SARATOGA
Friday, February 25, 2011
6
TODAY
Noel R. Gruben Saratoga Springs – Noel R. Gruben, 70, died on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at his residence in Saratoga Springs. Born in the Bronx, he was the son of the late Edward and Gertrude Gruben. Noel owned and operated Ramapo Auto Parts, a retail and wholesale distributor, in Mahwah, NJ, from 1977 to 2003. He also owned and operated RAP Warehouse Distributors, engine rebuilders, and Dream Cycles, a motorcycle dealership in Mahwah, NJ. Thereafter, he managed an investment portfolio as the managing member of NRG Group, LLC. He was a past governor of the Mahwah Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Mahwah Schools Foundation, on the Leadership Council for the Rockland County American Heart Association , and a mentor to an
international family, which gave him great pride. He loved learning and debating politics. He had a passion for motorcycles. But his greatest success was spending time with his family. Noel is survived by his wife of 47 years, Ellen Gruben; his children and spouses, Michael and Jacqueline Gruben of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Jill (Gruben) and Michael Rubinstein of Malta; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Melvyn and
Francis Gruben of Coto de Caza, CA, and Paul and Liane Gruben of Middletown, NY; his grandchildren, Adam, Maya and Ian Rubinstein; and his many cousins, nieces and nephews. The funeral services will be held today, Friday, February 25, 2011 at noon at the Mendelssohn Chapel of Congregation Beth Emeth Cemetery, 58 Turner Lane, Loudonville, NY. A period of mourning will be observed at the home of Ellen Gruben in Saratoga Springs, beginning Saturday evening, February 26, 2011. Contributions may be made in Noel R. Gruben’s memory to the Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or the American Heart Association at donateamericanheart.org.
It is the policy of Saratoga TODAY to publish obituaries as a service to our readers. Please send your obituaries to Anne Proulx at aproulx@saratogapublishing.com.
American Legion Ceremony Earl J. Manning American Legion Post 490 invites the community to attend a special ceremony honoring four chaplains who gave their lives in World War II. The event will take place on Sunday, February 27 at 1:30 pm at the Stillwater Community Center located at 19 Palmer Avenue. Members of the American Legion post will honor the four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save soldiers during the sinking of the USAT Dorchester, which was “torpedoed by Nazis” during WWII. “They helped other soldiers board the lifeboats and gave up their own lifejackets when the supply ran out,” Post Historian Phil Kellaruso explained. “The chaplains joined arms and prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.” Although none of the four are area natives, the chaplains (George L. Fox, Alexander D. Goode, Clark V. Polling, John P. Washington) will be honored as local heroes for their actions. “There are lessons to be learned from their actions. They did something really special, and you can only imagine how many others did the same thing on the combat field to save a brother,” Kellaruso said, adding that a stained-glass window was installed in the Pentagon to memorialize them. Two ministers, a catholic priest and a rabbi will participate in the ceremony, recognizing and representing each of the individual chaplains. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, call the Earl J. Manning American Legion Post 490 at (518) 664-8037.
Saratoga Springs Veteran receives achievement award At the Veterans of Foreign Wars District 3 Gold Chevron Awards Banquet held at the Holiday Inn of Saratoga Springs on Saturday, February 5, Judy Boyce, a United States Army veteran from Saratoga Springs was honored with the 2010 Veterans of Foreign Wars District 3 Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award. Since leaving military service in 1971, Judy has taken an active role in support of women veterans by being at the forefront of a number of high profile events to raise funds for the establishment
of a women veteran’s transition home in Saratoga County. Judy was singularly responsible for designing, funding and producing a distinctive pin as a symbol for the women veteran’s transition home, which is called "Guardian House." The first 500 pins sold out immediately, and another 350 of them were sold over the course of a year. This effort raised over $4,250 and pin sales continue being sold. "Judy has a special place in her heart for women veterans and I am most appreciative for her hard work and partnership on the Guardian House Committee" said Saratoga Springs Supervisor Joanne Yepsen at the Award Banquet. “As a member of the Guardian House Committee, Judy was instrumental in the planning and sponsoring a number of events in support of this women veteran’s transition home.” One such event was sponsored by Gurtler Brothers VFW Post 420. Another was a music and raffle ‘fun fest’ hosted by the Italian American War Veterans Post 35 of Saratoga Springs. Also, Judy helped to plan a com-
bined fund raiser/barbecue with local veteran groups and other non-profits at which New York’s First Lady Michelle Patterson was the honored guest. Over $20,000 was raised at this barbecue event alone. The Guardian House is not the only endeavor in which Judy has been involved. She is a dedicated, hard-working volunteer who has planned and participated in a number of veteran-related fund raising programs. Judy serves on the Shelters of Saratoga Board of Directors and has held two fund-raising events for the Estherville Animal
Shelter in Greenfield Center. All of Judy’s endeavors, combined with a recently awarded $212,000 VA grant are helping to
ensure that the “Guardian House” women veteran’s transition home will be up and running before the end of 2011.
photo provided
(Above) Gene Ratigliano, Commander, Hudson Mohawk Counties Council presenting the District 3 Outstanding Citizen Achievement Award to Saratoga Springs Veteran Judy Boyce; (left) The award winning design.