B-6 THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL
OBITUARIES
Alfred K. O’Brien, 84; Teacher, Cooperstown Motel Proprietor COOPERSTOWN – Albert K. O’Brien, 84, proprietor of the Cooperstown Motel, died Oct. 23, 2015, after a long battle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable adult inherited infirmity. He was born Feb. 12, 1931, in the MethodistEpiscopal Hospital in New York City. He was raised in Springfield Center in the family’s four generation home as well as in several different sections of New York City. While attending high school as a freshman in New York City, he entered an art contest with all the public high schools in the five boroughs and won a tuition free art class at the Museum of Modern Art. At MOMA, he studied every Saturday for a year with Victor DiMico and met many current wellknown artists. During his MOMA classes, he was also offered a scholarship at Pratt Art Institute but his father became seriously ill and there was no available funding for required housing, food, and transportation. Albert, his mother and ailing father returned to Cooperstown and he then attended Cooperstown Central School. Albert was an avid outdoorsman. He went camping, hunting and fishing at every opportunity. He was active in Boy Scouts and, with Dave Hensle’s help, they reformed Cooperstown Troop 54 and he actively participated in the Troop’s many winter and summer weekend camping
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015
trips. He graduated demands of the CCS in 1949, atCooperstown Motel, tended, and graduatAlbert left CCS and ed college in Utica. began teaching eveAfter college ning division college he again returned English in Utica. to Cooperstown He married Mona and leased the Munford in 1950. Cooperstown Esso She currently is in an Station (now Tayassisted-living facilAl O’Brien ity in Tucson, Ariz.. lor’s) and helped his mother and step-faThey have three two ther build the Cooperstown sons, Albert N. O’Brien and Motel on Chestnut and Edward D. O’Brien, and a Beaver Streets. daughter, Kathleen Ramirez. Albert then attended Albert N. O’Brien’s famOneonta State Teachers ily includes grandchildren College, where he earned and great- grandchildren: two more college degrees (Albert N.) Kristin Brosky and dual state Teaching (Michael) with two great Certifications in English and grandchildren, Dakota and elementary academic branch Annika; (Albert N.) Gillian subjects. While student Noonan (Wesley) and great teaching at CCS, Principal grandchild, Ivy; (Albert N.) Nick Sterling offered Albert Carolyn O’Brien and great a full-time teaching position. granddaughter, Avalyn WalBecause of his dual teach- ters; (Albert N.) Albert J. ing certification, Albert was O’Brien and grandson, Hahired by Bassett Hospital’s zel; (Albert N.) and grandDr. Mary Goodwin with daughter, Maeve O’Brien. state funding to become Edward D. O’Brien’s family the first bed-side tutor for includes grandchildren, Kyle hospitalized children unable O’Brien and Eddie O’Brien. to attend regular classes. He Kathleen Ramirez’s famalso home-tutored several ily includes grandchildren, children after school who Daniel J. Llewellyn and could not attend regular day Jacobo X. Ramirez classes. He was predeceased by In 1967, Albert O’Brien his father, Albert F. O’Brien purchased the Cooperstown and mother, Dorothy E. Motel from his parents, O’Brien (Nee: Nelson) who then retired to Florida. and step-father, Edward V. Over the next few decades, Clark; and a daughter. he built on and doubled the At his request, there will number of rooms, added a be no funeral services. He second floor for 13 more will be buried in Springfield rooms, enlarged and paved Center Cemetery. the parking areas; and made Arrangements are with other major improvements Tillapaugh Funeral Service, in the property. Because Cooperstown. of the daytime operation
Rev. David J. Born, 68; Retired To Cooperstown WESTFORD – Rev. David J. Born, 68, who moved to Otsego County in his retirement and served on the Board of Directors of the Otsego Jail Ministry, died Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. Born in Minneapolis, Minn., on May 3, 1947 to Andrew E. and Hilda M. (Spiegelberg) Born, David received a master’s in divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, in 1973, and went on to pastor at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn and Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Queens,
acting as headmaster of Our Saviour Lutheran School. He went on to become synodical area developer for North American Missions of the Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod. In retirement, he was a consultant with the Transforming Churches Network, and served on the board of the Otsego County Jail Ministry. He is survived by Anita Bell Born, his wife of 44 years; their daughter, Gillian Born Elliot and her husband John; their son, Christopher
leWiS, HurleY & pietrobono
Andrew Born and his wife Sarah Avrit Cohen, and grandchildren; and a sister and nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Christ Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Transforming Churches Network, 1160 Vickery Lane, Suite 1, Cordova, TN 38016 or Christ Episcopal Church, 46 River Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326. Arrangements are entrusted to Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown.
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Lyle N. Steere, 93; WWII Vet, Superintendent CHRISTIAN HILL – Lyle N. Steere, 93, a World War II veteran and retired Otsego town highway superintendent, died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, in the house he built on Christian Hill with his family by his side. Born in Hartwick on March 15, 1922, son of Kendrick and Mary Elwood Steere, he married Elsie Ruparshek on Sept. 25, 1948, in Cooperstown. They lived in Fly Creek and Christian Hill during their 57-year marriage. She died in 2006. During World War II, he participated in the landing at Oran, Algeria, and he served in Tunisia, Salerno, Anzio, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. For many years he was a mechanic, and retired in 1982 from the Town of Otsego. Surviving Lyle are three sons, Karl Steere (Kathy) and Kendrick of Christian Hill, and Alan Steere (Roberta) of Schuyler Lake. Also, five grandchildren, Christina Baker (Jamar) of Colorado, Ashley Luck (Ian) of New Hampshire, Kerry Brown (Kevin) of Colorado, Kyle Steere of Ithaca, and Tyler Steere of Schuyler Lake, as well as great-granddaughters Adrianna, Alexis and Addison Baker and Ava Luck.
Grandma loved her farm, her family, and playing her old guitar. Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home will take the time to find out what made your loved one special. Whether it’s finding just the right flowers, or finding a musician to play her favorite tunes on her old guitar, we’ll do what’s necessary to make her service as unique as she was.
Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home 14 Grand Street, Oneonta • 607-432-6821 www.grummonsfuneralhome.com
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