Benjamin Kaplan
Ret. SC Director of Tourism, 98

Benjamin (Ben) Kaplan, retired director of Tourism and Publicity for Sullivan County, died on January 12, 2012 in Chatham, Massachusetts. He was 98 years of age.
The son of the late Philip and Sarah Eig Kaplan, he was born in Brooklyn, NY, on June 13, 1913.
Mr. Kaplan attended the schools in Monticello and went on to Syracuse University where he majored in journalism. He then published a national trade paper for the glove industry in Gloversville, NY, selling the business in 1942 to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He engaged in a retail business on his return to Monticello and in 1957 was appointed executive director of the Sullivan County Hotel Association which had a membership of more than 200 active hotels. It was during this period that he served as treasurer of the nine-county Route 17 Association.
After 12 years with the Hotel Association, Mr. Kaplan moved into the county publicity directorship where he served until his retirement at the end of 1978. In 1982, the Sullivan County Democrat added him to its staff of columnists, his Friday columns continuing through 2005.
When he began to winter in Florida, Mr. Kaplan became director of the Visitor and Convention Bureau of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, serving for four years, until he once again retired.
Along the way he was a charter and life member of the Monticello Kiwanis Club, co-founder of the New York State Travel and Vacation Association, a member of Governor Hugh Carey’s Tourism Task Force and the state’s Board of Tourism Commissioners, which created the I Love NY ad campaign. Later, he co-chaired the committee which organized and conducted the Sullivan County South Florida Reunion in 1982.
He officiated basketball, soccer and baseball at the high school and community college level for more than 25 years and in the early 1960’s, coached the Orange County Community College basketball team for two seasons.
Mr. Kaplan was a member of the Landfield Avenue Synagogue in Monticello and the Jewish War Veterans, Post #206.
He was pre-deceased by his wife Harriet and brothers Moe and Lawrence Kaplan. He is survived by his brother Morton and his sister Renee Fritsch (Robert), his daughter Sari Kaplan Mittler (Joel) and grandchildren Tracey Daniels, Mara Epstein (Eric), Jeremy Mittler, and daughter Ricki Kaplan Lacy (Steve) and grandchildren Carly and Emma Rothfeld, and great-grandchildren Hannah, Joshua and Matthew.
Services will be held at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Homes in Monticello on Sunday, January 15 and interment in the Landfield Avenue Synagogue Cemetery.
Donations in Ben’s memory may be made to the Landfield Avenue Synagogue, P.O.Box 410, Monticello, NY 12701.

Adelle M. Lazarowics
Retired Teacher, Monticello School District, 82

Adelle M. Lazarowics of Monticello, a retired teacher for the Monticello Central School District, died unexpectedly on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. She was 82.
The daughter of the late Albert Lapinski and Mary Lokaitis Lapinski, she was born August 9, 1929 in Duryea, PA.
Adelle is survived by her husband: Sanford Lazarowics, at home; two sisters: Cathy Sardegna and Lillian Kroptovich of Duryea, PA; two brothers: Thomas Lapinski of Duryea, PA, and Michael Lapinski of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; several nieces and nephews, and many area friends. She was predeceased by her daughter, Laura L. Lazarowics, on August 5, 2008.
Her Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, January 12, 2012 at St. Peter’s Church in Monticello.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Arrangements under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello; www.kennyfuneralhome.com

Esther Etkin
Retired Sullivan’s Department Store employee, 78

Esther Etkin of Rock Hill, a retired 20-year employee of Sullivan’s Department Store in Liberty and Middletown, NY, and longtime area resident, died on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 in Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown, NY. She was 78.
Esther was born in Roscoe, NY, on August 13, 1933, the daughter of Ivan and Beatrice Simpson Price.
She was a life member and past-president of Ruddick-Trowbridge Auxiliary Post 73 of the American Legion, current president of the Sullivan County Post of the American Legion Auxiliary, life member and past-president of the Bailey-Richman Post of the VFW Aux. 9588 in Monticello, and past-president of the Sullivan County VFW Auxiliary Post. She was a member of the Jesse Brams Post 206 of JWV Auxiliary in Monticello, Temple Sholom, and the Monticello Seniors Club. 
She is survived by her husband of 53 and one-half years, Al Etkin, at home; her daughter, Lynn Murray and her husband Jim of Wappingers Falls, NY; her son, Phil Etkin and daughter-in-law Bess of Rock Hill; her six grandchildren, Ron, Christie, Evan, Josh, Matthew and Zackary; and her four great-grandchildren: Allie, Isobel, Conor, and Jameson; as well as nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
She is predeceased by her sister, Ivah Specht, and her brother, Leonard Price.
Funeral services were held Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., Monticello, NY, with Rabbi M. Medwin officiating.
Burial was made in Temple Sholom Cemetery, Southwoods Rd., Monticello.
Donations in memory of Esther may be made to any one of the organizations in which she served.
Funeral arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., Monticello. For further information or to leave the family a condolence note, visit www.josephngarlickfuneralhome .com.

Kenneth B. Hornbeck
Retired Truck Driver, 82

Kenneth B. Hornbeck of South Fallsburg passed away on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Sullivan County Adult Care Nursing Facility. He was 82.
The son of Burr and Florence Slater Hornbeck, he was born July 10, 1929 in South Fallsburg.
He proudly served our country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. Kenneth was a truck driver for the majority of his life. He worked for many companies such as Hornbeck Sand and Gravel, Teamsters Local 445 of NY, Local 707 of NJ and M&S Consultants – Falls Poultry.
He was a loving son, brother and friend that will be sorely missed by all that knew and loved him. 
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his sisters, Joan M. Hornbeck and her companion Paul Nichos of Poughkeepsie; brothers, Carl S. Hornbeck and his wife Denise of Monticello, Ralph G. Hornbeck and his wife Sharon of Neversink; a very special nephew, Shaun M. Hornbeck and his wife Samantha; and great-niece Megan of the Orange County area; several nieces, nephews, cousins and the folks at the Blue Horizon.
He was predeceased by his mother (Slater), father (Hornbeck) and stepmother (Carlson).
Visitation will be held Friday, January 13, 2012 at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, NY 12788 from 4-7 p.m.
A funeral service will be held Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Mother Joan LaLiberte will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kenneth’s name may be made to Fallsburg Fire Department Building Fund, c/o A.J. Pantel.
Arrangements were under the direction of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home. For further information, please call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.

Barry Brush
Security Guard, 63

Barry Brush of Long Eddy, a security guard at the Villa Roma Resort and a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, January 10, 2012 in Callicoon. He was 63.
The son of the late Harmon and Inda Peets Brush, he was born March 31, 1948 in Hancock. He was married to Sharon Bowers Brush.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Bowers Brush; four children, Amanda, Andrea and William Brush, Harmony Wilkins and her son James; two grandchildren, Eva Rose Jennifer Brush and Alex Michael Rogers; one brother, Cort Brush; three sisters, Minnie Devoe, Juanita Livingston, and Penny Kearney; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, January 12 at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, 34 Upper Main St., Callicoon.
Burial was made in the Halsey Cemetery in Long Eddy.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.