Death of former Times receptionist Pat

Pat Newstead

05 February 2009

A woman who was a well-known figure in the Fakenham area in her role as a receptionist for the Fakenham and Wells Times and its sister paper the Eastern Daily Press, has died after battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Pat Newstead, 68, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Before going into hospital she had been living at the St Nicholas Nursing home in Sheringham. She had also been a day patient at the Tapping House Hospice in West Norfolk.

Her husband, Bill, to whom she was married for 48 years, said Pat loved her job at the newspaper's old office on Bridge Street and in the 14 years from 1974 that she worked there she became a well-known and popular face in the town.

“Pat loved the job and was heart-broken when she had to retire after suffering a heart attack in November 1988,” said Mr Newstead.

She was born in Fakenham but moved to Wells as a toddler and she and Bill were married in the town's St Nicholas Church in 1960.

Mr Newstead said his wife enjoyed attending the Tapping House Hospice one day a week and he couldn't praise enough the level of care and support she was given by the staff and volunteers. “There are some wonderful people there and the level of care is second to none,” he said.

The couple had no children but Pat is survived by two sisters, Dawn, Yvette and a brother, John.

The funeral is being held tomorrow at the Mintlyn Crematorium, King's Lynn at 12.15pm. Donations are invited for the Tapping House Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

McKAY, RAYBURN L. (SCOTT)

Born April 12, 1950 Died January 12, 2009

Born in Bay City, Michigan to William C. and Mary Lou McKay, Scott made San Diego his home for the past 16 years. He was an avid sailor having graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and retiring as a Captain in 1996.

He will be lovingly remembered by his two children, Maggie and Bud; his father, William (wife Cathy); brother Bill (wife Mary); and sisters, Leslie and Lynda.

A brief Memorial Service was held Saturday, January 17th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mission Bay Yacht Club, 1215 El Carmel Place, San Diego, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions to be made in his honor to the ALS Association which can be found online at www.alsa.org/donate.

https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?RS...obits&pid=7177

Slatington woman dies in 'suspicious' house fire
Smoky blaze claims life of widow, who was afflicted with Lou Gehrig's disease.
By Andrew C. Martel | Of The Morning Call
February 5, 2009



Lisa and Larry House were dying together. So they decided to make the time they had left count.

In 2007, the Slatington couple rented a car and drove cross-country to Montana, where they spent a few weeks in a cabin.

''That was their dream: to buy a cabin and live in the woods,'' said Larry's sister, Rilinda Fetherolf. ''We were shocked ..., but when they came back safely, we were so glad they took it.''

Larry died last August at age 50 from complications related to a decades-long battle with cancer. Lisa, 47, had endured amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease, since 2007.



But the disease didn't kill her. She died early Wednesday after a fire trapped her in her bedroom. An unidentified person escaped from the home, the Slatington fire chief said.

The Lehigh County district attorney's office is calling the case ''a suspicious fire and death,'' but authorities said they had not determined what caused the fire at 424 W. Washington St.

House was pronounced dead at 12:11 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, about an hour after the fire started, Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim said.

She was in cardiac arrest when firefighters pulled her out, but they later regained a pulse before transporting her to the hospital, according to police radio reports.

Slatington Police Chief Dave Bachman said he didn't know whether House's disability prevented her from escaping. ALS is typically a fatal condition in which neurons controlling muscle movement degenerate, causing the patient to lose the ability to move and breathe.

An autopsy was done. The cause of death was attributed to smoke inhalation and the manner of death is pending further investigation, Grim said in a news release.

Lisa House was the only person in the home when firefighters arrived, said Keith Weaver, chief of the Slatington Volunteer Fire Company. He said one person escaped before firefighters arrived and was not hurt. He would not identify that person.

Four people living in the other half of the twin were unhurt. Their house was not damaged and they returned to it Wednesday, Weaver said.

He said heavy smoke was pouring from the roof of the duplex when firefighters arrived, but the fire ''was knocked down relatively quick. The rescue was done relatively quick.''

He estimated 45 volunteers fought the fire.

Slatington police, the district attorney's office and state police are investigating, according to First Assistant District Attorney Steven Luksa.

Fetherolf remembered her sister-in-law as a woman with a beautiful spirit, very helpful, devoted to horses and her husband.

''She called him her 'house man.' They just adored each other,'' Fetherolf said. ''They inspired others to have a better relationship. I know they inspired me to.''

Larry, who was in charge of maintenance at a local motel and at AmeriCold Logistics in Fogelsville, was married to Lisa, a cafeteria services employee for the Northern Lehigh School District, for nearly 16 years. They raised her son, Chad Lever, together. Chad, an adult, was the only person closer to Lisa than her husband, Fetherolf said.

Her home looked only slightly damaged Wednesday. Plywood covered the second-floor windows, and the siding nearby was singed. A pile of toiletries and appliances lay in the driveway, and a wheelchair access ramp ran from there to the front door.

As the family prepared for its second funeral in less than six months, Fetherolf remembered her sister-in-law's generosity. She also recalled their days horseback riding together. Lisa loved horses so much that Larry paid for her weekly riding lessons.

''That was the love of her life: horses,'' Fetherolf said. ''Well, besides Larry.''


http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-...,1538471.story

John Iverson Toland
Chairman of the sociology department at Towson University
By Frederick N. Rasmussen
February 6, 2009

John Iverson Toland Jr., a retired sociology professor and former chairman of the department of sociology at Towson University who also volunteered at a Govans food pantry, died Saturday of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease, at St. Joseph Medical Center. He was 79.

Dr. Toland was born in Birmingham, Ala., and was raised in Atlanta and Columbia, S.C., where he graduated from high school in 1948.

After serving in the Navy from 1949 to 1951, he served in the Army from 1953 to 1955.

He had attended Clemson University and the University of South Carolina before earning a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Tulsa in 1956.



In 1958, Dr. Toland earned a master's degree in sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his doctorate in the discipline, also from UM, in 1969.

"He majored in sociology because it was the only course he got an 'A' in," said his wife of 49 years, the former Elizabeth Ellen Evans.

While earning his master's and doctorate, Dr. Toland worked for three years as a caseworker at Patuxent Institution in Jessup. From 1960 until 1966, he was an instructor in sociology at College Park.

He joined the faculty of what was then Towson State College in 1966 as an assistant sociology professor, and three years later, he was named the first chairman of the newly established sociology department.

"He remained at Towson for 28 years, teaching courses in sociology, criminology and the family while advising hundreds of majors in law enforcement and criminal justice," Mrs. Toland said.

"Jack was the person who was responsible for creating the basis for our criminal justice program back in the 1970s. He made an important contribution to Towson during those burgeoning years of high spirit and growth," said Howard L. Nixon, who was later chairman of the department of sociology.

"He hired people who spent their entire careers at Towson. When I came to Towson, he was the first person I got to know, and he was very helpful to me as a new chair," he said. "He was also a wonderful adviser and took time with students."

Douglas W. Pryor, the current department chairman, said Dr. Toland remained active in the discipline after retirement and continued working with students.

"He was a wonderful colleague and friend, and I talked to him repeatedly for advice," Dr. Pryor said. "He always put his students first. Having his students learn was central to him and what mattered most."

Dr. Toland, who retired in 1994, had lived on Cedarcroft Road for nearly 40 years.

For the past decade, Dr. Toland had been an active volunteer with the CARES (Civic and Religious Emergency Services) food pantry based at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in Govans. The pantry is sponsored by the Govans Ecumenical Development Corp.

"He used to walk past my house," said Nancy Clark, a Cedarcroft neighbor and longtime GEDCO volunteer. "One time I said, 'Jack, you want to volunteer?' I picked him up that Monday, and he's been here twice a week ever since. And that was 10 years ago."

Dr. Toland's job was to unpack and sort donated food and organize food packages for clients.

"He was well known to our clients. He was friendly and paid attention to them," Mrs. Clark said. "He was extremely reliable and dependable."

Mitchell Posner is executive director of GEDCO and a longtime friend.

"Jack's role was that of a stalwart, and what he did really was a thankless but necessary task," said Mr. Mitchell. "But he put his heart and soul into it because he wanted to help people."

He recalled that no matter how busy he was, Dr. Toland always had a "minute to talk, offer encouragement or make a suggestion for improvements."

Dr. Toland enjoyed spending time at a vacation cabin on the Cacapon River in West Virginia. He also enjoyed his English sheep dogs, Scottish deerhounds and English springer spaniels, family members said.

Dr. Toland was a member of Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828 York Road, where a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

Also surviving, are three sons, Daniel I. Toland and Christopher A. Toland, both of Baltimore, and David E. Toland of Madison, Wis.; a daughter, Mary Jo Hoffman of Kent Island; a sister, Jo Heslin, of Port St. Joe, Fla.; and two grandsons.

Former St. Albans mayor 'Jack' Gessel Jr. dies at 81

Lewis Oliver "Jack" Gessel Jr., a former mayor of St. Albans, died Friday at his St. Albans home from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was 81.
By Staff reports

ST. ALBANS, W.Va. - Lewis Oliver "Jack" Gessel Jr., a former mayor of St. Albans, died Friday at his St. Albans home from complications of ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was 81.

Gessel served as the city's mayor for four years from 1998 to 2001. He also was a member of City Council for 12 years.

Born in South Charleston, Gessel served in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War, and was a member of area American Legion and VFW posts.

He was the retired owner of Gessel's Garage in St. Albans and a member of Washington Masonic Lodge 58 AF & AM, where he served as past master.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace Baptist Temple, 1901 MacCorkle Ave., St. Albans, with the Rev. J. David Pence and the Rev. Tim Campbell officiating. Burial with Masonic rites and military honors will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Chapman Funeral Home, 409 Sixth Ave., St. Albans.

Sean Forrester Scott (1969-2009)



2/9/2009

February 9, 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Sean Scott, president of the ALS Therapy Development Institute died today due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease). Sean, pictured below with his wife Nancy following their wedding in 2008, was 39 and announced his own passing in an email to his family and friends. The following are excerpts:

"Hello my friends....If you're reading this then I am gone. Dead at 39 of this miserable disease that afflicts my family....Just last year I was worried about turning 40. Now it appears I'll never have the chance..... It's both surreal and horrifying to watch as muscles fail and with them skills that you spent a lifetime developing simply disappear. I'd trade every minute that I've got left for just one more chance to run across the tennis court and crack a forehand....I spent the last decade building an infrastructure to combat this disease. I had declared war on it but in the end it got me first. At a minimum, I think I earned the right to be referred to as KIA and not a victim. I'd prefer that you remember me that way."

Sean became active with ALS TDI when his mother, Vanna, was diagnosed with the disease in 2001. He quickly became a leader on the research and development team - teaching himself neurobiology and reading the anthology of publications on potential therapeutics. He developed the information management system used by the research team - allowing for greater collaboration between research groups and the streamlining of experiments and process. He focused on building the system and infrastructure needed to execute the largest assault possible. With the system built and working, Sean focused on making sure that scientists in the lab had the resources they needed to act on the best ideas quickly, and he sought out the funding needed to speed up the process. He went on the road and met with anybody that would listen. This led him to Augie Nieto and Sharon Hesterlee. The funding provided through the ambitious partnership he brokered between ALS TDI, Augie's Quest and MDA, accelerated ALS research like never before.

Sean was diagnosed with ALS in early 2008. He was married in June of last year to Nancy Kelly, who also devoted herself to the fight with Sean when his mother was diagnosed.

"If you were around for any of the machinations related to my battling ALS you might have mistaken me for an ambitious person. In reality, I did it all so that I wouldn't have to tell the green-eyed girl that I love that I'd be leaving her all alone. You may pity me for having half of my life stolen, but you should know that the part I got to live I lived happily and in love."


In lieu of flowers, the Scott family asks that you live your life as Sean did - as happily as possible, and in love. If you would like to donate to the Sean Scott Fund at ALS TDI you can do so here: http://seanscottfund.alscommunity.org/

Co-founder of Jard'n de Los Niños, passes away at 66 (3:20 p.m.)
By S. Derrickson Moore/Sun-News reporter
Posted: 02/11/2009 03:13:54 PM MST




LAS CRUCES — Sister Anna Waldschmitt, O.S.F., who co-founded Jard'n de Los Niños in Las Cruces, died Dec. 22 in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 66.

Waldschmitt served for 10 years as director of the shelter for homeless and near homeless children, which she started with Sister Beth Daddio, O.S.F.

"She was loved in the community and one of our two founding mothers who were instrumental in starting and building Jard'n," said Jard'n de los Niños director Shirley Jaquez.

"What she saw the community needed at the time has proven true," Jaquez said. "Sister Anna wrote grants and helped Jard'n become financially stable and provide a model program for children that need assistance, keeping them safe from harm in a loving, nurturing environment,"

In 1995, Waldschmitt and Daddio began providing child care for homeless children in donated space at Peace Lutheran Church. They created a center that became a national model, working with local artists and volunteers on fundraising campaigns that included artists' holiday cards, art auctions and special events.

The two women mobilized help from the Las Cruces community, state and local government grants, and foundation support to build a center in Community of Hope. Jard'n moved to the new building, owned by the city of Las Cruces, in 2002.

Waldschmitt was born Shirley Waldschmitt on Feb. 18, 1942, in Remsen, Iowa, the oldest of six children of Raymond and Agnes Freking Waldschmitt.

In 1960, she joined the Sisters

of St. Francis in Dubuque, Iowa, and began her ministry as an elementary teacher at Melrose Park, Ill., and Garnavillo and Cascade in Iowa. She received a master's degree in religious education and served as a pastoral minister at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Minneapolis, Minn., in Estherville and Council Bluffs in Iowa, at Holy Family Church in Albuquerque and Holy Cross Church in Las Cruces.
From 1979 to 1984, she served on the formation team for the Sisters of St. Francis. In the late 1980s, she spent six months learning Spanish•Guatemala and returned to volunteer for one year at Casa Romero Refugee Center in Brownsville, Texas.

In 2004, she moved to Iowa and joined the Sioux City Neighborhood Project.

"She ministered among the Hispanic population there as friend and advocate. She was involved in the founding of Clare Guest House, a home of support and safety for women recently released from prison," said Daddio, who has returned to make her home in Las Cruces, where she will be involved with fundraising programs for Jard'n de los Niños.

Waldschmitt was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in March 2006, and moved to a nursing home at her mother house in Dubuque about six months before her death.

At services December in Dubuque, her "personal life vision statement" was quoted: "I foster and participate in communities of healing, celebration and creative change."

She is survived by four brothers and one sister, all living in Iowa, nieces and nephews and her Franciscan sisters, with whom she shared 47 years of her life.

A private memorial service is planned in late February in Las Cruces.

A memorial fund has been established to benefit projects at Jard'n de los Niños. Checks, payable to Sister Anna Memorial Fund, may be sent to Sister Beth Daddio, 1300-G El Paseo Road, #162, Las Cruces, NM 88001.

S. Derrickson Moore can be reached at dmoore@lcsun-news.com

http://www.lcsun-news.com:80/ci_11681225

Donald Brady Larson, 1965-2009, Battle Mountain High grad
Memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday in Grand Junction
Vail, CO Colorado

Donald Brady Larson, 43, of Grand Junction, passed away Feb. 6 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Donald was born June 23, 1965, in Inglewood, Calif., to David and Toni Larson. His early years included Huntington Beach, Calif., Pueblo, and Centereach, N.Y. In 1978, his family moved to the Vail Valley. He attended Battle Mountain High School from 1979 to 83, graduating with honors.

Don attended the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, earning bachelor’s degrees of in science and mechanical engineering in 1988 and a master of science, applied mechanics, in 1991.

He moved to Wolfurt, Austria, in 1991 to work for Doppelmayr Seilbahnen as a project engineer. He spent weekends hiking and mountain biking the Bregenzerwald, skied in Vorarlberg and Tirol, and traveled in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Switzerland.

He moved to Grand Junction in 1992 to work for Poma of America as a project engineer. He became a professional engineer in 1995. He joined Tramway Engineering in 1998 as an engineering consultant before opening his own consulting business, Ropeway Technical Services, in 2003.

He was diagnosed with ALS in 2005 but continued to work through 2007. In 2008, he was proud to receive the Robert Lesage Award for contribution and devotion to the ski industry.

Don played the saxophone for 12 years in symphonies and marching and jazz bands, and played the electric bass for six years in jazz bands and musicals. He climbed 17 of Colorado’s 14ers, enjoyed mountain biking, skiing and scuba diving.

Don met Gretchen Margaret Buck on a blind date in 1995. He convinced her to learn to scuba dive in addition to their other common interests of hiking, biking and skiing. They married April 25, 1998, at West Bay, Grand Cayman.

Don is survived by his wife; daughter Elisabeth; son Tyler; his parents; sister Laura; nieces; a nephew; and in-laws.

Don has asked that his ashes be scattered. Don asked that donations be made to: ALS Therapy Development Institute (http://www.als.net) or Hospice & Palliative Care of Western CO (http://www.hospicewco.com).

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary, 2515 Patterson Road in Grand Junction.

http://www.vaildaily.com:80/article/...%20High%20grad

Gary Fizell
Published - Feb 12th, 2009
By



Mr. Gary Robert Fizell of Listowel, and formerly of Monkton, passed away peacefully at home, after his 10-year battle with A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s disease), on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009 at the age of 55.
Gary was the beloved husband of Brenda (Pollard) Fizell; proud Dad of Benjamin Fizell and his wife Christine, and Daniel Fizell, all of Monkton, and Curtis Fizell and his friend Shelley Groshaw of Listowel; and grandfather of Mary, Sarah, and Benjamin Jr.
He was the son of Marge Fizell-Miller and her husband Bill of Listowel; brother of Cathy Buchanan and her husband Barry of Listowel, Pat Fizell, Linda Illman and her husband Harold, all of Monkton, and Connie Baillie and her husband Lloyd of RR 1, Monkton; brother-in-law of Yvonne Irvine and her husband John of London, Kenneth Pollard and his wife Marion of Elmira, Douglas Pollard of Kitchener, and Brian Pollard and his wife June of Sarnia; and he also is survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his father Robert Fizell, and by his sister Julie-Ann in infancy.
Gary was a strong community man, making sure Monkton’s name stayed on the map. He enjoyed supporting his community and organized many fundraisers for minor hockey, minor ball, and girls’ hockey, such as Kinsmen hockey tournaments, and other hockey and baseball tournaments. One of his proudest accomplishments with the Monkton Wildcats was the fundraising to build the Elma-Logan Arena.
Gary enjoyed coaching Elma-Logan minor hockey and Monkton Wildcats Intermediate Sr. hockey. He received many coaching awards, as well as the Builder’s Award from Elma Logan Arena (1999-2000) and Volunteer of the Year for Elma Logan Minor Hockey.
He received the Norm Stirling Citizen of the Year Award in 2000 for his contribution to the betterment of his community. Gary had many wonderful memories from his years working at the Co-op in Monkton.
In addition to the work he did in his community, he was awarded the Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 for his outstanding volunteerism and strong advocacy to educate and fundraise for A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s disease).
Visitation was held at the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 1-4 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 8 from 1-4 p.m., with vigil prayers on Sunday at 12:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Listowel on Monday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. with Fr. John Johnson officiating. Spring interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Listowel.
Memorial donations to A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig’s), North Perth Community Hospice, or to a charity of one’s choice would be appreciated.
Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca.

Poet and playwright Maclennan dies at 79
February 12 2009 at 02:13PM


By Mike Loewe

Grahamstown's much-loved poet, Rhodes English professor Don Maclennan, has died.

Don, as he was simply known to his many friends and fans, died in Port Elizabeth on Monday night at the age of 79.

After a decade of struggling with motor-neuron disease, the rock-climbing poet suffered a stroke in January.

His son, senior South African Press Association journalist Ben Maclennan, said his father died "relatively peacefully" with his wife Shirley nearby.

Maclennan's mind was not affected by the stroke, and he had continued "discussing poetry with friends and listening to poetry right up to the end".

This was despite loss of movement, a very limited ability to communicate and a good deal of pain.



Maclennan also called for his latest poems, a meditation on death and the meaning of life titled Dress Rehearsal, to be read to him by his close friend, poet and Rhodes English lecturer Dan Wylie.

Many of Maclennan's works were published commercially and in his later years, privately.

"He kept on putting out slim volumes year after year," said his son Ben.

A few years ago he won the national Sanlam Poetry Prize.

Friends described his work as raunchy, with some despair, full of love, lean, frank, unpretentious but richly compressed.

Maclennan wrote a number of plays, several of which were performed. He also acted in a number of Guy Butler's plays.

Maclennan was born in the UK. After lecturing at Wits University and the University of Cape Town, he came to Rhodes in 1966 where he taught English for over 40 years.

He is survived by his wife and their children Ben, Joe, David, and Susan.


http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_i...5936332C833779