Everett T. Jackson of Riverhead died Oct. 7. He was 57.  

He was born Feb. 21, 1957, in Riverhead to Isabelle Stovall Jackson and Frank Trent. He was raised by his stepfather, Charles Jackson, who family members said taught his stepson to be “manly, obedient and respectful to everyone”

Family members described Mr. Jackson as  a kind-hearted, loving man, who was very outgoing and “the life of the party.” They said he was always willing to help out friends and family, and could cheer people up by “doing his dance.”

Mr. Jackson was predeceased by his parents and his sister Katherine Goode and is survived by his children, Rashonda “Missy” Jackson, Lakisha “Sister” Jackson, Carmelita “Pebbles” Jackson, Odell Joseph Yancy, Mark Jackson, Charlie Mayo and Thomas Wilson; three brothers, Vincent, Edward and Leon Jackson; five sisters, Naomi Perkins of Powhatan, Va., Mary Jackson of Norfolk, Va., Eloise Jackson-Lopez of Puerto Rico, Lula Clarke, also of Powhatan, Va. and Deborah Crews of Bellport, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

Services took place Oct. 17 at Galilee Church of God in Christ in Riverhead, officiated by Pastor Roy Pennon.

Arrangements were handled by Seay Memorial Chapel in Riverhead.

Former Riverhead resident Milton Robert Saunders of Virginia died Oct. 9. He was 81. 

He was born July 9, 1933, in Port Jefferson to Walter Saunders and Florene Saunders-Mayo. He was baptized at an early age and later joined Mt. Pero Baptist Church in Powhatan, Va.

Mr. Saunders worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory and retired after many years of service.

Family members said he enjoyed playing the guitar and blowing the harmonica.

He was predeceased by his sons, Milton Jr. and Keith and his sister Lottie Scott; and is survived by his daughter, Diane Saunders of Richmond, Va.; his sister Marie Futch of Riverhead; his brother, Walter Saunders of Powhatan, Va.; his stepbrother, George Mayo Jr. of Cartersville, Va.; three granddaughters; one grandson; four great-grandson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services were arranged by Marian Gray Thomas Funeral Home in Cumberland, Va. Services were held Oct. 11 at Seay Memorial Chapel in Riverhead.

Longtime Cutchogue resident John Zuhoski Jr. died peacefully Nov. 1 with his family by his side. He was 87. 

He was born July 31, 1927, in Greenport to John and Anna (Ruskowski) Zuhoski. He worked in Cutchogue as a farmer and was a 60-year member of Cutchogue Fire Department. Family said Mr. Zuhoski enjoyed spending time on the water and fishing with his longtime friend, Jesse.

Mr. Zuhoski is survived by his wife of 65 years, Lucille (née Troyan); his children John (Theresa) Zuhoski III of Bay Shore, Michael (Geraldine), David, Gary, and Steven (Kristen) Zuhoski and Anne (Wesley) Lasota, all of Cutchogue, Laurie (Jack) Steiner of Southold, Sharon of Middle Island and Lisa Eastwood of Riverhead; 23 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Alex, of Cutchogue. He was predeceased by his sister, Helen Orlowski.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, where firematic services will take place. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Ostrabrama R.C. Church in Cutchogue. Interment will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

This is a paid notice.

Lillian A. Smith of Southold died Oct. 31, 2014, at Stony Brook University Hospital. She was 76. 

She was born Jan. 26, 1938, in Astoria, Queens, to William and Elizabeth (née Smith) Ardus and was a graduate of Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park.

On April 9, 1960 she married Donald B.J. Smith in Garden City.

For 21 years, she was a patent clerk for the law firm of Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser of Garden City.

From 1968 to 2002, she lived in Floral Park, at which time, she moved to Southold. Here, she was an active member and former deacon of First Presbyterian Church in Southold

Predeceased by her husband, she is survived by two sons, Donald of Manhattan and Mark (Kristine) of Southold; a brother, James Ardus of Floral Park; and two grandsons, Mark and Kirk.

The family received visitors Nov. 4 at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold. Religious services were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Peter J. Kelley.

Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 787, Southold, NY 11971.

Former longtime Riverhead resident Rose Vassallo of Milford, Pa. died Nov. 1 at Newton Memorial Hospital in Newton, N.J. She was 78. 

The daughter of the late Pasquale and Rose (Martino) Pallotta, she was born July 14, 1936, in Brooklyn. She married Thomas J. Vassallo, July 18, 1953.

Ms. Vassallo is survived by her husband; four children, Carol Vassallo of Riverhead; Michael Vassallo of Yaphank, Barbara Schwarz of Riverhead, and Teresa Schwarz of Milford, Pa; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Stroyan Funeral Home in Milford, Pa. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Church in Milford, with the Rev. Paul Mullen officiating. Cremation will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Vincent Sharing Fund, 101 St. Vincent Dr., Milford, Pa 18337.

Floria “Flo” Catherine Harris-Johnson of Riverhead died Oct. 28. She was 103. 

She was born May 17, 1911, in Richmond Va. to Floyd Harris and Katie Harris-Hobson. From ages 13 to 18 she attended Rocky Mount private Catholic School. Ms Harris-Johnson later moved to New Jersey with her mother before moving to Riverhead with her mother and stepfather, Andrew Hobson.

Ms. Harris-Johnson was briefly married to David Fitzgerald, and the couple owned and operated a local bar and grill. She later moved to New York City, where she accepted domestic employment with Joseph Kennedy and his family. Ms. Harris-Johnson moved to Florida with the Kennedys briefly, before moving back north to help take care of new mothers and babies. Family said she traveled back and forth to Richmond Va. to help take care of her father, and after his death, she returned to Riverhead to work and help take care of her mother.

Ms. Harris-Johnson briefly served as a member of Friendship Baptist Church. She later became a long-standing member of the First Baptist Church, serving as a church clerk, and a member of the Willing Workers Club, Ladies’ Auxiliary and kitchen committee. Family members said she enjoyed working for the church, decorating and creating hors d’oeuvres for many special events. They said Ms. Harris-Johnson often referred to herself a “Child of God.”

She was predeceased by her brother, Stewart; her foster-brother, Luther Blare-Harris, and by her husband, Robert Johnson. She is survived by her brother’s four children, John Harris, Mary Hall, Dorothy Sillers and Carl Harris, as well as many other relatives and friends.

A service was held Nov. 1 at First Baptist Church in Riverhead, officiated by Paster Charles Coverdale. Interment took place at Washington Memorial Park in Mount Sinai.

Arrangements were handled by Seay Memorial Chapel in Riverhead.

Emily “Kit” Coone of Riverhead died Oct. 26. She was 93, and had been living at the Riverhead Care Facility since 2004. 

She was born Nov. 2, 1920, in Hasting, Fla. to Philip and Eliza Henry and married Alfred Bernard Coone, March 3, 1944.

Ms. Coone worked for Stratton’s as a receptionist, where family said she was a good worker, and retiring after many years of faithful service. They said she would walk to and from work, even in inclement weather.

Ms. Coone moved to Riverhead and joined Goodwill A.M.E. Zion Church, where she served on the usher board. Family members said she loved reading her Bible and singing Gospel songs.

Predeceased by her husband and daughter, Pearlene, Ms. Coone was survived by her sister-in-law-Ophelia Coone; her niece, Thelma Brown-Sykes, and many other family and friends.

Arrangements were handled by Seay Memorial Chapel. Interment took place at Riverhead Cemetery.

James F. Pyne, Jr.

Former Riverhead resident James F. Pyne, Jr., residing at Westminster Towers, Bradenton, Fla. died November 1, 2014. 

Born in Brockton, Mass. to James F. Pyne and Elizabeth A. O’Brien, Mr. Pyne was educated in Brockton schools and received degrees from the University of Maine and the University of Rhode Island. He was a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of World War II, serving in the South Pacific and China.

For 37 years he was employed as a teacher and later as a guidance counselor in Riverhead public schools. He served as president of the Riverhead Faculty Association, treasurer of the East End Counselors Association, secretary of St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church parish council and as a director of Central Suffolk Hospital and the Suffolk County Extension Service. He also worked with the Boy Scouts, Future Farmers and 4-Hers.

Since retiring in 1986, he did volunteer work at Blake Medical Center and Jessie P. Miller Elementary School in Florida.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sarah Jane Bouchard Pyne; two daughters, Sharon Pyne of Woolwich, Maine and Susan Olsen, Bradenton, Fla.; and two granddaughters, Bridget and Nora McElroy, also of Woolwich.

There will be no local visitation, but there will be  a Mass, Thursday, Nov. 6, at 9:30 a.m. at Saints. Peter and Paul the Apostles Catholic Church in Bradenton.

Memorial contributions may be made to Southeastern Guide Dogs or Blake Medical Center Auxiliary

Arrangements were handled by Brown & Sons Funeral Homes in Bradenton. Condolences may be made online at brownandsonsfuneral.com.

This is a paid notice.

Dorothy Marie Kreussling of Aquebogue died Nov. 3 at Riverhead Care Center. She was 90. 

She was born Sept. 10, 1924, to John and Mary (Auranson) Opel. She worked for Chase Bank in Manhattan as a secretary.

Ms. Kreussling is survived by her husband, Frederick of Aquebogue; her daughters, Mary Cholodenko, also of Aquebogue and Nancy Keating of East Islip; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Nov. 6, from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will be held Friday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocky Point, officiated by Pastor Jeffrey Kolbo. Interment will take place at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation, 5 Channel Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050.

A memorial for Paul Stoutenburgh will take place Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. at Southold High School main auditorium, 420 Oaklawn Ave.

The longtime North Fork environmentalist died July 13 at the age of 92.

Longtime Riverhead resident Martin “Sonny” Zaneski died Nov. 5 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 77. 

He was born Aug. 17, 1937, in Greenport to Helen (Wokowsky) and Martin J. Zaneski.

Mr. Zaneski worked as a repairman for New York Telephone Company in Riverhead. He was a member of Riverhead Fire Department, where he served as past president for Red Bird Hook and Ladder Company. He was also a member of the Polish Town Civic Association and the Riverhead Polish Independent Club.

Mr. Zaneski is survived by wife, Barbara; his daughters, Karin Nusbaum of Matawan, N.J., and Kim Miller and Kerri Whitehead, both of Riverhead; his sons, Kevin of Riverhead; his siblings, Robert of Temecula, Calif and Patricia Underwood of Riverhead; and nine grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Friday, Nov. 7, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service will be held  Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

Longtime Riverhead resident Constance Pettit died Oct. 31. She was 83. 

She was born Nov. 22, 1930, in Riverhead to Albin and Adelaide Bobinski. A graduate of Riverhead High School, she received her associates degree at Penn Hall Jr. College.

After spending some time in New England, Ms. Pettit returned home to Riverhead and pursued a career as a dental hygienist. Family members said Ms. Pettit loved fishing, boating and her cats. They said she was known for her creative and artistic abilities and that her family cherished her hand made treasures.

Predeceased by her husband, Robert Pettit, she is survived by her son, James Slater of Riverhead; her sister, Diane Stark of Riverhead; her stepdaughter, Holly Soles of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; and stepson, Paul Pettit, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family received visitors Nov. 2 at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at Calverton National Cemetery.

Donald K. Frank of Aquebogue died Nov. 5. He was 91. 

He was born March 30, 1923, in Brooklyn to August and Johanna Frank. Mr. Frank served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946. He worked for AIL Systems Inc. in Deer Park.

Mr. Frank was a member of Old Town Arts and Crafts Guild in Cutchogue. Family members said he enjoyed painting, baseball and football.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (née Klaar) of Aquebogue; his children, Kennneth of Smithtown and Diane Kreschollek of Arizona; and seven grandchildren.

The family received visitors Nov. 9 at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral service took place Nov. 10 at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society or Old Town Arts and Crafts Guild.

Dolores J. Fenn, formerly of New York City and Sag Harbor, passed away Nov. 4, 2014, at Stony Brook Hospital on Long Island. For the past three years, she had been a resident of Peconic Landing in Greenport. 

Born in Patterson, N.J., in 1925 and growing up in Lincoln Park, Dolores lived a rich life with interests in world travel, photography, fine arts, fashion, gourmet cooking, and needlecraft. In the early 1950s, she had the opportunity to live in Rome, Italy, holding a job with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. She lived in Rome for five years, using vacation time to travel throughout Europe and parts of the Middle East. When she returned to the United States, it was with a copious amount of slides, colorful tales, and a lifelong interest in international cooking.

For over 50 years, Dolores lived in Manhattan and weekended in Sag Harbor, home of her sister, Camille Fenn Hedges, and her brother, Otto Fenn. She frequently visited Paris, where another brother, Gene Fenn, was a prominent fashion photographer. During her years in New York, she took Chinese cooking lessons and would do her “homework” on weekends by cooking elaborate Chinese feasts for her family. She became an avid collector of cookbooks, fine tableware, postcards, artists’ books, and children’s books.

Dolores earned a bachelor’s degree in art history from Columbia University and later got a master’s in library and information science. Knitting, embroidery, and other types of needlework were favorite pastimes of hers.

In late 2011, she put the family home, Sag Harbor’s Gingerbread House, up for sale and moved to Peconic Landing. She joined many interest groups and took many classes there, including fine art, music appreciation, needlework, and history. Dolores was an active member of the art committee, took many trips to New York City, and painted portraits of her friends’ pets. She lived an active life up to her last day and passed away with her makeup perfectly done, as she would have wanted.

She was buried Nov. 10, in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Arrangements were in the care of the Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport.

This is a paid notice. 

Former Riverhead resident Arthur Robert Thurm died Nov. 6 in Ocala, Fla. He was 61. 

He was born in Riverhead Oct. 11, 1953, and was a retired business owner. Mr. Thurm moved to Florida in 2008, and was a member of The Family Life Assembly of God in Ocala.

Mr. Thurm is survived by his wife of 29 years, Margaret; his stepson, Scott Trehy; two sons, Arthur Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla. and Ryan of Riverhead; two daughters, Christina of Dunnellon, Fla. and Heather of Glen Head; a brother, Raymond of Michigan and a sister, Nancy Teodecki of Auburn, N.Y.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Robert Bruce West Funeral Home in Ocala, with a funeral service following at 7 p.m. A service of Christian burial will take place Wednesday, Nov. 12, at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens in Ocala.

Family and friends may offer condolences at robertsfuneralhomes.com.

Westhampton Beach dentist Dr. Patrick J. Restivo of Calverton died at Nov. 10 at Westhampton Care Center. He was 78 years old. 

The family will receive visitors Friday, Nov. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck.  The funeral service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home

A complete obituary will follow.

Riverhead resident Waclaw Wilczynski, formerly of Hampton Bays, died Nov. 10 at Peconic Bay Medical Center. He was 89. 

He was born April 13, 1925, in Bierwicha Poland to Anna Miezianko and Andrezj Wilczynski. He obtained a bachelor’s degree and was a broker for the Polish State Court.

Family members said he worked at St. Isidore R.C. Church for many years and loved the church.

Predeceased by his wife, Cecylia in 1984, he is survived by his daughters, Jolanta Partyka of Riverhead; Elizabeth Wilczynska of Hampton Bays, and Wieslawa Ploski and Anna Podbielski, both of Toronto, Canada; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Nov. 13, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Reginald H. Tuthill Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral Mass will take place Friday, Nov. 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church, officiated by Father Robert Kuznik. Interment will take place at the church cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Isidore R.C. Church, 622 Pulaski St., Riverhead, NY 11901.

Former Riverhead resident Anastasia Sharp of Ronkonkoma died Nov. 9 at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital. She was 93.  

She was born Jan. 6, 1921, in Riverhead to Anastazy and Bronislaw Pendzick and worked as bank clerk in Flushing.

Ms. Sharp is survived by her daughters, Loretta Titolo of Florida and Catherine Sasso of California; her brother, Carl Pendzick of Calverton; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors Saturday, Nov. 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead. A funeral Mass will take place Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. at St. Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. Interment will take place Monday, Nov. 17, at Calverton National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Association.

Former Jamesport resident Bartley C. Mahan died suddenly on November 13, 2014 at his home in Mattituck. He was 58. 

Mr. Mahan was born in Stamford, Conn. June 11, 1956, to Julia (née Swita) and Charles Mahan. He had lived in Mattituck for the past seven years and had been a transporter at Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Family members said he loved animals and found enjoyment in art and reading and playing his guitar.

Mr. Mahan is survived by his partner, Diane Dibble; four children, Desiree, Charles, Bartley, Jr. and Ryan; and a brother, Rory Mahan.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, Nov. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, where the Rev. George Gaffga will conduct services at 7 p.m.

Tom Twomey. (Credit: Steve Latham courtesy photo)

Tom Twomey, the founder and senior partner of the East End’s biggest law firm, and an influential figure in politics, died suddenly at home in East Hampton on Sunday. He was 68.

In 1975, Mr. Twomey played an instrumental role in getting Suffolk County to create its landmark Farmland Preservation Program. Two years later, he led the fight against the Long Island Lighting Company’s proposal to build four nuclear power plants in Jamesport while working for the Long Island Farm Bureau.

That same decade, Mr. Twomey formed a South Fork civic organization called “Halt the Highway” to rail against a proposed extension of Sunrise Highway from Shinnecock Hills to Amagansett.
Mr. Twomey’s wife of 34 years, Judith Hope, is a former East Hampton town supervisor. She also served as chairwoman for the New York State Democratic Committee.

Joe Gergela, executive director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, said he was shocked by news of Mr. Twomey’s passing.

“Tom’s been counsel to the farm bureau my entire stay here, which is 26 years,” Mr. Gergela said. “He’s a tremendous personal friend, advisor, mentor and strategist. He was just a tremendously talented, wonderful man.”

Mr. Gergela said the victory against LILCO’s plan to build nuclear power plants in Jamesport was one of the few times a power company lost a court battle.

Mr. Twomey’s law partner of 26 years, Steve Latham, described Mr. Twomey as being in fine health and said he died of a heart attack Sunday morning.

He said Mr. Twomey “was a one-man operation when I came out here, so I doubled the size of the firm when I joined — which is amazing to think about when you look at the size of the firm now.”
In 1973, Mr. Twomey moved to East Hampton and established his law office in Riverhead, where it’s still located.

The firm, now called Twomey, Latham, Shea, Kelley, Dubin and Quartararo LLP, currently has 28 attorneys and 55 employees, according to its website.

“Tom was really a mentor and even a father figure to me, even though we’re only four years apart in age,” Mr. Latham said. “You never realize how much you’re going to miss someone until they’re gone.”

Mr. Twomey had great political influence on the state and national level and counted former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, as friends, Mr. Latham said.
In 1993, he was appointed chairman of former Gov. Mario Cuomo’s East End Economic and Environmental Institute, which was instrumental in extending farmland preservation efforts statewide and boosting East End tourism and its wine industry, Mr. Latham said.
Mr. Twomey was the son of a New York City police detective and spent summers vacationing with his family in Mattituck, according to an obituary provided by Mr. Latham with the approval of Mr. Twomey’s family.

He was also passionate about the history of the East End — particularly East Hampton Town, where he was named town historian and helped lead the town’s celebration of its 350th anniversary in 1998.

Mr. Twomey also served as president of the East Hampton Library board and served on the executive committee of the Guild Hall Cultural Center in East Hampton.

He owned a plane, was a pilot for more than 40 years and also owned and restored a 1928 Flint Depot Hack automobile. In addition, Mr. Twomey was a distant relative of the infamous pirate Captain Kidd and even collaborated on a screenplay about him with author Tom Clavin.

Mr. Twomey, who was born Dec. 8, 1945, is survived by his wife, Judith Hope, and stepchildren, Misse and Erling Hope; three grandchildren, Soren Hope, Isaiah Aqui and Henry Luka Hope; and his sisters, Mary Claire Vrtodusic of Oakdale and Florence Cope of East Marion.

Visitation will take place Friday, Nov. 21, at Yardley Pine Funeral Home in East Hampton from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 22, at 1 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton. A reception will follow at East Hampton Point. For more information, call Janice Olsen at 727-2180.

Donations in Mr. Twomey’s name to the East Hampton Library would be appreciated.

tgannon@timesreview.com