SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Beverly Ann Hanna Valentine who left this world on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, surrounded by her loving family.

Beverly was a lifelong resident of Saratoga Springs, living at various addresses in and around the city. She was the only child born to the late Spencer Jay and Mary Frances (Hickey) Hanna on August 21, 1933. She attended St. Peter’s Academy and graduated from it in 1951. Following graduation, she went on to work for the New York Telephone Company as a long distance operator. She met the love of her life at a local restaurant when Ed (a Tennessee native stationed at the Air Force’s local radar station) was given a quick introduction made by the waitress and then asked to move out of the way and take a seat for a night of conversation. That began a long history of togetherness, sharing over forty-eight years together from the time of their marriage on February 1, 1953.

Ed and Bev went on to raise four children on Pinewood Avenue, known years later by friends and family as the “Leave It to Beaver” Street.  Beverly thoroughly enjoyed the social scene in Saratoga Springs, especially August at the track and her day trips shopping and lunching with friends, especially enjoying a Lillian’s hamburger. Every February 1st she made the yearly pilgrimage to the Geiger outlet in Middlebury, VT to shop for the latest woolen fashions to add to her collection. She made friends with a large group of women in the Red Hat Society. This trip was the highlight of her monthly calendar along with “besties” Karen Brown, Karin Noob, and Carm Moffett.  Following busy times in the summer months, Beverly also enjoyed winters in Florida with Ed.

Beverly enjoyed planting rose bushes, but wouldn’t prune or cut any tree in her yard until it was well beyond the pruning stage. She never moved further than her kitchen table, because all the problems of the day were solved here with a cup of instant coffee. She enjoyed her daily crossword puzzles (pencil only). She also enjoyed her Lhasa Apso’s: Mr. Bud, Maddie and Sam.  They were a big part of her family after her children had moved away from the Pinewood Avenue home. Beverly was also a lifelong communicant of St. Clement Church.

Along with her parents, Beverly is predeceased by her husband Edward Valentine who passed away September 17, 2000. She is survived by her four children: son Michael (Ann) Valentine, daughters Mary T. (Bernard) McCue and Cheryl (Charlie) Valentine-Hobbins, and son Scott (Jennifer) Valentine; her grandchildren Marcus (Lucia) Valentine, Wesley (Jolinda) Valentine, Tyler (Stefanie) Parisi, Stephanie Valentine, Trevin Valentine, Shayler Valentine, Jesstin Valentine and Caden Valentine, Tessa Valentine, Malina Valentine, Chauncey Valentine-Hobbins and great granddaughters Charlotte Maben and Daisy Valentine. 

A funeral home service will be celebrated by the Very Rev. James Ebert, Pastor at 10:00am, on Saturday, September 4, 2021 at William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home. Followed by burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Beverly’s name to your favorite charity.   

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.

GANSEVOORT — Jason Drolet, 42, passed away August 28, 2021 following courageous battle with brain cancer. Friends and family are invited to gather for a celebration of life on Tuesday, September 7 from 2-6 p.m. at the Saratoga Spa State Park: Hathorne pavilion. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com  

MALTA — Yumi Kageyama Refino passed away August 19, 2021. Calling hours were Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021 at William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway. A Celebration of Yumi’s life will begin 11 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2021 at Grace Fellowship Church, Clifton Park.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — J. William Schweiker, 92, of Saratoga Springs, passed away at home on Friday, August 13, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born in Troy on February 16, 1929, the only child of Alice Powis Schweiker and J. William Schweiker Jr. He attended St. Lawrence’s School, LaSalle Institute, Siena College and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1951 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He earned his Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from Union College and received his Professional Engineering License. After graduating, he went to work at the Watervliet Arsenal. In 1955, while working at General Electric on the Atlas Missile Project, he designed the mechanical portion of the rocket system that directed the re-entry vehicle into the atmosphere. When General Electric closed the Malta Test Station he returned to the Watervliet Arsenal where he worked until his retirement
in 1994.

Bill met his future wife, Marilyn Evans, in September 1957, and they married one year later on September 20, 1958. They were happily married for 62 years. They moved into their house on Pinewood Avenue in 1966 and together they raised their three wonderful daughters. He and his wife participated in many outdoor activities. They enjoyed downhill skiing, bike riding, and were avid walkers. They also enjoyed traveling throughout New England and Europe, and a visit to Arizona each February.

He was a devout Catholic, and after his retirement, a daily communicant at St. Clements, and an altar server on Thursdays.

Bill was active in community affairs in Saratoga Springs. He served on the Saratoga Springs City Planning Board for nine years. He also served on the school board for Saratoga Central Catholic High School, where he wrote the school’s constitution when it became independent. Bill was a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a longtime member of the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club. 

Bill was an avid reader, writer, a font of knowledge on many subjects, and a natty dresser. He loved visiting museums, attending concerts, photography and cats. He enjoyed a bowl of Stewart’s ice cream every night. He could fix anything and always had a project in progress. He made sure to leave his to-do list in the hands of his three sons-in-law.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Marilyn Evans Schweiker, his three daughters, Lisa Borchers (Robert), Molly Flanagan (Bruce) and Martha Ray (Gordon), all of Saratoga Springs. He was PopPop to seven grandchildren: Will and Grace Borchers, Emma Kate and Jack Flanagan, and Sadie, Chloe and Abby Ray. He is also survived by a cousin, Tina Herrlich, of Burlington, VT.

Above all, Bill considered himself an engineer, a lifelong devout Catholic, a Saratogian and a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. 

Relatives and friends gathered in his honor on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at St. Clement’s Church in Saratoga Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Reverend Randall Patterson. Burial followed at St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Ave.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Leonora “Nora” Colby Salaway passed away after a long illness peacefully surrounded by family on the morning of August 7, 2021. She was 80 years old.

Nora was born in Manhattan, the daughter of the late Glen and Alice (Cooper) Colby and grew up in Great Neck, NY. She looked forward to spending time with her grandmother Lee Lee in Woods Hole, MA and Grandmother Dell in Bedford Village. She attended Abbott Prep School (now Andover) in Massachusetts. After graduating in 1958, she attended Parsons School of Design until she met her husband, Robert L. Salaway. They raised three children in Brooklyn Heights and Port Washington, NY. She enjoyed sailing with her family on Bluefin, a 42 ft. sloop sailing across Long Island Sound, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. She also loved driving in her light blue 1966 Austin Healey. She was a full-time homemaker.

Nora was a compassionate and caring person that adored putting smiles on people’s faces. She loved all animals, especially golden retrievers. Her favorite color was pink. Nora loved flowers and wearing hats. She was an excellent cook and baker. Her favorite hobbies included water coloring, knitting, gardening, tennis and croquet. 

She started her new chapter of her life in Saratoga Springs in 1995. She was a spiritual woman whose journey led her to become a member of Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church. She loved living in upstate New York and made many new friends.

Nora was preceded in death by her parents, Glen H. Colby and Alice Cooper; her brother, Glen Colby, Jr.; former husband Robert Salaway and her son, Charles R. Salaway.

She leaves behind her children Tracey Salaway, Peter (Kathy) Salaway, daughter-in-law Courtney Salaway; grandchildren, James (Michelle) Salaway, Matthew (Alexa Vavoules), Cooper (Chrissy Michele), Carson, Taylor, Karlee, Jackson, great-granddaughter Reagan; sister, Nancy (John) O’Reilly; nephews Sean, Christopher, Kevin, Glen, Greg and niece Lori.

The family would like to thank the Hospice team for providing all the wonderful guidance and comfort. We would also like to thank Nora’s friends and neighbors for being so supportive thoughout her illness.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Leonora can be made to Community Hospice, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 or your local animal shelter.

 For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com 

BALLSTON LAKE — Gunther Hubert Bartscherer died Friday, August 6, at the age of 87 in his home in Ballston Lake with family present. Gunther was born in Bruhl-Heide, Germany on September 8, 1933. His parents were Bertha Reuter, born in Solingen, Germany and Hubert Bartscherer, a mechanical engineer, born in Euskirchen, Germany. Gunther trained as an engineer in Germany and emigrated to America in 1949 to join established family. He became a proud citizen of the United States of America on June 5, 1957. He married Ruth Cronk of Little Falls, NJ on March 26, 1955. They lived in Kinnelon, New Jersey, before moving to Cambridge, NY in 1974, where he resided for over 30 years. 

Gunther created and owned Reuter’s Engraving Co. in Hoosick Falls, NY where they engraved steel and copper rolls used for embossing. Gunther also built a craft store in Hoosick Falls for his wife, Ruth, and continued to operate it after her death in 1988. In his retirement years, Gunther pursued his interest in the holistic and organic health field by operating a boutique health food store in Greenwich for eight years. He retired to Ballston Lake in 2011.

All his life, Gunther was an avid gardener and outdoorsman. He loved farming and raised Herefords that he taught his children to show at the annual county fair. Gunther and Ruth were strong advocates for their son, Douglas, and the local disabled community. Throughout his life, Gunther lobbied and wrote countless letters to local and state representatives supporting the mentally disabled. His son is disabled and lives in an Individual Residential Alternatives home.

Gunther is predeceased by his wife of 33 of years, Ruth Cronk Bartscherer and his brothers, Erich Bartscherer of Bruhl-Heide, Germany, and Kurt Bartscherer of Little Falls, NJ. He is survived by his sister, Helga Bartscherer Fruck of East Stroudsburg, PA; his son, Douglas Bartscherer of Ballston Spa; his daughters Heidi Bartscherer Hoyt of Saratoga Springs, and Susan Bartscherer of Watertown, NY; his two granddaughters, Angela Hoyt of Troy, NY and Gabrielle Hoyt, also of Saratoga Springs; his great-grandson Edwin of Saratoga Springs and close friend Sandy MacDonald of Naples, FL. 

Cremation and burial will be private. Donations may be made to Merck Forest & Farmland Center of Rupert, VT, Gunther’s happy place, and many hours of hiking. 

To offer condolences to the family, visit www.gariepyfuneralhomes.com. 

Arrangements are with the Ackley, Ross & Gariepy Funeral Home in Cambridge. www.merckforest.org

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Denise J. (Matrazzo) Kirkpatrick, 56, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2021 after a long illness. She was born on January 3, 1965, daughter of the late Francis and Judith Matrazzo. 

Denise was a homemaker and accomplished pastry chef who cherished time spent with her family. Denise was the kindest, most thoughtful person, she always put everyone before herself.

Denise is survived by her devoted husband of 27 years, Edward Kirkpatrick, her loving daughter Megan Kirkpatrick, brother Daniel (Susan) Matrazzo, sister Debbie (Gary) Thompson along with several nieces and nephews and great nieces, all of who she loved so dearly. 

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373). A funeral home service will be celebrated at 2 p.m.

Burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery will be private at a later date. 

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Rodney Ying and Dr. Amy Hogan-Moulton. 

Denise always loved everyone’s fur-babies; in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Denise can be made to Estherville Animal Shelter, 100 Russell Road, Greenfield Center, NY 12833.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com 

CLIFTON PARK — Patricia M. Hewitt, 90 passed 8/15/2021. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, 8/20/2021 at St. Mary’s Church, Ballston Spa. Burial following in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Schuylerville. Memorial donations to the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymore, PO Box 301, Garrison, NY 10524. www.burkefuneralhome.com 

RIDGELAND, SC — Mark French, 56, resident of Ridgeland, SC (hometown of Whitehall) passed away unexpectedly 8/15/2021. Calling hours 2 to 4 p.m., Friday, 8/20/2021 at Burke funeral home, funeral home service at 4 p.m. A celebration of life at the Knights of Columbus in Saratoga Springs will follow. Visit www.burkefuneralhome.com 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Betsy Jo Ann Fleming, 66, entered eternity on Saturday, August 14 after a lengthy battle following a stroke. There were no calling hours. A graveside service took place, Thursday, August 19, 2021 at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com