All Obituaries

George Joseph Botwinick died peacefully, at 98, on November 21, 2021. Born on March 23, 1923, George grew up in Bayonne, N.J., where he played Varsity Basketball and was nicknamed “The Bayonne Bomber” because of his shooting prowess.  After high school, he took a cross-country train, to attend the University of Wisconsin until World War II began.  After Midshipman School, George became a Lieutenant in the Navy and was stationed in the Pacific during the...

William Joseph Fitzpatrick III “Fitzy” passed away on November 20, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee, after a courageous battle with cancer. Bill is survived by his wife, Deborah (Walz), of 38 years; his sons, Ryan and William (Karen); his grandsons, Kaden, Aiden and new baby William Joseph Fitzpatrick V coming in January; his surrogate kids, Todd (Madison) and Lord “Vic”; his mother, Janet (Morusty Fitzpatrick) Cleary; his sisters, Debra (James) Derr, Ann (James) Fowler,...

Joseph T. Bettucci, Jr., went home to Jesus on Nov. 20, 2021, at his daughter’s home in Sugar Land, Texas. He was surrounded by loved ones as he fought valiantly against late-stage Alzheimer’s dementia. He never wavered in his faith. Joe was born in Ithaca, N.Y., on Feb. 19, 1928, to Mary Mooney and Joseph T. Bettucci. At 17, he enlisted in the United States Army in January 1946, and he served 14 months in Japan as a surgical technician. He married Helen Kowal from Newark...

Kathryn W. Torgeson Proud mom, devoted friend, tireless worker, and lifelong lover of travel, cooking, collecting, and conversation, Kathryn Welker (née Weiss) Torgeson passed away on November 19, 2021 at the age of 95. Born September 18, 1926 in Philadelphia, PA, Kathryn grew up in a Pennsylvania Dutch family with long roots “up country” in the Perkiomen Valley area where she and her parents James and Katie, and brother Francis frequently visited. Kathryn worked at...

Christopher Mark Bilyk, age 36, passed away on November 17, 2021 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY as the result of injuries suffered in a car accident. He is survived by his parents, Mark and Kas Bilyk and his brother Matthew Bilyk; several aunts and uncles including Mike and Dorothy Bilyk, Joan and Clay Haddock, Kurt and Carol Komaromi and Lori and Merritt Cash; cousins include Michael, Nicholas, and David Bilyk; Justin and Brad Richardson-Bilyk; Suzanne (Jared) Nash; Katy and...

Gail Friesema Farnham, age 82, of Ithaca, NY, passed away peacefully on November 15th, 2021 after a short bout with late-stage pancreatic cancer.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Tillie Masselink Friesema and Harry Friesema, her brother, H. Paul Friesema, son-in-law Vaughn Blesi and Gail’s husband of 37 years, William Mills Farnham, II.  She is survived by her three children, Brad (Jill) Farnham of Trumansburg, NY, Cynthia Blesi of Anoka, MN, and Emily Farnham Mastrianni (Tim...

Ithaca - Holly Gail Brown 57 of Ithaca passed away unexpectedly on November 12, 2021 at home.Born on December 25, 1963 she was the daughter to the late Jean Pinkham Brown and Nathan Brown.Holly is survived by her life partner Thomas Veit, her son Robert (Defaner) Sweet, Sisters Mindy Dahl, Janie Brickhouse; Brothers; Barry Brown and Gary Swarthout, Brother in-law Ed Armstrong; Friend Jasmine; grandchildren Tianna whom she shared a very special loving bond with, Dyannah, Robert jr., Benjamin,...

Allan Lentini passed away at age 77 on Monday, November 8th, 2021, in Seattle, Washington.  He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in New Milford, New Jersey. He graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, NJ, where he lettered in track and field and choir. He commuted to Manhattan College, graduating in 1965 with a degree in Electrical/Nuclear Engineering. That was followed by advanced degrees including an MBA, Masters in Psychology and Doctorate in Education from...

Donald Walter MillerIn the early morning hours of Monday, November 8, 2021, Don passed away peacefully at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, NY after battling sepsis. He was surrounded by his family whom he cherished. His strong will to live and the love, support and prayers of family and friends helped Don survive a massive stroke 14 years prior and lead a full life.Don was born at Syracuse General Hospital on May 16, 1928. He was the only child of Walter Seymour Miller and Martha Louise (nee...

Newfield - Rebecca (Becky) N. AuCoin, age 86, passed away at home on Sunday, November 7, 2021, after an extended illness. Becky was born on December 12th, 1934, in NYC, to the late Joseph and Stella Colletti. She completed the 8th grade in NYC Public School PS 59, and she proudly earned her GED while raising her family as a working mother in 1986. She moved to Newfield in 1974 with her family. She was employed at BorgWarner Morse Chain as a Chain Inspector, retiring in 2000 with 18 years of...