In Memoriam
Date of Passing:
Saturday, March 27, 2010Donald G. Nowak, 87, of Jamesville, NY, passed away on March 27. Donald was born in Hempstead, New York, to Thomas Hogg of Galachiels, Scotland, and Alvina Groll Hogg of New York City. After his parents’ deaths when Donald was an infant, family friends, Charles and Emily Nowak, adopted him. He was raised in Dayton Ohio, where he attended Madison Township High School. Donald attended the University of Dayton and Miami University (OH), where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity and football team.
Donald served as a quartermaster, 3rd Class (LC), V-6 in the U.S. Navy in WWII. During his naval training in Wooster, Ohio, he met his future wife, Aileen M. Burlingham. After the service he began his career in the Advertising Production Department of McCall’s Magazine in Dayton, Ohio. After their marriage in 1946, Donald and Aileen moved to Syracuse, New York, where Donald worked in the Advertising Production Department of the Barlow Advertising Agency. He moved into account management at the Fellows Advertising Agency and with partner Bart Chapman founded Chapman-Nowak & Associates in 1951. In 1971 Donald formed his own agency, D.G. Nowak & Associates. Over the years he purchased several agencies in the Central New York area. Seeing potential for business with state agencies, he purchased one of the leading agencies in Albany and renamed the firm Nowak Voss in 1974. In 1979 Donald purchased the Barlow Johnson Agency, which also had offices in Syracuse and Albany, becoming Nowak Barlow Johnson.
Donald was an active member of many professional, civic and social organizations. He was vice chair of the board of directors and chair of the Convention Bureau of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce; president of Dewitt Kiwanis Club; and was a member of Advertising, Marketing International Network (AMIN); American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA); and the Syracuse Press Club. He was president of the Erie Canal Museum, Upstate Heart Association and the S.P.C.A.; chairman of the board of directors of the NYS Heart Association; a trustee of the Discovery Center of Science and Technology and Visiting Nurses Association; and a member of the Central New York Republican Finance Committee.
He was a volunteer firefighter in the DeWitt Fire Department. He served on the board of directors for the Onondaga Golf and Country Club; was a governor of the Century Club; president of the Syracuse Sigma Chi Alumni Club; and a member of the Syracuse Golf Bandits and Masons, 32nd Degree; Fayetteville Lodge F&A.M.; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Tigris Temple; Royal Order of Jesters.
Donald was a member of DeWitt Community Church. Donald is survived by his wife of 64 years, Aileen M. (Burlingham) Nowak; his son, Tim Nowak of DeWitt; daughter, Donna (Paul) Nowak-Hughes of Albany; and granddaughter, Amanda Nowak of DeWitt.
Contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Rd., Mattydale, NY 13211.
In Memoriam
Date of Passing:
Wednesday, March 3, 2010Charles A. Gray died March 3, 2010, at Francis House. He was born in Syracuse, New York, on September 16, 1928, son of Charles William and Elizabeth Marie (Koch) Gray.
Charles was educated in Solvay public schools through his freshman year in high school. He attended Southside High Schoool in Elmira, New York, for his sophomore and junior years. He attended Syracuse Central High School in Syracuse, New York, for his senior year. After graduation from high school, he attended various courses of the American Institute of Banking, receiving certification of AIB in 1958. Later he attended and graduated from the N.A.B.A.C. School for bank auditors and comptrollers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1961. He became a certified internal auditor (CIA) in 1962. He was appointed NYS director of the Bank Administration Institute 1970-72. He began his banking career with Merchants National Bank & Trust Company in 1946. Initially he was in the proof department, then the bookkeeping department and became a teller. He transferred to the comptroller’s department and was appointed auditor. Later he was elected vice president and auditor (the youngest officer of Merchants Bank). Merchants Bank and Irving Trust Company started a bank holding company known as Charter New York Corporation. Charter New York Corporation changed its structure and became Irving Bank Corporation. Charles was named regional bank auditor and was responsible for the internal auditing of Irving Banks in Rochester, Syracuse, Endicott, Hancock, Moravia, Clinton and Lake Placid. The Bank of New York obtained Irving Bank Corporation in a hostile takeover, and Gray retired after over 40 years in banking.
He was predeceased by his parents, C. William Gray and Elizabeth M. Gray. Charles is survived by his sister, Doris (John) Henderson of Camillus; brother, C. William (Joan) Gray Jr. of Geneva, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. Gray was a member of First English Lutheran Church in Syracuse, serving as church school treasurer for over 20 years. He was elected a member of the church board of trustees as the youngest ever at First English Lutheran. He served as treasurer of the Lutheran Society of Onondaga County and treasurer of the Lutheran Student Foundation at Syracuse University. He currently was a member and attended Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fayetteville, New York. In 1966 the New York State Synod split into the Metropolitan and Upper New York synods. Charles was elected treasurer of the Upper New York Synod. The Upper New York Synod includes all Lutheran churches in New York state except for Metropolitan New York City. In 1987 the Lutheran Church in American reorganized, and the Upper New York Synod became Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Charles continued to serve as treasurer until 2002. He was founding director and treasurer of the Lutheran Foundation of Upper New York. In 2009 the foundation was closed and the directors became the Investment Committee of the Upstate New York Synod.
Charles was initiated a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity at Syracuse University in 1962 and served as financial advisor to the Sigma Nu Chapter at Syracuse until 1998. On August 2, 1987, the Coulter Cup was presented to Charles A. Gray. This award is presented annually by the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta to “the graduate brother who is judged to have provided the most exceptionally outstanding service to an undergraduate chapter based upon length of service, brotherhood, dependability, integrity and high moral character.” He was president of the Interfraternity Council at Syracuse University 1980-83. Other positions held were president of the Central New York Chapter of the Bank Administration Institute 1970-72. He was a member of the Central New York Chapter Insitute of Internal Auditors and president 1985-1986. Gray had been a member of the Lions Club for over 40 years. He was a charter member of the University-Drumlins Lions Club from 1962, serving as treasurer except for two years (1973-75) that he served as president. He was presently a member of the Eastwood Lions Club.
Charles A. Gray was raised a Master Mason in Syracuse Lodge No. 501, F.&A.M. on May 21, 1964. He served as master from 1978-79 and treasurer until the merger with Liverpool Lodge No. 525. The Meritorious Service Award of the New York Council of Deliberation was conferred June 14, 1982. He served as treasurer of the Valley of Syracuse, Central City Bodies, for over 40 years. Charles was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33rd-degree honorary member of Supreme Council of the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America on September 28, 1999, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He was a member of Tigris Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., and currently served on the Finance Committee. Since October 21, 1989, he had been a member of Court 79, Royal Order of Jesters. He also held dual memberships in Memorial Lodge No. 648 F.&A.M. in North Syracuse and Liverpool Syracuse Lodge No. 501 in Liverpool, New York. Gray held membership in Central City Riverside Chapter 70, Royal Arch Masons. Charles was a member of the Masonic Veterans Association and Knights of St. Andrew.
Charles had owned the family summer cottage at Brantingham Lake since 1955. He wrote A History of Brantingham in 1998 and an updated edition in 2008; also The History of Brantingham Inn and Golf Course in 2007.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fayetteville, NY.
Those attending may gather in Fellowship Hall after the service for a light lunch and to meet the family. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in memory of Charles for their memorial fund or to the 32nd-degree Masonic Learning Center for children with dyslexia, P.O. Box 638, 8280 State Route 69, Oriskany, NY 13424.
In Memoriam
In Memoriam
Date of Passing:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008Mr. Bernard F. “Bernie” Trimbur, 74, of 7318 Wheatley Road, East Syracuse, NY, died at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at The Highlands at Brighton, Rochester, NY. Mr. Trimbur was born on August 23, 1934 in Youngstown, OH, a son to the late Bernard and Theresa Francis Trimbur. When living in the valley, he was an active member of the First Christian Church, Niles, OH. He was a 1952 graduate of Niles-McKinley High School, Niles, Ohio and received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in mechanical engineering in 1958 from Kent State University. Mr. Trimbur was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the Headquarters Battalion of the 515 Airborne Division.
He retired as engineer from Cambridge Filter Corporation, Liverpool, NY with 22 years of employment and was a master mason of [Liverpool] Syracuse Lodge No. 501 F.& A.M., Liverpool, NY [a former member of Liverpool Lodge No. 525 – member no. L1318]. He enjoyed photography, golfing, fishing, woodworking and especially DIY projects. His biggest joy was taking care of “his girls”.
Surviving are his wife, Mary Ann Shaner Trimbur who he married July 22, 1961; three daughters, Mrs. Paul (Cristine M.) Houde, Fairport, NY, Mrs. Robert (Cynthia J.) Hampson, Hastings, NY, Mrs. Jeffrey (Melissa T.) Schreffler, Akron, OH; a sister, Mrs. Dorothy M. Niblock, Sunnyvale, CA; five grandchildren, Glenn Hampson, Andrew and Parker Houde, Samantha and Jack Schreffler. Burial took place at Brookfield Cemetery, Brookfield, OH.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at the Mallory Wesleyan Church at 5 Baum Road, Mallory, New York. Pastor Gregory Stein will be officiating. A luncheon was served following the service by the wonderful ladies of the church. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be mailed to the Mrs. Mary Ann Trimbur, 7318 Wheatley Road, East Syracuse, NY 13057. Funds to be distributed by the family to those Alzheimer’s groups involved in the care of Mr. Bernard Trimbur.
Published in the Syracuse Post Standard on 4 Dec 2008.
In Memoriam
In Memoriam
Date of Passing:
Wednesday, June 18, 2008Joseph W. Mace Sr., 91, of Lakeland, Florida, peacefully, surrounded by family, joined his beloved wife of 61 years, Erna; and son Joseph Jr.
He is survived by his daughter, Beverly (Bro. Theodore of Liverpool Syracuse Lodge No. 501) Chrisler of West Monroe and Florida; sons, Alan (Deb) Mace of Iowa, Donald (Misty) Mace of North Syracuse, David (Jane) Mace of Tennessee, Gary (Kathy) Mace of Clay; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and
a sister-in-law, Helen Mace of Cohoes, NY.
He retired from General Electric in Liverpool in 1980. His passion was his family, camping, music, photography and community service. Joseph was a member of King Hiram Masonic Lodge of Newfield, NY for 50 years, where he served as master and patron, a member of the Liverpool Order of the Eastern Star and the Liverpool First United
Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be private for the family. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Ithaca. Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Maurer Funeral Home Moyers Corners, 3541, Rt. 31, Baldwinsville. In lieu of flowers, donations to Crouse Hospital or the American Cancer Society are greatly appreciated.
