Alexander A. Goodman Jr., a retired installer for the New York Telephone Co., died Saturday, June 24, 2006 at his home in Wurtsboro with his entire family at his side, after a prolonged battle with leukemia. He was 80.
The son of the late Alexander Goodman Sr. and Mary Ellen Hughes Goodman, he was born September 16, 1925 in New York City.
Al was an active member of the Community Church of Wurtsboro, a volunteer at the Pharmacy at Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis, member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Rockland County, and Telephone Pioneers of America. Active in scouting, he also enjoyed bowling, fishing, classical music and was an avid reader who spent most of his time helping his kids. Al also served during World War II in the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, L. Leone Cobbett Goodman, at home; two sons, Alexander Goodman III and Peter C. Goodman, both of Wurtsboro; two daughters, Cynthia D. Goodman of Montrose, Pa. and Alexis M. Lemm of Stony Point; two brothers, William Goodman of the state of Florida and John T. Goodman of New Hartford; 14 grandchildren, Anna Mae, Dawn, Meghann, Daniel, Ryan, Corinne, Chad, Tara, Erin, Alex IV, Maureen, Owen, Peter and Rebecca; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother, Robert Goodman.
Funeral services were held Monday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, Wurtsboro. The Rev. Robert Hoag and the Rev. Robert Schwander officiated.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Upstate New York Chapter, 6 Automation Lane, Albany, NY 12205 or to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.

Raymond J. Taibi, a retired laborer for the New York State Dept. of Transportation in Monticello, died Friday, June 23, 2006 in Narrowsburg. He was 75.
The son of the late Salvatore Taibi and Concetta Alaimo Taibi, he was born October 11, 1930 in Brooklyn.
Ray was an active member of St. Peter’s Church in Monticello where he served as an usher. He was also a 3rd Degree in the Knights of Columbus.
He is survived by a daughter, Christine Breen of Monticello.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 27 at the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 28 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church, Broadway and Liberty Street in Monticello.
Burial will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Church, 10 Liberty St., Monticello, NY 12701 or to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., Mid-Hudson Chapter, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 103, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601-4027.

Paul “Pete” Thiele of Sparta, Tenn. and a former resident of Glen Spey, died Tuesday, June 20, 2006 in Sparta, Tenn. He was 70.
Son of the late Henry H. and Anna Jane Carr Thiele, he was born September 25, 1935 in Mongaup.
Pete was a retired firefighter with Local #2767 in the City of Monticello. He was a member of Pond Eddy United Methodist Church, Pond Eddy; the Sparta United Methodist Church, Sparta, Tenn.; a life member of the Sullivan County Firemen’s Association; past chief of the Lumberland Fire Department, Glen Spey; life member of Dekalb Fire Company in Smithville, Tenn.; life member of Monticello Fire Department; and Honorary Member of the Sparta Fire Department, Sparta, Tenn.
He was also a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the U.S. Marines, 3rd Division; member of the Tri-State Naval Ship V.F.W. Post #7241; member of the Sylvan-Liebla American Legion Post, Eldred; and member of American Veterans Post #01011, Smithville, Tenn.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Dare Reed Thiele; two sons, Wayne Thiele and his wife, Aileen, of Glen Spey, and Craig Thiele and his wife, Tammy, of Brush Creek, Tenn.; his daughter, Donna Rains and her husband, Mitch, of Aubrey, Texas; one brother, Howard Thiele and his wife, Gen, of Glen Spey; four sisters, Florence Hunt of Glen Spey, Deline Norris of Eldred, Louise McKerrell of Glen Spey, and Marjorie Bachelder and her husband, Douglas, of Belleview, Fla.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 29, 2006 at The Pond Eddy United Methodist Church, Pond Eddy with the Rev. Nancy Vonderhorst officiating.
Private interment will take place at Glen Spey Cemetery, Glen Spey.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Pond Eddy United Methodist Church, Pond Eddy, NY 12770.
Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 East Main St., Port Jervis.

Louis “Nunu” J. Mosello passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2006 in Pembroke Pines, Fla. after a long illness. He was 87.
He was born in 1918 in Albany, one of 17 brothers and sisters. “Nunu” was a longtime resident of Monticello.
He served during WWII in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was involved in the American Legion as a past county commander in Monticello. He worked as a New York State health inspector and later in life was a partner in Villardi Realty.
Always a hard working, patient and happy man, he will be greatly missed by his wife, Pat Villardi; daughter, Francesca Villardi-Tillem; son-in-law, Brad Tillem; granddaughters, Victoria and Sarah Tillem of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; and sister Nicholine Yannoconefo of Mt. Vernon.
A graveside memorial was held Saturday at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty.
Arrangements were made by VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, Monticello.

Karl J. Kaartine of Swan Lake, a retired medic for Ford Motor Co. and a longtime area resident, died Monday, June 19, 2006 at the home of his son in Salisbury Mills. He was 73.
The son of the late Andrew W. and Ida Salamina Kaartine, he was born July 10, 1932 in Rutland, Vt.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War as a hospital corpsman, awarded the Purple Heart and other medals; he received an honorable discharge on July 22, 1954. He was a member of the VFW, and had worked for Ford Motor Co. in Mahwah, NJ for over 25 years.
In a family statement, it was said, “Karl was a loyal, devoted father and grandfather. He always put his family above himself. Karl enjoyed spending time with his family, watching cartoons with his grandchildren and being home. He also enjoyed fishing, horse racing, video games and he was an avid NY Mets fan. He loved watching Jeopardy, knowing almost every answer. Karl especially loved his faithful chihuahua, Peppi. They were inseparable. He loved nature and animals, and enjoyed peaceful solitude outdoors.”
He is survived by a son, Andrew W. Kaartine of Salisbury Mills; a daughter, Nancy I. Smith of Swan Lake; four grandchildren, Aaron Kaartine, Jeremy Kaartine, Jessica Smith, and Stephen K. Smith IV.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 15, 2006 at St. George R.C. Church, Route 52, Jeffersonville. The Rev. Ignatius Vu will officiate.
Burial with military honors will be made at 11:30 a.m. July 15 in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. George R.C. Church, Route 52, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Harris Funeral Home, Liberty.

Edward W. Gray, a longtime resident of Monticello and South Fallsburg, died at the Pines Nursing Home in Sarasota, Fla. Saturday, June 24, 2006.
“Eddie” was born January 12, 1930 in Schenectady, son of the late Domenica and John Greczynski.
After serving in the 1st Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stationed in Dormstadt, Germany from 1948 to 1952, he worked for a short period of time at General Electric in Schenectady. Realizing his first real love was golf, he decided to become a golf professional. After serving his apprenticeship at Saranac Lake and Cobleskill, and being admitted to the Professional Golf Association of America, Eddie moved to Sullivan County. He briefly played on the Caribbean Tour and then accepted the position at Tarry Brae Golf Course, where he served as Director of Golf from 1960 to 1980. During those years, Ed and his good friend, Alan Steingart, won several pro-ams in Sullivan and Orange counties. In 1980, he and his former wife, Patti, purchased the Windsor Golf Course near Binghamton. Ed, serving as greenskeeper as well as golf professional, completely rebuilt all 18 greens, turning a run-down course into a challenging one which they renamed Golden Oak Golf Course. The 8400 square foot clubhouse was also completely renovated and decorated in antiques which Eddie purchased, refinished, and eventually sold. In 1987, having fulfilled his dream of owning and operating his own golf course, he decided it was time to slow down, sold Golden Oak and moved back to Monticello.
Not wishing to completely retire, and still having his original love for the game, Eddie then accepted the position of Director of Golf at the Homowac Hotel in Spring Glen, until 1996, and also was a teaching professional at the Concord Hotel for a short period of time. He then decided to retire completely and moved to his home in Sarasota, Fla., where he continued to reside and play golf. Up until the time he purchased Golden Oak, he had been a charter member at Gator Creek Golf Course in Sarasota.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy, whom he married in 2003; his former wife, Patti; one nephew and several nieces. He was predeceased by two brothers and two sisters.
Friends may call on Wednesday, June 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 29 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the TideWell Hospice, 5955 Rand Boulevard, Sarasota, FL 34238.

Visitation for Bernardine Nickou of Liberty, who died June 25, 2006, will be held from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 28 at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty.
A complete obituary will be in Friday’s edition of the Democrat.

William F. Bartschi of Roscoe, a retired carpenter and farmer and 65-year area resident, died Monday, June 26, 2006 in Roscoe. He was 89.
The son of the late Fritz and Bertha Hofer Bartschi, he was born June 15, 1917 in Bern, Switzerland.
He had worked for Dick Bloom and later for Irving Burnham as a carpenter. He had his own farm in Roscoe and had attended the Roscoe Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 65-years, Etta V. Bowers Bartschi, at home; two sons, Willy A. Bartschi and Terry G. Bartschi, both of Roscoe; two daughters, Carole Currey and her husband, Stephen, and Judy Closs and her husband, Albert, all of Roscoe; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Trudy Boddy; a granddaughter, Cindy Ackerley; and a brother, Otto Bartschi.
Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 28 at Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Ave., Roscoe.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 29 at the Harris Funeral Home, Roscoe with the Rev. Robert W. Hoag officiating.
Burial will be made in Riverview Cemetery, Roscoe.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Orange & Sullivan Hospice, 800 Stony Brook Ct., Newburgh, NY 12550.