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 Peggy Joan Paquette

QUEENSBURY, NY – Peggy Joan Paquette, 85, passed away on December 12, 2025. A Funeral Home Service will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, December 19 at Burke Funeral Home, 628 N Broadway. A Celebration of Life is from 5:30–8:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus, 50 Pine Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

Rob will forever remain in our hearts.

Memorial donations in Rob’s name may be made to Joseph’s House, 74 Ferry St. Troy, NY 12180. 

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

Robert W. Sponzo Jr.

CLIFTON PARK, NY- It is with immeasurable sorrow that we share the passing of Robert W. Sponzo Jr., a beloved son, father and friend on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the age of 57.

Rob was born on January 17, 1968 in Boston, MA and grew up in the greater upstate New York area.  He attended Albany Academy for Boys and Boston College.  He founded the Health Care Company Saramed, worked as a paramedic and most recently a Paralegal. 

Rob had many interests including golf, horse racing, travel and video games, but most of all his family and children.  Rob and his father were best friends and did many things together.  Rob was so proud of his children and their accomplishments, big or small.  He was a caring and compassionate man.

Rob is survived by his parents, Robert W. Sponzo MD and stepmother, Barbara, his children, Emma Sponzo and Nicolas Sponzo (fiancé Sage Brouilette).  He is also survived by his sister Amy (Rob) Kudla and stepsisters, Nicole (Jeff) Shakow and Karen Demyan.

He was predeceased by his mother, Donna Tofflemier.

Rob had a large extended family and group of friends who will miss him dearly.

Services will be private.  A Celebration of Rob’s life will be held in the Spring of 2026.  Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

Rob will forever remain in our hearts.

Memorial donations in Rob’s name may be made to Joseph’s House, 74 Ferry St. Troy, NY 12180. 

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

Thomas Francis Hornbach

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thomas Francis Hornbach passed away peacefully at home on December 9, 2025. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held January 10, at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, followed by a reception at 11:30 a.m. at the Italian American War Veterans Hall.  Condolences visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.

 Robert F. DeVoe, Jr.

WILTON – Robert F. DeVoe, Jr., 81, passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. At this time there are no funeral services scheduled. Condolences visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.

 James P. Morrissey

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – James P. Morrissey, 93, passed away on December 12, 2025. Visitation was on Thursday December 18 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 149 Lake Ave. followed by a funeral service and burial in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, 200 Duell Rd. please visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.

 Lynne M. Cassidy

Saratoga Springs – Lynne M. Cassidy, age 60, passed away on December 12, 2025, at Albany Medical Center. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 12 – 2PM at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Online condolences may be made at compassionatefuneralcare.com.

Theresa Twomey

Wilton – Theresa Twomey, 89, passed away on December 11. Calling hours were held Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Compassionate Funeral Care, Saratoga Springs. A funeral service followed at 12:30 p.m., with graveside services at 1:30 p.m. at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.

Lyle DeVore

July 31, 1971 – December 11, 2025

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Lyle DeVore of Malta, NY, and East Nassau, NY, passed away December 11, 2025, at St. Peter’s Hospital (Albany, NY) after a long and courageously fought battle with cancer. His family and friends are deeply saddened by his death, but at peace knowing he is at rest. 

Lyle was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and nephew known for his passion for life and for his family and friends, all of whom are dedicated to carrying on his legacy. He is survived by his wife, Marcy Mangino DeVore; his beloved daughter and son-in-law, Mia and Patrick Meehan; his mother, Carole DeVore; his sister, Glenda DeVore; his uncle, George DeVore and his wife, Tina; his aunts, Patricia Heishman, Marlene Powers, and June Hunter; and several cousins. He was pre-deceased by his devoted father, Stanley “Stan da Man” DeVore, and Rosco, his faithful canine companion for many years. 

Lyle was born 54 years ago in Saratoga Springs, NY. His entire life was devoted to family and racing. He graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1989 and LeMoyne College in 1993.   From the age of 8 years until his passing, Lyle devoted his professional life to racing, influencing the lives of many in the racing industry. 

Within hours of Lyle’s passing, tributes began to pour in from around the country—from those to whom he was a friend, from race fans, from race teams, to the most influential in the racing industry. You did not need to know Lyle personally to have your life touched by his passion and dedication, not just to dirt racing, but to the entire racing industry.  

Lyle began his career in the racing industry the same way he ended it—at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, NY. Initially, he picked stones from the dirt surface and collected trash on the track property so he could get in for free the next weekend. The last 14 years of his life he was the A-S Speedway track manager and promoter, fulfilling his childhood dream. 

Lyle made Albany-Saratoga Speedway one of the most successful racetracks in the country, averaging 140 cars weekly for the past few years. His work ethic, commitment, strength, and determination to be the best promoter he could be is unmatched. 

Lyle’s perseverance, dedication, and contribution to local and national dirt racing led to the honor of being selected by his peers as the national RPM (Racing Promotion Monthly) Auto Racing Promoter of the Year in 2020 and 2022. In 2024, Lyle was inducted as a member of the Northeast Dirt Modified Hall of Fame (Weedsport, NY). 

Lyle was a member of the vanishing breed of promoters and track managers who are not afraid to get their hands dirty preparing the track surface, unclogging lavatories and track plumbing, deciding the year’s schedule, enticing track sponsors, attending to all details related to opening and closing the gates on time, and everything in between.  He was as skilled with a grader and water truck as he was with people. 

As the track race director, he was best known for his raspy “yellow, yellow, yellow” that drivers would hear over the one-way radio, sometimes embellished by his other comments on their driving performance. He managed both verbal and social media comments with his honest viewpoints, and whether you agreed or not, you knew everything he said came from his first-hand knowledge and his heart.

Relatives and friends may call from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. 

Church Services will be on Sunday, December 21, at 2 p.m. at Malta Ridge Methodist Church, 729 Malta Avenue Ext., Malta, NY 12020. 

Burial will be in the Spring. 

A celebration of life will be held at Albany-Saratoga Speedway in the spring, date to be determined.

The family wants to thank The Community Hospice of Rensselaer, NY, Dr. Lawrence E. Garbo of NYOH Albany, NY, and Dr. Haiyang Tao (Saratoga Springs, NY) for their compassionate care given to Lyle. The family also wants to thank all family and friends for their kind words, love, prayers, and support at this challenging time.

In place of flowers, the family requests donations be considered for the Rensselaer County Hospice (295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144) or the American Cancer Society (33 Everett Road, Albany, NY 12205), dedicated to Metastatic Cancer Research.  Donations can also be made on the organization’s websites. 

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

Mary Ellen Scherer

COHOES – Mary Ellen Scherer passed away December 6, 2025. She was surrounded in love by her family and the caring staff of Eddy Village Green in Cohoes, NY.  A funeral and burial to honor and celebrate her life will be held in the spring of 2026. For condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.

Gerald R. Carter

WILTON – Gerald R. Carter passed away December 5, 2025, in the comfort of his home in Wilton.  There will be a Celebration of Jerry’s Life at the Gansevoort Volunteer Fire Dept., 1870 Rte. 32N, Wilton, NY, on December 27 at 1:00 pm.  All are welcome.  For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com.