Funeral Held For Governor Hugh Carey

Family, friends, and admirers bid final farewell to the 'Man Who Saved New York.

A packed house of family members, friends, associates, and colleagues paid their last respects Thursday morning to former Governor Hugh Leo Carey at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Midtown. Carey—a husband, father, legislator, and governor who lived a life marked by service to the city and dedication to New York State—passed away Sunday at the age of 92, surrounded by loved ones inside the family home on Shelter Island.  Politicians from both sides of the aisle attended Thursday's service, to honor a man many credit for saving New York City and State from the brink of collapse during an economic crisis during the 1970s. "Hugh Carey was a political leader par excellence, elected Governor at a time when the city and state faced bankruptcy. But …

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In Memoriam: Thomas Agnelli

Obituary for a beloved son, brother, musician, poet, and believer, written by his older sister Lauren.

Editor's Note: The Little Neck Patch received the following tribute to Thomas Agnelli, a Douglaston resident who recently passed away in Woohaven, Queens.The tribute was written by Tom's sister, Lauren Agnelli, and appears in its original form below. Obituary for Thomas Agnelli: Son, Brother, Musician, Poet – and Believer Last week a 57-year-old man who grew up in Douglaston, Thomas Agnelli, was found dead in his Woodhaven, NY, apartment. He lived alone as part of the Venture House outpatient program that gave dignity and autonomy to persons with mental health issues. He is survived by two sisters and one brother: Lauren Agnelli of Chester, Connecticut; Carrie McKenna of Old Bethpage, New York; Mark Agnelli of Fort Worth, Florida. Thomas …

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Bob Bigelow, 71, Iconic Coach, Dies

Bob Bigelow taught for 32 years, won 10 state titles in girls soccer and four Nassau crowns in boys basketball.

Bob Bigelow of Bayside, one of the most accomplished high school coaches in state history, and an iconic figure at South Side High School in Rockville Centre, has died.  Bigelow, who received a lung transplant last August, died Saturday from related complications at a hospital in Montclair, N.J. He was 71. Coach Bigs, as players called him, taught physical education and coached at South Side for 32 years. He won 330 games and 10 state titles in 21 seasons as the South Side girls soccer coach. Bigelow retired after the 2001 season, which ended with a 20-0 mark, a state Class A title, mythical national championship and National Soccer Coaches Association of America coach of the year award (he first earned the honor in 1994).  His .864 …

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Photo Gallery: P.S. 221 Memorial Service

Alexandra Falabella, Steven Petillo and Fajir Javid should have graduated Wednesday with the rest of their fifth grade class at P.S. 221. But tragedy struck all three students in separate ways, taking their lives before they really began. Patch attended the memorial service held for the students Thursday afternoon.

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P.S. 221 Community Gathers to Remember Students

Alexandra Falabella, Steven Petillo and Fajir Javid were not able to graduate with the rest of their 5th grade class, but they're anything but forgotten.

The loss of one child is a devastating blow for any community. But in the last year, P.S. 221 was forced to say goodbye to not one, but three of its students, each of whom would have been part of this year's fifth grade graduating class. On Thursday, the school held a memorial service for Alexandra Falabella, Fajir Javid and Steven Petillo, each of whom died in separate incidents within the past year.  “It’s unheard of," said Principal Sheelia Twomey. "To have three [deaths] in one year -- it totally defeats any kinds of odds that you can think of." The service opened with a brief statement from Twomey, followed by remarks from from teachers who had worked especially closely with each child. The fifth grade class, whose commencement was …

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Douglaston Honors Memory of Thomas Gaines II

Community Commemorates Udalls Cove Charter Member Who Died in November

Relatives, friends and neighbors gathered in Douglaston on Sunday to remember Thomas Robert Gaines II, a beloved native son of Douglas Manor, during a memorial service at the Community Church of Douglaston and a reception at the Douglaston Club. Numerous community leaders, including historian Julia Schoeck, environmentalist Walter Mugdan and architect Kevin Wolfe remembered Gaines, who was widely known as “Landscape Architect to the Gold Coast Estates of Long Island,” at the service. A display of mementos at the club gave some insight into the motivations of a man whose family tree reached back hundreds of years, with members who found their way to the New World in the 1600s and to Queens, via Brecon, Wales and Tralee in Ireland. Included …

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Family And Friends Remember Sharon Russek

Little Neck resident and Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Organization volunteer passed away Jan. 2

Friends and neighbors noted with sadness the passing of Sharon J. Russek on Jan. 2 following a long illness. Russek, a Little Neck resident, succumbed just six days before her 68th birthday, according to her husband of 43 years, Norman Russek. She is also survived by a sister, Debbie. The Russeks were familiar figures around Little Neck and Douglaston, where they were dedicated volunteers for the neighborhood's massive Memorial Day parade, serving in some capacity during its fundraising and other events for many years. “Sharon and Norman weren’t complicated people,” said James J. Rogers, chairman of the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Organization. “If you gave [her] a job to do, [she] just went off and did it." “Every year went…

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Arthur Kelley, 1924-2010

Douglaston Resident was Original Member of Udalls Cove Preservation Committee

Life-long Douglaston resident Arthur Kelley, who was an original member of the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee, died on Dec. 6. He was 86. He was born on Cherry Street in 1924 and lived in Douglaston all his life, latterly on Beverly Road. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, and his children, Arthur Jr. and Mary, as well as several grandchildren. He was an active and valued member of Udalls Cove Preservation Committee's Board of Directors for many decades right up to the time of his death.  Kelley's professional life was devoted to teaching and he taught high school science in Great Neck. He was an avid naturalist who, for many years, lead groups of students and others on tours of the wetlands areas thatnow protected as the Udalls Cove …

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