Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Bridge Club Related Deaths

Kay's husband died the other day and his obit was in the paper today.  I thought I should probably keep track of these things and then I remembered that I should add Beth's husband too because he was the first of the husbands to die.  But then I remembered about Ellie's husband who committed suicide so long ago and I can't remember what his first name was.  Maybe I should just keep it to our most recent members.  Then I better add Bob Chan too.





Ritter, Joachim A. "John"
1940 - 2017
Webster: June 2, 2017, age 76. He is survived by his wife, Mary "Kay"; sons, Benjamin and Michael (Meredith); grandchildren, Allison, Avery and Norah; sisters-in-law, Margaret (Robert) Widlund, Ruth (Bruce) Brown; nephew, Ryan Brown, niece, Beth Brown, cousins, friends, and family in Germany.

He was born in Berlin, Germany in 1940 and lived through difficult times during and after the Second World War and Berlin Blockade. He immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s leaving behind everything he ever knew and speaking little English. Shortly after, he settled in Rochester, NY and built a new life and a family. He graduated with a bachelor degree from the University of Rochester. He worked for 17 years as a mechanical and optical engineer at Xerox, and also worked at various optical engineering businesses in Rochester. Later in his career, he acted as a consultant in optics.

He was an intelligent, courageous, and gentle man who always exhibited humility. He had a strong sense of devotion and faithfulness to his family and close friends.

Friends may call Wednesday, June 7 from 4-7 PM at the funeral chapel (1031 Ridge Rd., Webster). A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, 11 AM at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 783 Hard Rd., Webster. Private interment at St. Mary's Cemetery in Watkins Glen.

In lieu of flowers donations may be directed to the American Diabetes Association at 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA 22202. To share a memory of John or send condolences to the family, visit www.anthonychapels.com
Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle
on June 6, 2017




Chan, Robert E., Sr.
1913-2016
Scottsville: September 7, 1913 - March 3, 2016. Bob was born to immigrant parents and raised in Savannah, Georgia with his five brothers and sisters. After Savannah, he entered Georgia Tech and signed into ROTC which, along with several jobs, provided the ability to complete his education as an engineer and with a commission as an officer in the US Army. The unfortunate involvement in WWII coincided with graduation and he saw duty first in Washington, DC, which only lasted a short time before the Pacific/Asian conflict took him to India and then Burma for several years' life in the jungle. At the end of the war he was welcomed home by his first wife, Gretchen whom he had married only days before shipping out.

After active service Bob and Gretchen settled in Rochester to pursue his engineering career at Eastman Kodak and foster his interest in photography by also returning to school at RIT. The Kodak career involved much R&D on such projects as Verifax and his many years developing top secret photographic elements of the "Corona" surveillance satellites. His sideline photographic business also flourished for many years and he remained active in the Army Reserve and retired as Colonel after 30 years service.

His life was much more than employment and business. Through the years he built his first aqua-lung from surplus aircraft parts which instilled the diving bug: good sense quickly brought better equipment. He learned to fly gliders and started skiing in his 40s. Always a tinkerer, there were always projects around the house and was known for his maroon '67 Corvette fastback which he drove nearly 300K miles. After separation from Gretchen, Bob married Karen with whom he enjoyed life until her untimely passing four years ago.

Bob helped establish the Scottsville Rotary Club and served them and the community into his '90s, especially the Rotary Youth Exchange. Bob and Karen not only assisted the program but also hosted numerous students in their home. Love of life and helping others find this joy was their passion, skiing in the winter and travel, visiting Europe, skiing the Alps and Canadian Rockies and reconnecting with the family in the south all contributed to his well rounded life. Bob was closing in on 100 when Karen died, after which he lived out a quiet life at home until his death.

Bob is predeceased by his parents, brothers and sisters and his wife Karen. He is survived by son, Robert (Susan), daughters Alexandra (Brent) and MeeRa plus grandchildren Michael (Laura), Stacey (Chris), Jin, Seu, and MaeLee, four great grandchildren and many more in his diverse and spread family.

Services will be held at the Union Presbyterian Church, Scottsville in April and details will be announced in this paper. Contributions in lieu of flowers will be welcomed by the Scottsville Rotary Club, P.O. Box 85, Scottsville, NY 14546, to the newly established "Robert and Karen Memorial Fund" which will help expand the reach and support of the youth exchange program. To share a memory or leave a condolence please visit: www.scottsvillefuneralhome.com. Arrangements by J.H. Cameron Funeral Home.
Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on Mar. 6, 2016


Kennedy, Francis X.
1927-2007
Irondequoit: Sunday, November 18, 2007, at the age of 80. Predeceased by his parents, Daniel Bernard & M. Alice Kennedy; siblings, Sr. Patricia Kennedy of Newburgh, NY and John J. Kennedy of Homer, NY. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Elizabeth Raetz Kennedy; sister, Margaret Marshall; nephew, John K. Kennedy of Atlanta, GA; niece, Margaret (Robert) Hessler of Quakertown, PA. Francis was a graduate of St. Patrick's School in Syracuse, NY, and a College Graduate of St. Bonaventure and Cornell University Law School. He had his own private law practice in downtown Rochester since 1977. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Webster, NY and United States Power Squadron.
His family will receive friends FRIDAY, 4-7 pm at the funeral home. Friends are invited to meet the family SATURDAY 11:00 AM at HOLY CROSS CHURCH for his funeral mass. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Holy Cross Church, 4492 Lake Avenue, Rochester, NY 14612.
Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle
from Nov. 22 to Nov. 23, 2007


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