge; her son, Michael Holley of Villa Rica, Ga.; her one granddaughter, Abigail Holley; her sister, Blanche Mednick of Mass; two brothers, Marvin of Georgia and Murray Mednick of Ca.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 25 at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello. Burial was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty.

Dr. Jacob Goldblatt
Retired Dentist, 86

Dr. Jacob Goldblatt, a longtime resident of Monroe, passed away on September 22, 2007. He was 86.
Jacob was born April 20,1921 in Brooklyn to Ruth and Emil Michael Goldblatt. He was raised in a loving family with his twin brother, Aaron, and sister, Beatrice.
Always a gentleman, Jack was a devoted and loving husband to his beloved Ethel, the most important and cherished person in his life. He was an amazing father to his three children, who have great admiration, respect and endless love for him.
Jack graduated from the University of Vermont and College of Medicine in 1943, where he was active in ROTC, athletic endeavors, and music and theatre productions.
Jack completed his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Pittsburgh while enrolled in an accelerated program through the U.S. Army Reserves. It was during this time he fell in love with and married Ethel in 1945. They were stationed at Fort Dix, where Jack completed his residency at Grasslands Hospital and began their family. Upon reenlistment in the U.S. Air Force, Jack practiced dentistry as a Major while stationed at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama. In 1954, his family moved to Monroe, where he practiced dentistry with his brother, Aaron, until 1975.
Jack spent a lifetime pursuing knowledge, striving for self-improvement and enrolling in professional seminars at New York University to learn innovative techniques in dentistry. Following his retirement from private practice, he worked part-time at the Woodbourne Correctional Facility as a dentist.
Jack had a love for nature and many outdoor activities: hiking, skiing, golfing, tennis, swimming and horseback riding. He was an avid fly fisherman and an enthusiastic bicyclist. He had a gift working with his hands and gained pleasure tying fishing flies and creating beautiful wooden bowls and candlesticks on his lathe. He was an accomplished photographer and a member of the Muddywater Creative Theater Group as a talented actor who thoroughly enjoyed the many local community theater productions he starred in.
Jack was very active in the Civil Rights Movement. He proudly marched in Washington, D.C., with a group from The Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism and was a strong advocate of equality for all. Jack held high principles and ethical standards while always maintaining his ideals.
Surviving are his son, E. Michael Goldblatt and life partner Celia Kingsbury of Burlington, Vt.; his daughter, Janis Goldblatt and husband Russell Sanders of Fort Collins, Co.; his daughter, Donna Gillis and husband Hudson Gillis of Loch Sheldrake; his granddaughter, Rachel Leilani Gillis of Boulder, Co.; his two step-grandchildren, Jennifer Sanders Cykoski and Craig Sanders; his sister, Beatrice Goldblatt of California; and many nieces and nephews.
In a familiy statement it was said, “Jack will be deeply missed by family and friends. He will forever be in our hearts.”
Memorial services will be held on Friday, September 28 at 1 p.m. in The Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism with Rabbi Garry Loeb officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice, The Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism, or to the charitable organization of one’s choice.

Jay B. Case
Custodian, 60

Jay B. Case of Goshen, died Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at Orange Regional Medical Center Horton Campus, Middletown. He was 60.
Jay was born November 6, 1946 in Nyack, the son of the late Jay B. Case II and the late Mary (Boars) Case.
Jay served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was employed by Valley Central High School in Montgomery as a custodian, and he was a member of the Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Montgomery.
He is survived by his wife, Marline I. (Davis) Case; sons, Timothy Spears of Middletown, Thomas Spears of Middletown, Leroy Spears of Pine Bush, Albert Spears of Middletown, Leonard Spears of Middletown and Jay M. Case; daughters, Brenda Spears of Goshen, Rebecca Ditzaur of Lake Sheldrake, Christine Kaminski of Goshen, Irene Case, Kathleen Case of Mastic Beach and Jennifer Case; sisters, Terry Parks of California and Merril Case of California; 24 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many niec-es and nephews.
Funeral services will be on Friday, September 28, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the Donovan Funeral Home, 82 South Church St., Goshen.
Burial will follow in the Orange County Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Goshen.
Contributions may be made in Jay's name to an animal shelter of one's choice.
Arrangements made are under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home, Goshen.