Obituaries

Obituaries – Jan + Feb 2020

Published 4 years ago4y ago • Bookmarks: 71

March 4, 2020

Madeline McEneney, 50

Madeline S. McEneney, a resident of Tarrytown, died suddenly February 8 at her home. She was 50.

She graduated from Kennedy Catholic in Somers and earned her bachelor’s degree from Marist College in 1991, after having spent her junior year abroad at Trinity All Saints, Leeds University in the UK. She then transformed her gift for storytelling and vivid imagination into a career in television working on such shows as “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego” and “Bear in the Big Blue House.” As President and producer of her own production company, Triple 8 Park Pictures, specializing in documentaries, she went on to produce “Le Pardon” which was shown at 24 festivals and won eight awards. While she had a passion for films and filmmaking, some of her best work was for the private audience of her nieces and nephews. She loved spending time with them. She put joy in the hearts of virtually everyone she met.

Philip Burnette, 60

Philip D. Burnette, a lifelong resident of Tarrytown, died January 29 at Northwell Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow after enduring a long illness. He was 60.

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He graduated from Sleepy Hollow High School in 1977. Mr. Burnette owned and operated The Cell Phone Surgeon, where he diagnosed and repaired damaged mobile devices. He was a devoted father and had a generous spirit of helping those in need.

Matilda Hajjar, 95

Matilda Theresa Hajjar, a resident of Dobbs Ferry, died January 30. She was 95.

She had a steady career as a bookkeeper in various businesses from auto sales to millinery, until she found her favorite job at the Chase Manhattan Bank in Trusts and Estates. Mrs. Hajjar, better known as Tillie, is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Hajjar, granddaughter, Colette Storti-Roberts and her husband, Jordan, grandson, Dale Storti and great-grandson, Benjamin Storti-Roberts.

Elizabeth Cancro, 101

Elizabeth (Elsie) Cancro, a longtime Tarrytown resident, died peacefully February 5 at Cedar Manor in Ossining. She was 101.

She was born March 29, 1918 in Tarrytown. She graduated from Irvington High School in 1934 at age 15 and attended New Paltz Normal School graduating in 1937 with a provisional teaching license. She began teaching kindergarten at Penny Bridge and for the East Irvington Schools for nine years. She continued her education in the summers at Buffalo State and received her B.S. in Elementary Education in 1941 and was awarded her permanent teaching license.

On December 29, 1945, she married Francis (Frank) Cancro and interrupted her teaching career to start her family. She returned to teaching at Tranfiguration in 1954, and in 1957 she accepted a position at Hillside Elementary in Elmsford. Besides teaching kindergarten, she was also responsible for implementing the Head Start Program at Hillside and served as assistant principal for two years. After a teaching career that spanned 36 years, she retired in 1981.

She and her husband spent the majority of their retirement on Sunrise Lake in Middleton, N.H. where she was involved in the community. She served on the budget committee for Middleton, the Farmington Visiting Nurse Assocation (VNA) board for 10 years as a representative for Middleton and as a member of the Farmington Women’s Club since 1981, serving as its president from 1992-94.

She was an avid gardener, an award-winning needle pointer and crocheter. She enjoyed playing bridge with her friends in New Hampshire and into her 90’s with new friends in Kalamazoo, MI. She was known by family and friends for her baking talents, most notably her Christmas cookies.

Gary Clark, 67

Gary S. Clark, a lifelong resident of the Tarrytowns, died February 3. He was 67.

Mr. Clark was born in North Tarrytown. He was a 1970 graduate of Sleepy Hollow High School where he played football and basketball. He was a plumber for Local 21 and served as Shop Steward for many years.

John Cullen, 74

John A. Cullen, a lifelong resident of Tarrytown, died February 8. He was 74.

After his service in the U.S. Army, Mr. Cullen went on to work for NY Telephone in various capacities and locations. He retired after 41 years of service to the company. He was a life member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Sleepy Hollow.

He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother and will be greatly missed by his wife Patricia (Dorsett), son John J., II; daughter Lisa Marie and grandchildren Gianna, Gabriella and John Anton. He will be especially missed by his dog Mali.

Harriet Koretsky, 70

Harriet Koretsky, a resident of Tarrytown, died February 7, surrounded by her loving family. She was 70.

She was a teacher and an administrator for the NYC Board of Ed, an Educational Consultant and a Nursery School Director. She is survived by her cherished children Stacey (and Eric) Strauss and Joshua (and Laura) Koretsky, loving sister Geraldine Greenman, and adoring grandchildren Jacob, Matthew, Zoey, Eliza and Roxie.

Apkar Omartian, 91

Apkar G. Omartian, a resident of Ardsley, died February 17 from heart failure at Phelps Memorial Hospital. He was 91.

He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a proud veteran of the Army Counter Intelligence Service during the Korean War. He lived most of his life in Tarrytown working as an architect, designing many prominent buildings in the village and across Westchester. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Florence, daughter Susan, son Richard, and grandchildren, Alex, Kim, and Sean.