Last Updated: December 14, 2011

Obituaries

Smith-Johannsen, Elizabeth a long time resident of Port Washington and Oyster Bay, died on November 18 at her home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado after a very brief illness. She was 89.
Elizabeth Smith-Johannsen was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Feb. 17, 1922 to Ward and Elizabeth Davidson (nee: Bostwick) where her father was a professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
With a growing family, she with her older brother Ward Jr., moved to Port Washington in 1923, where her father accepted a position with ConEd, retiring as Vice President in 1960. The transplanted family still maintained a strong connection with Michigan, spending many summers at her grandparents’ home in Iron Mountain until the mid 30s.
Those summers were filled with a lot of activities, especially riding horses, and camping expeditions to Sylvania, a preserve in the Upper Peninsula that grandfather and several other families owned. These experiences inspired her love of nature, animals, and the environment, subjects that she was passionate about.
Her dad, inspired the children, who became avid fans of anything technical and leading edge. Those interests included aviation and in the 20s and 30s, when airplanes were all the rage. The family owned two planes, the last one being a Fairchild high wing four place aircraft, kept at Aviation Country Club on Long Island. During those early days of aviation, the family had a chance to meet some of the famous flyers of the day. The family took numerous trips together in the Fairchild, and anywhere they went, it caused quite a stir.
Growing up on Long Island, she attended school in Port Washington, and Pine Manor in Boston, where she was active in the French Club.
After graduation from Pine Manor in 1942, she accepted a position with the Office of Scientific Research & Development (OSR&D) at Rockefeller Center in New York, doing her part for the war effort on the Manhattan Project, with her brother, working at Oak Ridge.
At the conclusion of WWII, she married Ralph Smith-Johannsen in 1944, whose family also lived on Beacon Hill in Port Washington. They were married at St. Stevens Church. A reception followed at Manhasset Bay Yacht Club where both families were members, and settled to a new home in Port Washington.
She was active at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Scouting, The Cow Neck Historical Society, and the Garden Club of Port Washington, serving as president. and the Pine Manor Alumni Association, as well as social activities at MBYC where the family had a boat and participated in week-end bay racing. As a resident of Port Washington for almost 50 years, she had many good and long time friends in the area.
Brother and sister were extremely close and devoted to each other. They both shared a curious intellect and were very much kindred spirits. Despite those distances with Ward Jr. now living in Tucson, they were in contact almost every day, while frequently exchanging visits to Tucson or Oyster Bay, until her brother’s death in 2006.
With the children now grown, she and her husband Ralph decided to find a more bucolic setting, and relocated to Mill River Road in Oyster Bay in 1972. The move brought an even larger circle of friends and activities, joining St John’s Church in Cold Spring Harbor, and serving on the Vestry and the Altar Guild. Her husband, Ralph, died in 1986, but she continued her active and vigorous participation as a volunteer in many local organizations including the Huntington Community Thrift Shop, where she was its longest serving volunteer. Continuing her pursuit of gardening, she was a member of the Matinecock Garden Club and a past president, and a regular volunteer at the Planting Fields Arboretum.
She was a strong advocate of preserving the character and heritage of Oyster Bay. She was also a generous donor to many causes and charities, particularly supporting endangered species and environmental preservation groups, including the Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor.
She is survived by her daughter Ann Forsyth of Denver, CO, son Peter of Jupiter, FL, four grandchildren, David, Peter and Elizabeth Smith-Johannsen of Sag Harbor, NY, and Maria Hamill of Cary, NC, and two great-grandchildren Emma and Michael Hamill.
A memorial service will be held at 11am, December 17, at St. John’s Church, Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor, NY.

Mary Durka Kelczewski, age 90, of Locust Valley, and Center Barnstead, NH, on December 9. Born December 19, 1920, in Great Neck, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Durka. Her family moved to Locust Valley when she was young, and she lived most of her life there. With her husband Henry, she raised her family and was active in the Locust Valley community.
Mary was an active member and past president of the Locust Valley American Legion Auxiliary, where she spent many happy hours with her family and friends. She was a long time member of St. Hyacinth’s Parish in Glen Cove, and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Mary was a strong, fun-loving woman with a wonderful zest for life.
She is survived by her sons, John, and his wife, Chris, of Spring Hill, FL, and Jim, and his wife, Barbara, of West Chester, OH, and her daughter, Barbara, and her husband, Cliff, of Center Barnstead, NH. She had six beloved grandchildren; Joseph, Scott, Stephen, Kathrine, James, and John Paul, three step-grandchildren; Gina, Chris, and Melissa, and seven great grandchildren. She is also survived by her dear nieces and nephews and their families.
Calling hours are 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 on Thursday, December 15 at McLaughlin-Kramer Funeral Home, Glen Cove, NY. A funeral mass will be said at 9:30 on Friday at St. Hyacinth’s Church, Glen Cove. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary’s memory to Royalmont Academy for the Annual Scholarship Fund, 723 Western Row, Mason, Ohio 45040.

BALDING, Barbara W. of Locust Valley, on December 5, age 80. Former wife of Bruce E. Balding. Mother
of Betsey Ruprecht (Bill). Sister of Wells Whitney; Sally; and Lee Whitney. Grandmother of Mollie; Charlie and Barney Ruprecht. Service to be held at St. John’s of Lattingtown at a later date. Donations may be made to the Planting Fields Arboretum - see www.PlantingFields.org
Arrangements by Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home.
BURTON, Odessia of Glen Cove, on December 8, age 53. Mother of Andrew. Sister of Lucretia Alston, the late Kenneth Wilson and Marie Potter. Niece of Ulla Roberts, Beatrice Young, Henry and Albert Wilson. Arrange-ments by Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home. Interment Private.

GILES, Thomas "Peanut" of Glen Cove. NY on December 5, age 74. Husband of the late Eleanor. Father of Edward & John. Brother of Walter Jr. Grandfather of Tanaisa, Jashaan and the late Natoya. Great grandfather of Jahtae & Nazir. Service held at Dodge-Thomas Funeral Home. Interment Private.

Vander Poel, Beverly S. of Glen Cove, died peacefully on December 10, at the age of 93. Beloved wife of the late Benjamin F. Loving mother of Halsted Vander Poel (Janice), Beverly Banker (Bindy), Linda Duryea (Jay), Susan Barrett and Kenneth Vander Poel. “Gran” to Chip Day, Billings Cay, Kingsley Gregory, Ashley Banker, Mindy Duryea, Megan Scott, Oakley Duryea, Bobby and Graham Barrett. Great Grandmother of 6. Dear sister of Robert and the late John Sartorius. Funeral Mass Thurs. 10:30 am at St. Dominic’s R. C. Church, Oyster Bay, NY. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Glen Cove Hospital, 101 St. Andrew’s Ln., Glen Cove, NY 11542. Further information: Whitting Funeral Home 300 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Head, NY 11545 www.whitting.com

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Locust Valley, Oyster Bay, Glen Cove, Bayville, Centre Island, Mill Neck, Lattingtown, Matinecock, The Brookvilles, and Muttontown