Sheila Appleby, health activist, dies
Services
Visitation will be 6 to 9 p.m. today, and 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Crawford's Funeral Home, 495 N. Winton Road.
Services are at 10 a.m. Saturday at Spiritus Christi Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh St.
Sheila Appleby, health activist, dies


Justina Wang
Staff Writer



(January 10, 2008) — In the 15 years that Sheila Appleby headed the local chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation, she did her job with literal dirtied hands.

When the agency was starting a camp for epileptic children, the petite woman trudged through feet of snow in search of the perfect site. Then, she signed up as a camp counselor.

When the foundation held a mud volleyball fundraiser, she broke her wrist in a spirited game. When they raised money for United Way with a pie-throwing contest, she was the first to lick the cream off her face.

"She didn't just sit in her office in a suit," said Joan Powell, a former associate executive director under Ms. Appleby's tenure. "She was impassioned by people."

After nearly two years with Lou Gehrig's disease, the longtime advocate died Monday in her Rochester home. She was 63. Those who knew her recalled a lively woman who, in between championing for those with disabilities, danced at Bob Dylan concerts and fished in the Erie Canal.

"She could laugh a lot," said her husband Henry McCartney, a former Landmark Society president who often took his wife to explore historic buildings through upstate New York. "When she was serious, she never let situations get her down."

Ms. Appleby joined the Epilepsy Foundation in 1991 after seven years as executive director of Rochester's Advocacy Center.

Under her leadership, the foundation opened dozens of new programs and added 60 employees, while the budget ballooned from $450,000 to more than $4 million each year.

"There was no better advocate for those individuals than Sheila Appleby," said James Grossman, former chairman of the Advocacy Center and a longtime friend who accompanied Ms. Appleby and her husband on unsanctioned fishing trips in the canal. "She was very aware of all the people around her, of their suffering and their struggles."

"I think she truly touched the lives of so many adults and children because of the work that she did," said Epilepsy Foundation board member Stuart Gebell. In June 2006, Ms. Appleby was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a condition more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease that weakens muscles and paralyzes the body. Open and calm about what was happening, Ms. Appleby retired five months later, and "there was never once a word of 'poor me,'" said Dan Meyers, president of the Al Sigl Center, an Epilepsy Foundation partner agency.

"I always knew there was fire in Sheila Appleby," Meyers said. "But her most heroic accomplishment was the graceful way she handled her illness and showed us all how to be the best person we could be."

Besides her husband, Ms. Appleby is survived by daughter Shelley McCartney of Rochester; son Robbie McCartney attending Brown University in Providence, R.I.; mother Helen Appleby of Florida; and brothers Charles and Barry Appleby, both of Florida.

JUWANG@DemocratandChronicle.com


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In memory of John

We went to a friend's funeral this morning. So this post isn't going to be the usual silly-ha ha rubbish I usually churn out, but I don't want it to be entirely gloom and doom either, because that's not the overwhelming feeling I came home with.

John was the partner of Ian's older brother, Stuart. He died on December 10th of motor neurone disease, a rotten affliction that had been slowing him down for four years until it finally let him go.

I'd never been to a funeral before today of someone who was genuinely loved and cherished by many. I'd only been to my grandmother's, a dotty old bird who most of the family didn't get on with, and what few of us there were sat there sort of dutifully but with an element of palpable relief.

Today was entirely different. The crematorium was packed, every seat taken with young, handsome, lovely people. John was only 41. We followed the coffin inside and this upbeat dance music started to play, and you knew it was music he'd wanted, and you had to smile. Every reading glowed with John's zest for life, his wish that no one be sad for him, the message that finally he was free of this wretched illness that had had him in a wheelchair and unable to move or talk.

John charmed the pants off everyone he met, he tried everything, put 110% into everything, he partied and travelled and loved. He accepted his illness with incredible grace. He never bitched or got depressed. He genuinely believed he was still living life to the same full quality in a wheelchair as he would have done out of it. I just don't think I could be that cheery in the same situation. Even after he began to lose the ability to talk well, you could still catch his eye and share a silent joke at something you'd both overheard. John was ace.

Stuart, Ian's brother, was utterly amazing today. He had the incredible strength to stand up and talk about John to this packed building in a way that made everyone laugh and smile and remember John's appetite for life. Stuart, I know you read this sometimes. You're amazing and we love you. Come round for wine or tea or whatever else we can give you, as often as you want to, whatever the time is.

The hardest part of the day was seeing John's mother, Christina, walk up to the coffin after all the readings were over and lay a farewell red rose on it. Then she folded her arms on the coffin and rested her head there for a moment, all with such grace and dignity. I just broke down. It was such an intensely personal moment to witness: a mother saying a final farewell to her son, in front of a room full of people, some of whom she didn't even know.

My worst fears are losing Ian and Esme and it was a real wrench to see Stuart say goodbye to his partner and Christina to her child. I never take life for granted. I love the little family I have, and every morning I say "Mind how you go" to Ian, and really mean it, as if those four words will cast a protective veil around him to ensure he doesn't get knocked off his bike or blown up by cretinous religious extremists on the Underground. But today made me hold his hand a bit tighter, and come home and be extra-patient with Esme, and even refrain from telling the cat to **** off.

As we walked back from the crematorium, still sniffing and crying, past these huge, elegant, Georgian riverfront houses, I thought about the people who live there. They must see clouds of sombrely dressed, weeping people drifting past whenever they look out of the window.

We cried. We laughed. We had a bit too much glorious, warming wine in the pub. Then we came home, and stared into space feeling a bit afterwards and spacious in the ribs, hot around the eyes and washed-out in the sinuses while Esme galloped around all pleased to see us again and eventually brought us back to life. More importantly, we felt we'd seen a shining example of how to live and be remembered.

So! Message for today is to go out and have FUN. Party hard. Make love until the earth moves, even if it's just with yourself. Try new food. Roll around in it. Give your kids a big squeeze and a tickle and tell them you love them, especially if they're all grown up and deeply embarrassed by that kind of thing.

We're going to live life to the full just that little bit more by going to Devon for the weekend. Hell yeah! Nothing like a grey, out-of-season coastal town full of people in beige coats to rrrreally make you feel like you're in the fast lane.

We're only here for a bit, chaps. Make more of it.

Whoopee,

http://yetanotherbloomingblog.blogsp...y-of-john.html

Neil Potter, U.S. Air Force veteran



NORTH BRUNSWICK — Neil Potter, died Tuesday (Jan. 8, 2008) at his home in North Brunswick after a 10-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was 75.

Mr. Potter was born in New Brunswick and resided in Highland Park before moving to North Brunswick, 43 years ago.

Neil served our country faithfully in the U.S. Air Force and served in Korea. He retired from Rutgers University in 1997 and was a communicant of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Kendall Park.

He was an avid antique and coin collector. He and his wife enjoyed traveling together throughout the United States as well as Ireland. he was known to be a happy man, always smiling, talking and making new friends.

Mr. Potter is survived by his wife, Esther, of North Brunswick; a daughter, Debbie Vetter and her husband, Jack, of Flemington; three sons, Brian Potter and his wife, Donna, of Skillman, Keith Potter and his wife, Mary, of North Brunswick and Craig Potter and his wife, Lori, of Whitehouse Station; and his eight grandchildren, Kristie Vetter, Laura Vetter Savage and her husband, Ken, Kevin Vetter, Brandon Potter, Christina Potter, Derrek Potter, Casey Potter and Chandler Potter. He is also survived by a sister, Carol Herzog of North Brunswick.

Funeral services will begin 9:30 a.m. Saturday from Gleason Funeral Home, 1360 Hamilton St., Somerset, followed by a 10:15 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Augustine of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church. Entombment will follow at St. Magdalene Cemetery in Flemington. Friends and family may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Contributions in Mr. Potter's name may be made to Columbia University, ALS Gift Fund, 710 W. 168th St., Box 107, New York, NY 10032, Attn: Kalli Voulgaris.

Craig A. Lamphere



Craig A.
Lamphere, 48
St. Joseph, Minnesota
June 11, 1959 - Jan. 8, 2008
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 11, 2008 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Craig A. Lamphere, age 48, of St. Joseph who died Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at his home after a courageous 2 1/2 year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Reverend Bernard Gruenes will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.
Family and friends may call between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.on Thursday at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud with parish prayers held at 5:00 p.m. Visitation will continue Friday one hour prior to services at the church.
Craig was born June 11, 1959 in Marshall to David and Frances (Konold) Lamphere. He graduated from Apollo High School in 1977 and later obtained his Real Estate Degree from St. Cloud Techninal College. He married Dona L. Butkowski on June 14, 1991 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Craig was employed at Coldwell Banker Burnet in St. Cloud for 20 years. He served on the Board of Directors and the Public Relations Committee for the St. Cloud Association of Realtors and served for many years on the President's Advisory Council for Coldwell Banker Burnet. He was a member of St. Michael's Parish.
Craig loved to fish and hunt. He also enjoyed golfing, skiing and traveling.
He is survived by his wife, Dona of St. Joseph; daughters, Jill Theisen of St. Cloud, Chelsey Lamphere of Corona, California, Jennifer (Roddy) Bettenberg of St. Cloud; father, David (Judy) Lamphere of St. Cloud; mother, Frances Lamphere-McDowell of St. Cloud; brothers and sister, Wade (Kathleen) of St. Cloud, Brett (Kathy Patton) of Rice, Roxanne (Craig) Perkins of Boulder, Colorado; parents-in-law, Mel (Carol) Butkowski of St. Joseph; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding him in death are his maternal and paternal grandparents; and step-father, Joe McDowell.
Craig was a loving husband and father. We will treasure our precious memories of his time with us.

James Koelling

A memorial service will be held Saturday for James R. Koelling of Eugene, who died Jan. 3 of complications from Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was 72.

He was born April 30, 1935, in Burlington, Iowa, to Esther and the Rev. Albert Koelling. He married Kathryn Ann Jacobson on March 14, 1964, in Eugene.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1962, spending one year in Korea and two years at Fort Bliss in the 424th Army Band. He worked for Southern Pacific Railroad for 35 years, retiring in 1997 as an engineer.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Alan of Portland; a daughter, Ann Reeder of Eugene; two sisters, Elizabeth Lewis of Pleasant Hill, Tenn., and Margaret Glandon of Newark, Del.; two brothers, Robert of Santa Monica, Calif., and John of Eugene; and four grandchildren.

Saturday’s service will be at noon at Central Presbyterian Church. Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary, Eugene. Remembrances to Central Presbyterian Church or ALS Association of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Professor Graham Runnals 1937 - 2008
We said goodbye to my uncle today.

He was a remarkable man. An academic of note in the field of French Medieval Drama with many publications and awards to his credit, he was unfailingly modest, kind, generous and always of good humour. He enjoyed sports, particularly tennis, ran a marathon, and walked in the hills near Edinburgh, which made the motor neurone disease that struck him down particularly cruel. Most importantly he was als a family man, married for over forty years with two daughters and one grandchild.

The funeral service was a humanist one, celebrating his life and achievements, marking his passing and acknowledging that he lives on in the memories of his family and friends. We listened to tributes, poetry and the music of Wagner, one of his particular favourites. There were tears, but also more positive emotions of the life that carries on.

Another of my uncle's passions was fine food and wine, and we marked that with a wake where wine was drunk and a simple meal of bread, cheese, olives and cured meats eaten. It was also a chance to renew family relationships and mark the passage of time.

Mathes MD, Stephen View/Sign Guest Book


MATHES Pioneering Leader in Plastic Surgery Dies of ALS. Stephen Mathes, MD, professor emeritus in the UCSF Department of Surgery and a pioneer in reconstructive surgery, died on Nov. 20, 2007, after a long and valiant battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). A longtime member of the UCSF faculty, Mathes was a towering figure in 20th century plastic and reconstructive surgery. He was a role model, educator, mentor and a gifted surgeon. Mathes will be remembered by his many friends and those he trained as brilliant, creative, supportive, energetic, lively and fun-loving. "Dr. Mathes was a respected leader in plastic and reconstructive surgery who made seminal contributions to the field of plastic surgery," said Nancy Ascher, MD, PhD, professor and chair of the UCSF Department of Surgery. "He has had a profound influence on his many trainees, colleagues, patients and on UCSF as a whole. "UCSF and the plastic and reconstructive surgery community have lost a leader, innovator, mentor and compassionate human being," she said. Born in 1943 and raised in New Orleans, Mathes attended Fortier High School, Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and obtained his medical degree at LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. While in Baton Rouge, he played for the LSU tennis team; tennis remained his favorite sport, and he enjoyed many matches with colleagues and friends throughout his career. From 1970 to 1972, Mathes served as a major in the US Army Medical Corps and was assistant chief of surgery at Fort Polk Army Hospital in southwest Louisiana, where he treated soldiers from his home state who had been wounded in Vietnam. Mathes then completed general surgery and plastic surgery training at Emory University in Atlanta. Driven by his experience working as a surgeon at Fort Polk, he developed a laboratory to explore the anatomy and develop new ways to do reconstructive plastic surgery. These anatomical preparations and his subsequent publications were to become the source of the musculocutaneous flaps soon to be taught and adopted nationally and internationally for the coverage of previously untreatable wounds. Mathes chose an academic career in surgery and in 1977 published his first textbook, titled Clinical Atlas of Muscle and Musculocutaneous Flaps. This text showed the vascular anatomy of flaps throughout the body and demonstrated how to move healthy tissue as needed to various sites. In 1978, Mathes moved to San Francisco to join the faculty at UCSF. At UCSF, he was involved in basic science and clinical research that was supported by the National Institutes of Health and other grants. More than 42 research fellows from the United States, Europe and Asia were supervised in his laboratory or on clinical projects as the basic science work done in the laboratory was successfully applied by plastic surgeons around the world to treat deformities and wounds. In 1984, Mathes became professor of surgery at UCSF, and in 1985, he became head of the Division of Plastic Surgery and residency program director. During his 26 years on the faculty at UCSF, 62 residents completed their plastic surgery training. Mathes has received numerous awards recognizing his basic science and clinical research. These include six first prize awards from the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation, extending from 1981 to 1999. Other awards include the Special Achievement Award from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Best Medical Book Award from the American Medical Writers Association. Mathes was a member of 32 national and international professional societies. He served as chairman of the Plastic Surgery Research Council, director of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, chair of the Residency Review Committee for Plastic Surgery, president of the Association of Academic Chairmen in Plastic Surgery, president of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation and trustee for the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Mathes published more than 233 peer-reviewed papers and chapters as well as six books, including the eight-volume edition of Plastic Surgery published in 2006. He was a visiting professor in more than 25 countries, delivered more than 400 formal lectures and participated in symposia throughout the world. He is survived by his loving family, who will miss him greatly. They include his wife, Mary H. McGrath, MD, a plastic surgeon practicing at UCSF; his mother, Norma D. Mathes, of Cookson, OK; his sons David W. Mathes, MD, and wife, Amanda, of Seattle, WA, Brian A. Mathes and wife, Vaso, and their two children, Zoe and Norah, of Boston MA, and Edward J. Mathes and wife, Erin Mathes, MD, of San Francisco; his two brothers, Paul Mathes of New Orleans, LA, and Peter Mathes of Cookson, OK, and five cousins Melvin Mathes of Baton Rouge, Earl L. Mathes, Jr., Edward C. Mathes and Murrel Girault of New Orleans, LA, and Charlotte Mathes Quinn of Mobile, Alabama. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008, at 4 p.m. in Toland Hall at UCSF's Parnassus Heights campus. A reception will follow. The family requests that all donations in memory of Mathes be made to the Stephen J. Mathes Endowed Chair Fund at UCSF Foundation, P.O. Box 45339, San Francisco, CA, 94145-0339. This fund will be the first endowment within the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and will serve as a lasting tribute to Mathes' contribution to plastic surgery here at UCSF.
Published in The Times-Picayune on 1/10/2008.

PURKEY

EASTABOGA — Funeral services for Mr. Berlen Dale Purkey, age 64, of Eastaboga, will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 12, 2008 at Miller Funeral Home & Crematory with the Rev. Bob Owens officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. Mr. Purkey will be interred in West Virginia. Mr. Purkey passed away Thursday, Jan 10 at his home after a short illness with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

Mr. Purkey is survived by his wife, Becky Purkey of Eastaboga; two daughters, Laura Bussey of Anniston and Rachel Boullemet and husband, James of Oxford; son, Kevin Purkey and wife, Mandy of Chelsea; five sisters, Geraldine Kolter of Texas, Rella Shahan of West Virginia, Sharon Hudson of North Carolina, Bonnie Hickman of West Virginia and Helen Gorrell of West Virginia; four brothers, Lenard Purkey of Pennsylvania, Donald Purkey of Georgia, Ronald Purkey of West Virginia and Willis Purkey of California; four grandchildren, Ali Bussey, Eden Bussey, Claire Purkey and Wyatt Boullemet and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Purkey was a native of West Virginia but has resided in Calhoun County since 1974. He retired from the Anniston Army Depot after 22 years of service and was a U.S. Army veteran after 3 years of service. He was a member of the Methodist faith. He was a loving father and grandpa, who adored his grandchildren.

Mr. Purkey was preceded in death by his parents, James and Fannie Purkey and two sisters, Betty Webb and Ileta Britton.

The family will receive flowers or donations may be made to The ALS Association Development Department, 27001 Agoura Road, Suite 150, Calabasas Hills, CA 91301.

Miller Funeral Home & Crematory will be in charge of the arrangements.

Personal condolences may be written to the family at: www.millerfuneralhomeoxford.com

Grant, Barbara


Barbara Kay Grant Barbara Kay Grant passed away on 17 December 2007. Born on 1 January 1956, she had the distinction of being the first baby born on New Year's Day in Federal Way. Her long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) is now over and she has gone to be with her Lord in her true home. Barb was beloved by her family and many friends who miss her very much. She was preceded in death by her husband Douglas Grant. Her surviving family included her sister Kiffanie Betts, brother Patrick Diviney, daughters Theresa Hartman, and Andrea Wheeler and husband Michael Wheeler, and numerous grandchildren. A celebration of her life was held on Saturday, 12 January at the Cumberland Fire Station. Memorials are suggested to be made to the ALSA Association at www.alsa.org.

Campus mourns loss of Pat Mayberry at memorial

Patricia Mayberry, an administrative associate in the English and history departments, died on Dec. 16, 2007.

Mayberry began working at UM-St. Louis as a secretary in the chemistry department in 2000. She also worked for the Division of Teaching and Learning during her time at the University.

Mayberry was awarded the UMSL Riverstars Employee of The Month for November 2007.

Mayberry died after a battle with a neurological disorder commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS.

Memorial donations may be made to the ALS Association St. Louis chapter or the Muscular Dystrophy Association-ALS Division.

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