Margaret “Midge” Armitage
March 2, 2017
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Margaret E. Armitage of Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, entered into rest on Thursday, March 2. She was 84.
Margaret (Midge) was an amazing mother, grandmother, wife and friend. She always put everyone’s needs first. Midge unselfishly gave her time repeatedly to those who needed her support and care. She loved to laugh, her witty and often irreverent sense of humor always made those around her smile. Midge was able to cross the generation gap and as a result, interacted seamlessly with all ages. Whether you had the pleasure of knowing Midge for a lifetime or less, her impact on you was the same. Midge loved her 40 year career at the Cornwall Hospital. She started as a nurse’s aid, moved to Central Service and eventually became a phlebotomist. She respected the medical team she worked so closely with during these years and would reminisce so fondly about them after her retirement. And we cannot forget her love of the Yankees! Midge would not miss a Yankee game on TV and knew most of the players’ stats. Midge was one of the “greatest generation.” She will be deeply missed.
Survivors include sons: Brian Armitage and his wife, Anne, and Jeff Armitage and his wife Susan; daughter-in-law Lilly Armitage; grandchildren: Alex and his wife, Melissa; Kristi and her husband Jeff; Chelsea and her fiance Peter Miceli; Jared, and Briana. She was predeceased by her husband, Fred Armitage and son, Bruce Armitage.
Her family received visitors on March 6 at James F. Lulves Funeral Home in Cornwall-on-Hudson. A prayer service was held during visitation. Interment is private and at the convenience of the family.
The family requests that donations in Margaret’s memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.
Walter George Burger Jr.
November 28, 1933-March 5, 2017
Cornwall-on-Hudson
Walter George Burger, Jr. a lifelong resident of Cornwall-on-Hudson entered into rest on Sunday, March 5. He was 83.
The son of the late Walter G. Sr. and Mary Roger Burger, he was born on November 28, 1933 in Cornwall.
Walter was a medic in the United States Navy during the Korean War and was always proud of that achievement. He spent his career as a carpenter and master craftsman and built things to perfection. He always put others before himself and was a caregiver to many, including his late wife, Verna, to whom he was totally devoted. He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, and he will be deeply missed.
Survivors include: daughter, Verna Belcastro and her husband Randy; son, Walter G. Burger, III and his wife Jeanne; three grandchildren: Steven Burger, Shenna DiStabile and her husband John, Danny Burger and his wife Angela; great-grandchildren: John, Samantha, Clarissa, James and soon to be arriving, Joshua Daniel. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Verna Burger.
Visitation will be on Saturday, March 11 from 10 to 11 a.m. at James F. Lulves Funeral Home, 9 Avenue A, Cornwall-on-Hudson. A prayer service will be held at 11am. Interment is private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Walter’s memory be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Ct. Newburgh, NY 12550 or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St, Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Mary Anne (Mardy) Hartford
March 8, 1928-February 27, 2017
Formerly of Cornwall
Mary Anne (Mardy) Hartford, 88, resident of The Gables in Guilford, Conn., and formerly of Cornwall, passed away peacefully on Feb. 27.
Born on March 8, 1928 in Wheeling, W. V., Mardy was the eldest child of Lawrence and Anne Nolan and grew up in Oak Harbor, Ohio. She graduated from Notre Dame College in Ohio with a degree in Social Work.
She was the beloved wife of the late Robert J. Hartford. Mardy and Bob married in 1951 and raised eight children together. She is survived by Mary Ellen (and Brian) Alden, Thomas (and Kate) Hartford, Christopher Hartford, Anne (and Tom) Beggins, John (and Nancy) Hartford, Claire (and Harris) Georghiou, James (and Juhee Lee) Hartford, and Matthew Hartford (and Christina Nicholson). Mardy was a gracious, gentle spirit with a wonderful sense of humor who dedicated her life to loving her family.
Mardy is also survived by her siblings Lawrence, Dorothy, Joan, Cecelia, Paul, and Paula. Besides her children, she leaves behind nineteen grandchildren: Peter (and Elisabeth), Paul, Emily, Robert, Rachael, Madeline, Katherine, Charlotte, Benjamin, Aria, Grace, Mary Claire, Cathleen, Marco, Lily, Peter, Abby, Scotia, and Lugh Cian, and two great-grandchildren, Caiden and Connor.
Mardy had a genuine interest in the arts and culture; she was an avid reader, an accomplished pianist, and a talented painter. She keenly followed current events and viewed the world with compassion and empathy. Mardy loved travelling, and, when she could no longer do so herself, she followed her children and grandchildren’s adventures with pride.
The family received visitors on March 3 at the Guilford Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, March 4th at St. George’s Church in Guilford. Memorial contributions made via family members will be distributed to her favorite charities. Burial services will be private.
Dorothy Ann Maher
December 20, 1934 – March 6, 2017
Highland Falls
Dorothy Ann Maher of Highland Falls, passed away at home on Monday, March 6. The daughter of the late Charles and Dorothy Drew, she was born in Cornwall on December 20, 1934. She was 82 years old.
Dorothy retired in 1995 from 25 years of service with the Department of Military Psychology and Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy. She was a member of the Church of the Holy Innocents in Highland Falls.
Dorothy was proud of her 25 years of dedication to “The Point” as she referred to West Point. Her family has been affiliated with the U.S. Military Academy and the “Long Gray Line” for 150 years.
Above all else, she was a loving wife and partner to Hugh her husband and was a dedicated and proud mother. She attended all her sons’ games events and award ceremonies. She was most proud that her boys attended and graduated from college: Duke University, Northwestern University, Purdue University, and Miami University.
She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Hugh O. Maher. They were high school sweethearts. Also surviving are five sons: Charles (Champ) of Stony Point, Hugh of Boca Raton, Fla., Bryan of York, Penn., Jeffrey of Los Angeles, and Robert of West Palm Beach, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and her brother Donald Drew.
She is predeceased by brothers Burt Drew, Richard Drew, Robert Drew and sister Linda Drew Sedgwick.
Memorial services will be held at the Church of the Holy Innocents, 401 Main St., Highland Falls, on Saturday, March 11 at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Church of the Holy Innocents, PO Box 116, Highland Falls NY 10928.
Funeral arrangements by William F. Hogan Funeral Home. 446-2868: www.wfhoganfuneralhome.com
Speros D. Thomaidis
January 27, 2017
formerly of Highland Falls
Lt. Col. Speros D. “Spatz” Thomaidis (USMC retired) of Dumfries, Va., passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family, on Jan. 27.
Spatz, 86, joins his beloved wife, Kiki Zaharoolis Thomaidis, brother Nikos D. Thomaidis and ‘adopted’ brother George Romanos, all who predeceased him.
The son of Greek immigrants, Spatz was born during the Great Depression in Highland Falls, where he learned to speak English at public schools and, as a child, worked and lived at his family’s business, The West Point Arms Hotel and Restaurant. He graduated valedictorian of his high school class and went on to earn a degree from Cornell University, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
He proudly and voluntarily served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps for 24 years — as a platoon leader in the Korean War and as a battalion commander in the Vietnam war. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V for meritorious service in Vietnam.
After becoming a widower at age 65, he began a new chapter in his life and travelled extensively, spending part of each year in California, earned his real estate license and became active in numerous civic organizations.
His zest for life and proud memory lives in his three children, Lisa Boutilier of Bel Air, Md., Irene Cimino Roberts of Richmond and Fredericksburg, Va., and Stephen Thomaidis of Redondo Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren; and siblings Joan Demetriou of Colorado Springs and Christos Thomaidis of Woodbridge, Va.
A private burial and celebration of life event will be held. In lieu of flowers, consider making a donation to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.