Longtime Riverhead Business Improvement District president Ray Pickersgill died Monday at Stony Brook University Hospital of complications related to COVID-19. He was 71. 

Mr. Pickersgill, who lived in Nes-conset, had owned the Robert James Salon in downtown Riverhead with his daughter, Lisa, and wife, Margaret, since 2004.

He was the News-Review’s Businessperson of the Year in 2008 for his role in building up downtown Riverhead.

“This is the best location you can have,” Mr. Pickersgill told the News-Review in 2008. “Riverhead is a destination location.”

He was a member of the Business Improvement District’s Management Association from 2007 to 2016 and was its president from 2010 to 2016.

The BID position is voluntary, as are positions with the Riverhead Parking District Advisory Board and the Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Committee, on which he also served.

“Ray was a great guy and he really was the impetus to the downtown revitalization,” said former Riverhead supervisor Sean Walter.

“Prior to his taking over, the BID was sitting on some $300,000 in funds that they weren’t really using, for a variety of reasons,” Mr. Walter said. “We tasked Ray to basically get the BID moving or we would get rid of it.

“And he really grabbed the bull by the horns. He would be the first guy putting out the chairs and the last guy taking them in.”

Mr. Walter said he credits Mr. Pickersgill with founding numerous events that took place in downtown Riverhead, including many that are ongoing.

These include the Cardboard Boat Race, the indoor farmers market, Alive on 25, the Fourth of July fireworks show and concerts, the antique car show and the Edgar Allan Poe Festival, now called the Halloween Fest. 

“I credit Ray because he created an excitement and buzz downtown that led other people to the downtown area,” Mr. Walter said.“Ray was the spark that ignited downtown Riverhead. It’s a big loss to the people downtown.”

Bill Allan, who served with Mr. Pickersgill on the BID for many years, said he always worked for the town’s best interest.

“He was one of the hardest-working volunteers that I believe the town has had in a long time,” Mr. Allan said. “He pretty much gave of his time from his business to work on town events, and he was one of the most concerned individuals as far as the direction of the town.”

Lisa Pickersgill wrote on Facebook Monday afternoon: “My father was a kind, amazing man that I was lucky enough to say he was my father.”

She said he was proud to be involved with town and county and that “the friends he made and the fun he had were some of his fondest memories.”

She said a memorial service to honor him will be held in the future.

“The world is a better place because he was in it,” Ms. Pickersgill wrote.

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When they met for early morning Bible study on Sundays, Bonnie Cannon would joke with Pastor Alvin Charles McElroy: Couldn’t he change the 8 a.m. class to a weeknight?

He never did, but Ms. Cannon still made time, inspired by the pastor’s discipline. The Bible study quickly became her favorite aspect of church and is now a cherished memory of the pastor, who died at Peconic Bay Medical Center March 26 after contracting the coronavirus. He was 79.

“He’d pour into you things that would help you live from week to week. How to have peace and joy even if you’re in a circumstance others would see as a bad situation. He wasn’t just preaching it, he lived it,” Ms. Cannon recalled.

Members of the close-knit Friendship Baptist Church are mourning the loss of the “maverick” pastor who served the Flanders community for more than 45 years.

“He was well-grounded,” his wife, the Rev. Maryanne McElroy said, describing how her husband’s accessible, down-to-earth personality quickly became a pillar for the community to lean on.

“He was very community minded. Most people just think a pastor shows up to preach on Sunday. It’s much more than that,” she said in an interview Friday.

A native of Sour Lake, Texas, Pastor McElroy was working in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn in the 1960s, when he met Maryanne, a music student at Juilliard.

“We would go to church together and he said he’d always known he was called to ministry, so we married and moved to Virginia,” the Rev. McElroy said.

The couple relocated to Riverhead after he earned a bachelor’s in business administration and master’s in theology from Virginia Union University.

As Pastor McElroy began preaching at the Friendship Baptist Church, Maryanne opened her music shop, which was initially located near the Riverside traffic circle. They eventually moved the business to its current location at the corner of West Main Street and Raynor Avenue.

A newcomer to the community, Pastor McElroy immediately immersed himself, working with migrant farm workers, youth and minorities on a range of issues from substance abuse to entrepreneurship.

According to a biography on the church’s website, Pastor McElroy was a longtime member of the Riverhead Rotary, Riverhead Clergy Council and has served on boards at the East End Arts Council and Eastern Baptist Association.

He was also the first African-American to run for Town Council in Riverhead, according to the biography.

Ms. Cannon described her Pastor as a “magnificent” man who “truly epitomized his faith” and taught others to live with character, integrity and morals.

She was moved by his preachings about economic liberation, encouraging his congregation to pursue education, homeownership or open their own businesses.

“It was really uplifting and empowering,” Ms. Cannon said. “He didn’t mince his words, he wasn’t one to pacify you. He left a big legacy behind him.”

To Lou McElroy, the Pastor was simply “Uncle A.C.” In a phone interview from Houston, he described his uncle as the “kindest, gentlest man” he knew.

“[He and my aunt Maryanne] together would capture a room,” he said.

Lou, who is now an associate minister at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, a historic Baptist church, said he was inspired by his uncle — “a voice for the voiceless” — toward a life of ministry.

“I looked up to him,” he said.

The beloved pastor was remembered during a virtual mass posted on YouTube last week.

During the service, the Rev. McElroy said the sudden death of her husband of 50 years has “broken my heart and created a void that is overwhelming,” but she is relying on her faith and family near and far to find joy.

Like many other churches, Friendship Baptist has turned to multimedia ministry due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

“Because of the virus we can’t meet as a church, but we’re trying to be as creative as we possibly can,” the Rev. McElroy said, adding that the YouTube content allows for them to still have a spiritual connection amongst the congregation.

Predeceased by his son, Alvin Charles, a Persian Gulf veteran, Pastor McElroy is survived by his wife and two daughters. A private burial was held at Washington Memorial Park in Mt. Sinai. As with many recent deaths, family and his church community are planning a celebration of his life for a later date.

“We’ll do something in the future, when people can gather,” the Rev. McElroy said.

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Liborio Alessi, a Calverton man who was admitted to Peconic Bay Medical Center April 8 and tested positive for the coronavirus, died Friday, his mother said. He was 52.

Diana Ruvolo said Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home would assist the family and allow a one-hour viewing in lieu of traditional services.

Ms. Ruvolo said she plans to have her son cremated so she and her daughter, Suzanne Gruenberg, can have a necklace with his ashes “to have him with us always.”

Original Story (April 15): Late in March, Diana Ruvolo of Calverton greeted her son, Liborio Alessi, in the lobby of Sayville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. It had been a few weeks since she’d seen him — their longest time apart in years — due to current restrictions on visitors at nursing facilities.

Mr. Alessi, 52, who goes by Lee, had been admitted to the facility Feb. 12 for rehab after a hospital stay. Two massive strokes in 2016 had left him paralyzed on his right side and largely unable to speak. He had also undergone a craniotomy — a surgical procedure to remove part of the skull to expose the brain — which left him prone to seizures, the reason he’d been hospitalized.

When Ms. Ruvolo, 74, had last seen her son in Sayville, he was walking the halls with help from a therapist and a Hemi walker. “He was doing everything great,” she said. “He had made great progress and got his strength back.”

On March 28, she brought him back to her Calverton home, where, with assistance from home aides, she’d been caring for him ever since he suffered his first stroke. She always remained by his side, whether he was at a hospital, nursing home or rehab facility. Before that, Mr. Alessi, who was divorced and had been an assistant production editor for CBS, had been living with his daughter and grandson in Farmingville. 

Once he returned to Calverton, however, Mr. Alessi’s condition gradually worsened. His mother said he was “a changed person.”

He struggled to walk. He had trouble getting out of bed. She couldn’t wake him up in the morning. He had recently stopped eating solid foods.

Last Wednesday, Ms. Ruvolo finally decided to call 911. She’d been hesitant to make the call. She knew what it meant: Once admitted to the hospital, her son — who is non-verbal — would be unable to see any visitors. Having just gone through a few weeks without seeing him, she desperately hoped to avoid starting the process all over again.

“To see him go off in the ambulance, scared and alone … and he gets there and he can’t communicate,” she said.

What has followed has been a frustrating effort to obtain information and a new set of fears that sank in once Ms. Ruvolo learned that Mr. Alessi had tested positive for COVID-19, which preys upon those with underlying medical conditions. Mr. Alessi was taken by Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps to Peconic Bay Medical Center, where he’s currently among dozens of other patients being treated for the coronavirus. He’s also suffering from pneumonia, a serious complication of COVID-19. 

Ms. Ruvolo said she called the ER at PBMC after the ambulance dropped him off there, following the EMTs’ advice to wait at least 30 minutes before doing so. She was told on that initial call that no one by her son’s name was in the ER.

Next, she called Peconic Bay Home Health Services, which had been helping with Mr. Alessi’s care at home.

“I called them initially for them to tell the team that my son was in the hospital so the therapist didn’t come,” Ms. Ruvolo said. “But then I also told the woman my dilemma. She said, ‘Hold on, I’m going to go over there and I’m going to find where your son is.’ ”

Ms. Ruvolo said she was told by the Home Health Services employee that her son was listed as “unidentified male.”

About 30 minutes later, she received a call from PBMC registration to begin sorting it out. That kicked off a series of calls made over the rest of the day to try to get more details about her son’s condition. 

“I realize the nurses and all are overwhelmed and I thank God for all the work they do,” she said.

Under normal circumstances, Ms. Ruvolo would have been by her son’s side, starting with the ride in the ambulance. 

At around 7 p.m., she called back and was told he wasn’t in the ER and had been taken to the second floor. A call to the nursing station there reveled he was being assessed. About two hours later, she called again and was told to call back after 10 p.m. 

“I called back at 10:30 and I did get his lovely night nurse, Rose, and she had the patience and calmed me down,” she said. “At this point I’m very frustrated. He’s non-verbal, he can’t get in touch with me and I can’t see him.”

At first, Ms. Ruvolo said, her son’s symptoms didn’t seem to align with the coronavirus. He didn’t have a cough, shortness of breath or fever.

The symptoms more seemed to mimic what he went through after his stroke, she said.

“I was always worried about the virus, especially coming out of the nursing home,” she said.

It’s unclear what led to Mr. Alessi’s strokes, his mother said, although he had undergone a heart transplant in 1998.

“He is doing well with the transplant,” she said.

After his strokes, Mr. Alessi spent most of his time in a wheelchair. He loved sports, whether it be the Yankees, Giants or Rangers. He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and reading the newspaper each morning.

Ms. Ruvolo said she’s been taking her temperature each day to monitor any signs of her potential exposure to the virus. So far, she said, she’s OK.

She spoke to her son’s doctor Saturday and again Easter Sunday. On Monday afternoon, a staff member called to inform her that Mr. Alessi had been moved into the intensive care unit so he could be connected to a ventilator. He was “having too difficult a time breathing,” Ms. Ruvolo said. “They tried raising the oxygen and it wasn’t doing any good … damn virus.”

Late last week, Mr. Ruvolo’s daughter, Suzanne Gruenberg of Wading River, connected with the hospital staff to set up a FaceTime call with her brother. 

He was sleeping and couldn’t communicate. But it was at least a chance to see him.

Ms. Ruvolo doesn’t own a smartphone to set up a call of her own. So Ms. Gruenberg sent her a photo from the call.

All she can do now is pray from home.

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When she was 17, Roxana Flores left behind everything she knew in Costa Rica for a new life in New York. She had come to the East End on a work visa, cleaning houses to make ends meet as she got married and started a family in 1998.

“When my sister was born, my mom would take us with her,” her son, Cesar, recalled in an interview Friday. “I’d be pushing my little sister around in a stroller, making sure she wouldn’t cry.”

Nearly a decade ago, Ms. Flores began a job as an interpreter for the Southampton Town Justice Court. Whether it be the judges, stenographers or court clerks, Ms. Flores was “loved by all in the court.”

The Flanders resident died Tuesday of complications caused by COVID-19, her son said. She was 47.

“My mom — both my parents, honestly, are the embodiment of the American dream,” said Cesar, 21, a Riverhead graduate currently double majoring in math and music at SUNY Geneseo.

“My family and I, we’re in shock at how people have been showing support. It really does warm our hearts and reinforces the fact that my mom was such a positive influence on who she met,” he said.

Ms. Flores was born June 16, 1972 in Aserri, Costa Rica, and immigrated to the United States in 1990. She married her husband, whose name is also Cesar, in 1997.

News of her sudden passing has rocked those affiliated with the Southampton Justice Court and prompted local defense attorney Melissa Aguanno-Walker to start a GoFundMe page to help the Flores family.

Ms. Aguanno-Walker said she’s experienced loss in her own family due to the coronavirus. “It’s really touched a lot of my life,” she said. “I feel for her children.”

“We’re all devastated,” said Southampton Town Justice Deborah Kooperstein in an interview Friday. “She just radiated goodness.”

Judge Kooperstein hired Ms. Flores as a second interpreter nine years ago and said she’d embraced the job, helping thousands in the Latino community over her tenure. Each week, after a lengthy court session where hundreds of vehicle and traffic violations were processed, Judge Kooperstein would thank Ms. Flores. “I’d say, ‘Roxana, I couldn’t do it without you.’ And it was the truth.”

Religion was incredibly important in his mother’s life, Cesar said. She was an active member of the Luz En Tu Senda church in Riverhead.

“Members of the church would come to her if they’d get speeding tickets. They’d be worried if it was their first time going to court,” he said. “And my mom would always help ease their nerves.”

Cesar described his mother as loving and caring. “She always put family first,” he said. “She told us we had to push ourselves to be the best people we could be and pursue education to take advantage of the opportunities they didn’t have.”

Ever since Cesar returned from college in mid-March, he said he grew concerned for both of his parents, since his mom had underlying health issues and his father works in food service at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

In April, both parents tested positive for the coronavirus, but while his father began to recover, his mother’s condition worsened.

She was hospitalized on April 28 after having trouble breathing, Cesar said. Oxygen tubes impeded her ability to speak, but nurses helped her FaceTime with family. 

They last spoke Tuesday afternoon, as Cesar took a break from completing finals week assignments for school. “I told her I loved her a lot, and that the schoolwork was really getting to me, but I’d try my best to make her proud. Had I known that was the last time I would talk to her, I would have said more.”

Cesar said the outpouring support and stories they’ve heard about their mom in the past few days have meant the world to them. “It’s inspiring to us, to keep her legacy going.”

Ms. Aguanno-Walker, who intends to raise funds on the GoFundMe through Tuesday, said Ms. Flores’ death is a “big loss” for the courts, her church and community. “She made a beautiful life for her and her family and had so much more life and love to give,” she said. “I’m sad this took her life so quickly.”

In addition to her husband, Cesar, and son, Cesar Eli, Roxana is survived by two daughters Jasmine, 16, and Angela, 12. She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Riverhead Cemetery on Monday that may be streamed on Facebook Live for those who are not permitted to attend, her son said.

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When she was 17, Roxana Flores left behind everything she knew in Costa Rica for a new life in New York. She had come to the East End on a work visa, cleaning houses to make ends meet as she got married and started a family in 1998.

“When my sister was born, my mom would take us with her,” her son, Cesar, recalled in an interview Friday. “I’d be pushing my little sister around in a stroller, making sure she wouldn’t cry.”

Nearly a decade ago, Ms. Flores began a job as an interpreter for the Southampton Town Justice Court. Whether it be the judges, stenographers or court clerks, Ms. Flores was “loved by all in the court.”

The Flanders resident died Tuesday of complications caused by COVID-19, her son said. She was 47.

“My mom — both my parents, honestly, are the embodiment of the American dream,” said Cesar, 21, a Riverhead graduate currently double majoring in math and music at SUNY Geneseo.

“My family and I, we’re in shock at how people have been showing support. It really does warm our hearts and reinforces the fact that my mom was such a positive influence on who she met,” he said.

Ms. Flores was born June 16, 1972 in Aserri, Costa Rica, and immigrated to the United States in 1990. She married her husband, whose name is also Cesar, in 1997.

News of her sudden passing has rocked those affiliated with the Southampton Justice Court and prompted local defense attorney Melissa Aguanno-Walker to start a GoFundMe page to help the Flores family.

Ms. Aguanno-Walker said she’s experienced loss in her own family due to the coronavirus. “It’s really touched a lot of my life,” she said. “I feel for her children.”

“We’re all devastated,” said Southampton Town Justice Deborah Kooperstein in an interview Friday. “She just radiated goodness.”

Judge Kooperstein hired Ms. Flores as a second interpreter nine years ago and said she’d embraced the job, helping thousands in the Latino community over her tenure. Each week, after a lengthy court session where hundreds of vehicle and traffic violations were processed, Judge Kooperstein would thank Ms. Flores. “I’d say, ‘Roxana, I couldn’t do it without you.’ And it was the truth.”

Religion was incredibly important in his mother’s life, Cesar said. She was an active member of the Luz En Tu Senda church in Riverhead.

“Members of the church would come to her if they’d get speeding tickets. They’d be worried if it was their first time going to court,” he said. “And my mom would always help ease their nerves.”

Cesar described his mother as loving and caring. “She always put family first,” he said. “She told us we had to push ourselves to be the best people we could be and pursue education to take advantage of the opportunities they didn’t have.”

Ever since Cesar returned from college in mid-March, he said he grew concerned for both of his parents, since his mom had underlying health issues and his father works in food service at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.

In April, both parents tested positive for the coronavirus, but while his father began to recover, his mother’s condition worsened.

She was hospitalized on April 28 after having trouble breathing, Cesar said. Oxygen tubes impeded her ability to speak, but nurses helped her FaceTime with family. 

They last spoke Tuesday afternoon, as Cesar took a break from completing finals week assignments for school. “I told her I loved her a lot, and that the schoolwork was really getting to me, but I’d try my best to make her proud. Had I known that was the last time I would talk to her, I would have said more.”

Cesar said the outpouring support and stories they’ve heard about their mom in the past few days have meant the world to them. “It’s inspiring to us, to keep her legacy going.”

Ms. Aguanno-Walker, who intends to raise funds on the GoFundMe through Tuesday, said Ms. Flores’ death is a “big loss” for the courts, her church and community. “She made a beautiful life for her and her family and had so much more life and love to give,” she said. “I’m sad this took her life so quickly.”

In addition to her husband, Cesar, and son, Cesar Eli, Roxana is survived by two daughters Jasmine, 16, and Angela, 12. She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Riverhead Cemetery on Monday that may be streamed on Facebook Live for those who are not permitted to attend, her son said.

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Jane Ameden of Riverhead, formerly of Greenport, died May 7, 2020, at her home, She was 76.

She was born Sept. 23, 1943, in Torrington, Conn., to Elsie and Frank Ameden.

Ms. Ameden had worked as a certified nurses assistant in Massachusetts. Family members said she enjoyed reading, painting and coloring.

She is survived by her children, Jane Nordwald of North Carolina, Sandra Moux of Riverhead, Donald, of Arizona, Amber, of Mattituck, Matthew, of Virginia, and Michael Webster of Bellport; her sisters Sylvia, Dyann and Elaine; 19 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.

Cremation was private, with arrangements by McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home of Riverhead.

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Harold F. “Lefty” Walters of Southold died Tuesday, May 5, 2020, of natural causes. He was 93.

He was born May 31, 1926, in Greenport, N.Y., to Elsie (Adams) and Joseph Walters.

Harold was a hard worker. He was a sanitation worker, a janitor at Southold School and a crossing guard for Southold and Cutchogue East schools. He was a 70-year member of the Southold Fire Department and Fire Police. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother.

Predeceased by his loving wife, Eileen, in November 2016, Harold is survived by his children, Eileen Marie Walters, Shirley Waterhouse, Joe Walters (Doreen), Theresa Lappe (Chris), Deborah Langer (Wayne), Diane Schmitt (Bill), Harold Walters Jr. and Leslie Walters; 18 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Grace Zukas.

Private family services were held at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Interment followed at Willow Hill Cemetery.

Memorial donations to Southold Fire Department Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 1469, Southold, NY 11971 would be appreciated.

This is a paid notice.

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Retired New York State Supreme Court officer William J. D’Ambrosia of Ridge died May 4, 2020, after a battle with 9/11-related illness stemming from his assistance in supporting the rescue and recovery effort at ground zero after the terrorist attacks.

He dedicated his life to helping others, not just in his professional career but also in his personal life, doing things such as mentoring teenagers in the church, helping neighborhood children fix their bikes and teaching religious education classes. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

A wake will be held Tuesday, May 12, from noon to 4 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, during which people may drive by and pay their respects from their cars.

Donations may be made to the Feal Good Foundation, which assists emergency personnel who have been injured.

This is a paid notice.

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William D’Ambrosia spent nearly all of his 34 years as a court officer in the big courthouse on Griffing Avenue in Riverhead. His work with dozens of judges defined his career as a professional. Beyond his job, he was the kind of man who when called upon showed up.

In the days following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Mr. D’Ambrosia – Billy to his many friends – organized a van and took five of his fellow court officers from Griffing Avenue all the way to ground zero to help in what they hoped would be a rescue, not a recovery mission.

“I was at Columbia University that day,” said Mr. D’Ambrosia’s wife, Denise. “Billy felt compelled to help, to save people. He went there on Sept. 12 and 13, then the following week and several days after that, and then on Oct. 4. He drove those other officers to the scene each time.”

On May 4, Mr. D’Ambrosia, 64, died of a complication called sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body. Since he was first diagnosed with the disease in 2004, doctors told him and his wife that the disease was directly linked to the dust he breathed those days at ground zero.

As it turned out, in what amounts to the continuing toll of that horrific day in 2001, all six of the court officers who drove together in the van have died. “None of them are still living,” Ms. D’Ambrosia said. “It’s an amazing fact – all six have died.

“Billy felt very strongly about helping,” she added. “It was his hope that this would be a rescue mission – that he could save lives. But sadly it turned out to be something else.”

Mr. D’Ambrosia was 25 and Denise 18 when they married. He grew up in Centereach and Shoreham; she grew up in Wading River. He joined the court system when he was 24; Denise embarked on a career of higher education and taught nursing and medical ethics in Suffolk County Community College and Stony Brook University.

They spent most of their married lives in Ridge, where they raised three daughters, Kristen, 35, Dana, 32, and Victoria, 30. He began feeling sick in 2004 and was diagnosed with the disease. Soon it became more and more difficult to work, and he had to retire in 2009. His wife later retired from her job to take care of him.

Toward the end of his life, the disease found its way into his lungs, his liver, spleen and lymph nodes. “In the beginning, I was telling him, ‘Sweetheart, your color is different, you don’t feel well, you have shortness of breath.’ ”

On Tuesday, Ms. D’Ambrosia organized a drive-by wake at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. Under state guidelines, wakes cannot be attended by more than 10 people. Owner Karen Heppner helped Ms. D’Ambrosia organize the next best thing — a drive-by past the funeral home. Posters filled with photographs of Mr. D’Ambrosia and his family filled a portico at the funeral home. It was like everyone was inside — except they were in their cars.

“This was our first wake like this,” said Ms. Heppner. “The rules say nothing inside unless it’s a small group of just immediate family. That was not possible with Mr. D’Ambrosia.”

As proof of his many friendships, Ms. Heppner said 100 cars — some filled with two or more people — paid their respects by driving by the photographs and waving to Ms. D’Ambrosia. “It’s the best we can do under these circumstances,” Ms. Heppner said.

After driving home to Ridge and doing her best to collect her emotions, Ms. D’Ambrosia was asked, “How do you want Billy to be remembered?”

Her voice broke. A moment passed as she found her voice again. “How do I want him to be remembered? As a humble, strong, courageous and loving hero.”

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Born March 29, 1935, in Queens, N.Y., Harry Andrew Hodgins led a multi-faceted life. He married Theresa DaBrusco after graduating from high school. Harry also played baseball in the minor leagues for several teams and had many articles written about him and his many accomplishments. His time in the minors was short because he was drafted into the Army for the Korean War.

After the war ended, Harry settled on Long Island and had four sons. He was a talented photographer for the NYPD, and went on to be an inspector for the Northport, N.Y., Police Department. He then began working for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, where he eventually became supervisor of the criminal identification department at the correctional facility in Riverhead, N.Y.

During his time with the sheriff’s office, he received many commendations, including one for selfless bravery during an aquatic rescue of Shelter Island residents during the blizzard of 1978. He retired from the department in 1992.

In the mid-1980s, Harry was appointed legal guardian of Ryan Osborne, whom he raised from the time he was 3 years old. Harry was also very active within the community, coaching Little League and soccer and was active in the PTA.

In September 1997, tragedy struck when Harry’s second-born son, Michael, was killed in a work-related accident. Michael was laid to rest at St. John’s Cemetery, where Harry will also be laid to rest.

Harry is survived by three sons, William Hodgins, Gary Francis Hodgins, and Joseph Anthony Hodgins; his godson, Ryan Osborne; and grandchildren Jennifer Hodgins Lalewicz, Kevin Hodgins, Brittany Hodgins, and Morgan Hodgins. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Skylar, Liam and Rylee. Harry will be missed by his brothers in the sheriff’s office and many friends in the community.

Harry passed on his terms, in his house, with family by his side. May he rest in peace. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. Family and friends may leave online condolences at manganofh.com.

This is a paid notice.

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Elizabeth (Bette) Gambino of Riverhead, formerly of Oakdale, went home to be with the Lord May 13, 2020, at Peconic Bay Medical Center. She was 85.

She was born in Brooklyn Dec. 16, 1934, to Margaret (Jennings) and Thomas Casey.

She had worked as a tax examiner for the IRS in Yaphank.

Bette was a loving wife to the late Ernest E. Gambino; a dedicated mother to Michael (Margaret) and Jeanne (Michael) Carver; a proud grandmother to Mariel and Matthew Gambino and Megan and Christopher Carver; and a great-grandmother to Luca Gambino.

She held very dear to her Irish Catholic heritage. While she will be greatly missed here on earth, she will be joyously celebrated in Heaven.
Private interment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery. A memorial will be planned for a later date.

Donations in Bette’s name may be made to St. Lawrence the Martyr Church in Sayville, N.Y.

Arrangements were entrusted to Tuthill-Mangano Funeral Home in Riverhead. Friends and family may leave online condolences at manganofh.com.

This is a paid notice.

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Elizabeth Edwards passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on May 15, 2020, at the East End Hospice Kanas Center in Westhampton, N.Y., after a brief illness. She was 96.

Elizabeth, aka Betty, was born in Riverhead on Aug. 1, 1923, to Helen (née Zukowski) and Peter Panewicz. She was the eldest of two daughters. She married William “Turk” Edwards on Sept. 26, 1942. She and Turk raised their two sons, Bruce and Barry, in Riverhead.

An active member of the Riverhead community, Betty was the deputy Town Clerk of Riverhead Town for 25 years, retiring in 1981 and moving to Florida. She spent her retirement doing what she loved most, spending time with her six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She loved to cook, sew and enjoy wonderful times at the beach with friends and family. Betty was also a crossword enthusiast; there wasn’t a puzzle she couldn’t solve!

In 2015, they moved back to New York to be close to the family they so lovingly adored, settling with their granddaughter Dawn in Mattituck.

Betty was predeceased by her son Barry; her sister, Dorothy Hawkins; and husband, Turk. She is survived by her son Bruce (Joan) and her grandchildren, Tracy Edwards, Dawn Deerkoski (James), Kristy Wilkinson (Brian), Peter Edwards (Keith), Becky Edwards and Bonnie Edwards (Bryan). She also leaves behind 11 great-grandchildren, Caitlyn, Jared, Cassidy, Kobe, Olivia, Jadyn, Jacob, Anna, Aidyn, Trey and Mason.

Cremation and burial will be private. Donations may be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

This is a paid notice.

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Ann D. Hemblo of Southold passed away peacefully at her residence May 14, 2020, at the age of 96.

The daughter of Jane (Diller) and Thomas Hemblo, she was born in Greenport, N.Y., March 20, 1924.

She was a lifelong resident of Southold and parishioner of St. Patrick’s R.C. Church. Ann had been in declining health, but was determined to live her life her way until being called home.

Predeceased by her brother, Thomas Edward Hemblo, Ann is survived by her cousins Kathleen Ann Diller of Central Islip, N.Y., and John Diller of Nashville, Tenn.

Due to current circumstances, family visitation will take place at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m. A graveside service, officiated by Father John Barrett, will follow at noon at St. Patrick’s R.C. Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her beloved family.

A funeral Mass celebrating Ann’s life will be held at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church at a later date.

This is a paid notice.

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DeWitt Y. Warner died May 4, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19.

Mr. Warner was a lifelong resident of Baiting Hollow. He was a member of Baiting Hollow Congregational Church, where he served as trustee for eight years, president of the cemetery association for 34 years and oversaw cooking chicken for the annual barbecue for 21 years.

Mr. Warner was a potato farm partner until 1952, when he and other family members formed the Warner Potato Chip Co., which was renamed Treat Potato Chip Co. in 1962 and existed until 1972.

He was predeceased by his wife, Esther. He is survived by three daughters, Holly Ramey and Pamela Stevens, both of Oregon, and Daryl Laux of Arizona; his brother, Austin Jr., of Baiting Hollow; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

A private funeral service will be held at Baiting Hollow Congregational Church.

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June J. Donahue died on May 17, 2020.

Born in Scotland on Aug. 14, 1929, June was adopted by Cnute and Janet (Richardson) Beckman and had no siblings. The family settled in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where June graduated from high school in 1947. After attending the Kathryn Gibbs School, she worked at the offices of Bethlehem Steel in Manhattan.

June met her husband-to-be — John T. Donahue, a farmer and native of Calverton — while attending a softball game in Wading River, where her family had a summer bungalow. John won over June’s parents by bringing them fresh vegetables — June’s mother said she had never seen cauliflower that was such a bright white. June and John married in 1950 and settled in Riverhead, in a house that John helped build during a winter break from the farm.

June was predeceased by her husband of 63 years in 2013. She is survived by her daughter, Joyce, and her husband, Bill Sickles; son John and his wife, Linda Donahue; and son Jim and his husband, Will Feinberg.

While mostly a homemaker, June enjoyed working part-time in the Riverhead Town Hall for many years during tax season. She was a voracious reader, and for decades she volunteered to help with the book sale held in the Yellow Barn in back of Riverhead Free Library. Although she donated many books to the sale, she probably brought just as many — or more! — back home.

June loved to swim in the summer, especially at the Jamesport beach on the Peconic Bay and the Iron Pier beach in Riverhead on the Long Island Sound. June enjoyed cooking and baking, a skill she picked up from her mother. In summer, June often made her mother’s recipe for peach cake, made with local fruit. She was also an avid gardener and loved to spend as much time as possible tending to her flowers.

But more than anything, she enjoyed spending time with her husband and children — her family was at the center of her world. She was at her very happiest when everyone gathered for birthdays and holidays and shared a meal, capped with dessert — her favorite part of every dinner. Truly, no meal was complete without at least a cookie afterward.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

This is a paid notice.

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Michael Edward Curley of Riverhead was born in Brooklyn on Dec. 13, 1948, and passed away on May 15, 2020, at the age of 71.

Michael graduated from New York Institute of Technology. After college, he was drafted into the United States Army and became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. Shortly after finishing his military service, Michael joined the New York City Fire Department and spent most of his career with Engine Company 204 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, until he retired in 2002. He was a first responder after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center.

In 1989, he moved his family to Riverhead, where he remained until his passing. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and children, Shannon and Christopher. He will be remembered for his wild sense of humor, craftsmanship, cooking, bravery and, most of all, his love for his friends and family.

A drive-by visitation will take place Wednesday, May 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. Procession to Calverton National Cemetery will commence immediately thereafter.

This is a paid notice.

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MaryAnn Tague of Riverhead died May 16, 2020, at East End Hospice Kanas Center for Hospice Care in Westhampton Beach. She was 78.

She was born July 22, 1941, in Mineola to Louis and Anna (Pinto) DeSorbo.
Ms. Tague worked as a purchasing agent for the Town of Riverhead.

Family members said she enjoyed martial arts.

Predeceased by her daughter, Laura, on Jan. 29, 2020, Ms. Tague is survived by her husband, Howard, of Calverton; her son-in-law, John Letson of Riverhead; and her sister, Nancy Mulanax of Riverhead.

Cremation was private. McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead assisted the family.

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Helen “Daisy” Finne, lifelong Southold resident, died in the comfort of her home, surrounded by loved ones, on May 15, 2020. She was 87 years old.

Daisy was born on May 6, 1933, in Greenport to Gladys (née Zimmerman) and Robert Taplin. She was raised in Southold and attended school there, eventually marrying the love of her life, Chester P. Finne, and making their home in their beloved town and having three children.

Daisy worked as a retail associate for Thompson’s Emporium in Southold and as a bus aide for Sunrise Bus Company. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Southold and was very active in the church. She enjoyed baking for the repast after church service on Sundays. She loved feeding the needy and all that was involved in helping the community. If there was anything that was needed, she did it. More than anything, Daisy was a loving, caring and doting grandmother, helping raise her beloved grandkids as if they were her own children.

Predeceased by her husband, Chester, and son Chet, Daisy is survived by her children Mark Finne of Delhi, N.Y., and Shelley Finne of Southold; her grandchildren, Robert Kehl, Joseph Kehl, Glenn Kehl, David Garcia, Chad Finne, Krista Stiebel, Jenna St-Jacques and Lisa Compositor; her great-grandchildren, Ryder, Josie and Ellie Kehl, Colby and Kaisley Kehl, Easton Finne, Anna and Levi Stiebel, Barratt St-Jacques, and Kelsey and Nicholas Compositor; and siblings, Jean Jacobs and Dot Wiggins.

Private family services were held at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Graveside services were held Wednesday, May 20, at First Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Southold, with the Rev. Dr. Peter J. Kelley officiating.

This is a paid notice.

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Patricia Underwood of Riverhead, born to Martin and Helen Zaneski on March 31, 1935, passed away suddenly on May 20, 2020.

Pat enjoyed journaling, crosswords and jigsaw puzzles. She also prided herself in raising six kids and adored her seven grandchildren and three great-grandsons.

She was predeceased by her daughters Sharon Nowack, in 2005, and Susan Ruthinowski, in 2018.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Reg; her brother, Bob Zaneski of California; her children Nancy Underwood, Lori Pipczynski (Joey), Debbie Underwood and Reg Underwood (Connie); son-in-law Mike Nowack; her grandchildren, Joey Pipczynski III (Suz), Justin Underwood, Heather Weismann (Scott), Alyssa Manzella (Dan), Kalei Park (Travis), Kristina Rowe and Jessica Rowe; and her great-grandsons, Cooper Pipczynski, Ethan Manzella and Grayson Reg Park.

Arrangements were entrusted to McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Angelbear Child Care, which was very near and dear to her heart. Kindly send donations to P.O. Box 2683, Aquebogue NY 11931.

This is a paid notice.

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John Hernandez of Wading Riverhead died May 21, 2020, at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. He was 63.

Mr. Hernandez was born June 26, 1956, in Plainview to Frank and Judith Hernandez. He attended Comsewogue High School.

He was co-owner of Jaco Mechanical in the Bronx. He served as treasure of Riverhead Yacht Club. His interests included boating, the Mets, the Jets and football in general, and casinos.

Predeceased by his parents, he is survived by his wife, Maryellen (Alvino) Luchetti-Hernandez; his children, John Jr. (Kaylee), of Massachusetts, Rachel Hernandez of Riverhead, Michele (George) Tzouganos of Arizona and Kaitlyn Hernandez of Arizona; his stepchildren, Michelle Luchetti and Bianca Luchetti, both of the Bronx; grandchildren Shane, Helen and Judy Hernandez, Ari Tzouganos, Jameson Senatore, Kole Senatore and Zeus Hernandez; and his siblings, Frank Hernandez, Laurie Spruck, Gabby Costantino and Joanna Hernandez.

Cremation was private. A drive-by visitation will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead.

This is a paid notice.

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