SARATOGA SPRINGS — Rose Mary Brownell, 87, passed away at the Wesley Health Care Center on December 24, 2020. Services will be held at the convenience of the family in the spring. Arrangements are under the direction of the Burke Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Visit burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS – In the overnight hours of December 29, 2020, Ann B. Whippen Argentine, age 70, of Saratoga Springs, passed away peacefully, after a hard fought and valiant year-long battle with lung cancer. She is survived by her adoring husband of 49 years, William and their daughter, Kimberly (Michael) Montelone; her grandchildren, Trinity and Cameron. Ann will also be fondly remembered by her brothers, George and Robert Whippen; her sister, Kathy (Whippen) Luisi and their families, as well as countless other family members, friends, and loved ones.

Born on July 2, 1950 in Quincy, Massachusetts, Ann met the love of her life, Bill, at the Neponset Drive-In Theater in Dorchester, and the rest is history. Together they spent time in Ocala, Florida, Quincy and Holbrook, Massachusetts, Clay, New York, and ultimately retired to Saratoga Springs. Always together, Bill doted on his beloved “Bunkie,” often coming home with treats to surprise her or taking her “calooping” on drives to nowhere, just to see what they could find together.

Ann adored her daughter Kim and her entire family, especially her two grandchildren. This love led Ann and Bill to move from the Syracuse area to Saratoga Springs upon her retirement in order to be close, even buying a home in the same neighborhood. For the past seven years she took virtually every opportunity she could to attend school functions, sporting events, and family gatherings in order to spend as much time with them as she could.

Since settling in Saratoga, Ann became very involved with the historic Church of St. Peter, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, as well as being a member and Regent of Court McLaughlin 422 Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She enjoyed being able to provide comfort and faith to those who needed it and found camaraderie and friendship in this Faith.

In recent years Ann and Bill discovered their love for the Adirondacks and camping, spending as many days as they could each summer in the “Estates” at the Loon Lake RV Park where they always found laughter, relaxation, and great friendship. Even as Ann’s strength waned this summer, Bill made sure she had opportunities to get to camp and enjoy a golf cart happy hour with their friends or a float on the lake.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers, friends, and loved ones that were there for Ann and the family while she was on her journey. A private funeral Mass will be held, with a memorial service celebrating her life to be held this summer. Kim and Bill ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Ann’s honor to the Mother Theresa Cancer Awareness Fund (mtcaf.org). 

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing and Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — James A. Murphy, Jr., of Middle Grove and Lake Desolation died on January 5, 2021. He was 84 years of age.

Born January 2, 1937 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY, he was the son of James A. Murphy of Brooklyn, and Agnes Dunn Murphy of Great Barrington, MA.

Mr. Murphy was a 1954 honors graduate of Midwood High School, Brooklyn, where he was an accomplished athlete on the track, swim and cross-country teams. He received his B.A. in 1958 from Williams College and his Juris Doctor degree in 1961 from Albany Law School. While at Williams College he was on the track and cross-country teams. In addition, he had the franchise for the delivery of the New York Herald Tribune on the entire Williams College campus. At Albany Law School he was a member of Law Review as an Associate Editor and also worked at the NYS Legislature for Senator Greenberg from Brooklyn.

Upon graduation he moved to Saratoga Springs where he practiced law with Joseph P. Duval and U.S. Congressman Carleton J. King. The firm of King & Duval later became King, Duval & Murphy. Mr. Murphy was instrumental in rejuvenating the Saratoga Springs Jaycees of which he became President. During his tenure he was the prime mover in bringing the Bog Meadow Winter Supply Pipeline to fruition. He was also a member in 1965 of the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals. Mr. Murphy ran for and was elected Mayor of Saratoga Springs in 1965. At that time, he held the record for being the youngest Mayor ever to be elected in the State of New York. He was re-elected in 1967. It was through his efforts that one of the first McDonald’s in the U.S. without the “golden arches” was built in Saratoga Springs. He continued to practice law with his father-in-law, Carleton J. King, until Mr. King’s death in 1977. During Mr. King’s 14 years in Congress, Mr. Murphy was the Congressman’s District Representative. Mr. Murphy sold his law practice in 1982 and then continued a limited selective solo law practice. 

During that time, he was a part-time law clerk for the Essex County Court and also was Town Attorney for the Town of Greenfield until December of 1993. He continued with the Town of Greenfield as Attorney for the two-million-dollar Urban Development Action Grant Fund until December of 2005. During this same period, he obtained approval for the 185-lot subdivision in Wilton known as Estates at Northern Pines of which he was part owner. In addition, he was instrumental in bringing to fruition the Excelsior Park Development at Exit 15 in which he was a part owner which encompasses a Marriot Residence Hotel and two buildings of condominiums.

Mr. Murphy was very active in the Saratoga County YMCA serving on numerous committees from 1975 to 1977. He was also the Saratoga County Coordinator for the 1976 Governor’s campaign of Senator James Buckley and a Republican Committeeman for ten years. In 1999 he was appointed as a member of the initial Client Advisory Council of the Fam Value Mutual Fund of Cobleskill, NY and served for two years.

He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the NYS Bar, the NYS Trial Lawyer’s Association, the NYS Defender’s Association, the Saratoga County Bar and Massachusetts Bar Association. He was also active in and a communicant of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Rock City Falls and in the winters at St. Patrick’s in the Overseas Territory of Montserrat in the West Indies. While on Montserrat he led hikes into the interior mountains on a weekly basis.

Surviving are his wife Constance King Murphy and three children, Saratoga County Court Judge James A. Murphy III (Laurie), Colleen M. Columbo (Richard) of Greenwich, CT and Constance M. Maddry (Tyler) of Great Falls, VA. In addition, he has five wonderful grandchildren, Caroline Kip Murphy, Conor James Maddry, Claire Montgomery Murphy, Richard James Columbo, and Ryan Murphy Columbo. Also surviving is his sister Jean Murphy McLeod of Fanny Bay, Vancouver Island, Canada.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there will be no calling hours. A private ceremony will be held at William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home in Saratoga Springs. Interment will be in the Middle Grove Cemetery near his home at Lake Desolation.

Following his graduation from Williams, as he felt strongly about the quality of education and financial assistance he had received, he established and funded the Murphy Family Scholarship Fund. The Fund provides financial assistance to worthy, qualified students from Brooklyn who would like to attend Williams College. In lieu of flowers, contributions, which are tax-exempt, may be sent to the Murphy Family Scholarship Fund, Williams College, Williamstown, MA 01267.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Patsy Ann (Putnam) Tompkins, 87, died 12/2/2020 at Wesley Heath Care Center.

Born 9/20/1933, she was the daughter of the late Edward A. and Irma C. (Gorham) Putnam. She was class secretary and graduate of Saratoga Springs HS. She began employment in 1951 as a secretary with the former Leary and Fullerton law office, the Carroll, Amyot and Doring firm, returning to the Leary, Fullerton, Ford and Aussicker law practice and then Ford, Jones and Hogan. In 1972, Pat worked in Saratoga Springs City Hall as secretary to three former city mayors, the late Sarto J. Smaldone, Raymond Watkin and Ellsworth J. Jones, retiring in 1990. 

In addition to her voracious interest in photography, Patsy enjoyed participating with many lifelong friends in bowling, golf, bocce, traveling, senior citizens bus trips and attending the Saratoga thoroughbred racing season and summer events. A lifelong member of the Church of St. Peter, she was a former board member of the Saratoga Springs Federal Credit Union, the old Firecracker Bowling league and the local ladies golf league.

Pat married the late Francis R. Tompkins on 6/7/1955 in St. Peter’s Church. 

Her family and friends are grateful to her former neighbors, the staff at the Home of the Good Shepherd in Malta and to the entire professional caregivers/employees at Wesley Health Care Center. Your sincere kindness, professional demeanor and friendship in caring for Patsy was unsurpassed.

Services will be postponed until spring (to be announced). At that time, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Church of St. Peter and burial will follow in the family plot at St. Peter’s Cemetery.

Memorials may be made in her name to the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway or Catholic Charities, 142 Regent St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. www.burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Richard A. Jones, 81, was called to rest on December 16, 2020. The family wishes to celebrate Richard’s life in private with a burial with military honors at the Saratoga National Cemetery to take place at a later date. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

GANSEVOORT — Ronald F. Johnson, 78, passed away on December 25, 2020. Memorial donations may be made to Saratoga Hospital Foundation, 211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Calling hours were December 30, 2020 with a graveside service at Greenridge cemetery on December 31. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

GREENFIELD CENTER — Mary Ann Bruchac Lynch passed away peacefully 1/3/21 surrounded by her family and her many artistic creations. The family will announce a celebration of Mary Ann’s life later this year. Many thanks for the care she was given by Community Hospice, especially Steve. burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sheila V. Levo, 81, entered eternal peace on December 28, 2020. A celebration of Sheila’s life will be planned later. Memorial donations may be made to the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, 211 Church St., Saratoga Springs. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Diane Christina Fallon Boylan, 76, of Saratoga Lake, died at Saratoga Hospital on December 18, 2020. Calling hours were Sunday, December 27, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home. Graveside services will take place in the spring at Greenridge Cemetery, Saratoga Springs. Visit burkefuneralhome.com

FORT ANN — Charles (Chuck) Allen fought his last battle of Viet Nam on December 26, 2020. Chuck’s “Celebration of Life” took place Saturday, January 2. Donations in memory of Chuck Allen have been requested to be made to the Barn at Double H Ranch at doublehranch.org/donate. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com.