LAKE BOMOSEEN, VT — God welcomed home one of His angels. Michael Paul Ripchik passed away at his home in Lake Bomoseen on January 17, 2023 at the age of  59. For those who had the chance to meet Mike, they know how truly special he was. He brought smiles and a warmth of unconditional love to everyone he touched. Michael was born on June 11, 1963, in Saratoga Springs.

Mike was always around sports and loved his professional wrestling. He was a lifelong “Blue Streak” fan. There wouldn’t be a week that passed that Mike wasn’t seen wearing either a WWE shirt or the Riddell practice jersey that he got from the HS football coach. He followed his favorite athlete Tom Brady, rooting on the Patriots and then Buccaneers. Mike participated and supported the Special Olympics and especially enjoyed watching his nieces and nephews play in all of their games and matches either in person or online.

Mike was one of the first students to be part of the Saratoga ARC program who would also learn a skill as part of Saratoga BOCES. Prior to his retirement he would use what he learned at school in several jobs. He worked as a kitchen helper at the O’Bryan Inn, and Saint Clement’s Parish, and also as a volunteer worker at Lee Community Health Care Nursing Home. However, the jobs he enjoyed the most were as an usher and greeter at St Columbkille Church, and the “Mayor” of Cinnamon Cove. Mike could be seen every weekend when he was in Florida smiling and saying hello to the parishioners as they entered. In the neighborhood he could often be seen laying in the sun, swimming at the pool, or playing a game of billiards at the clubhouse in his Fort Myers, FL community. Mike was bigger than life, and he couldn’t be missed riding around the neighborhood on his bike wearing his official title hat for everyone to see.

Michael is survived by his mother and father, Suzanne and Paul Ripchik, his brother and sister Paul Ripchik Jr (Amy) and Ann Laros (Adrian), and his five nieces and nephews loved him dearly; Spencer and Ellie Ripchik, Aidan, Adam and Allison Laros. He was predeceased by his Nana and Poppi, Dorothy and Arthur Boddette, and Mamere and Papere, Theresa and Peter Ripchik. His family meant the world to him, and their lives have been enriched by his love.

A memorial service will be held on June 10, 2023 at St. Peter’s Church in Vergennes, VT. This was the church that Michael grew up going to as a young boy. A reception will be held following at his home in Bomoseen, Vermont. His final resting place will be at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Fort Myers, FL.

Michael could often be seen watching commercials for St Jude’s Research Hospital. Mike was always giving away the dollars he had in his wallet. You could know that Mike would sneak a couple in your card or a letter that he might send. His family would ask that in lieu of flowers that a donation be made in Mike’s name to St. Jude’s www.stjude.org/give/memorials-and-dedications.html

SAN DIEGO, CA — Waylon Edward “Bucky” Loftis, long-time Saratoga Springs, NY resident, passed away on December 21, 2023 in San Diego, California where he lived with his cherished wife and children. Waylon, 33, was a loving and devoted husband, father, son and brother. He is much loved and adored and will be forever missed by his family and friends. 

Waylon was born to Keith and Sheri (Boucher) Loftis on June 3, 1990, at Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa, California. He was the baby brother to Cody, Jacob, Candace, Rhiannon, and Keith James. He was a very passionate and devoted husband to Kandace Loftis and the most amazing and loving father to both Wyatt and Wesson Loftis. 

After graduation from Saratoga Springs High School, Waylon moved back to his hometown of El Cajon, California. He loved working with his brother Keith James at Loftis Motorsports. There he met his best friend and the LOVE of his life, Kandace Guevara, on June 8, 2008. They both were 18 years old, and it was love at first sight! They married on September 1, 2016. From this beautiful union they were blessed with two beautiful mini-Waylon’s, Wyatt Jameson Loftis (9 yrs. old) and Wesson Kash Loftis (6 yrs. old). Waylon was the most patient, compassionate, and warmhearted father his sons could ask for. His family was his “heart,” his world and everything he looked forward to. He took every opportunity to teach his boys all that he knew. His sons will forever cherish memories and lessons learned from spending time with their beloved father fishing, hunting, skateboarding, BMX riding, and working on automobiles. Above all, he taught them to be proud respectful young men. 

Waylon felt honored to be part of a brotherhood with the Local 229 as an Ironworker. Waylon never failed to pass up an opportunity to show his wittiness or play a good joke while working with his fellow Rod Buster brothers. 

Waylon was fun-loving—he loved to surf and snowboard. He was kind-spirited, giving, and there is nothing he wouldn’t do for someone in need. Waylon had an immense impact on everyone he came across during his lifetime and will be forever missed by us all. 

Rest in peace, Bucky. I love you, Momma

AMSTERDAM — William “Bill” Blake Jr. passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2023, following a recent stroke. He was 83.

Bill was born in West Burke, VT on May 7, 1939. From an early age, he loved to fish and hunt. He dreamed he’d grow up to be like singing cowboy Gene Autry or Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Gil Hodges. Although he never mastered yodeling, he did hit over .400 playing first base in high school. But his ambitions soon changed the first time he saw his father’s harness horse race in Montreal. The thrill he felt watching that horse go from last to first over the course of a mile was like watching the Dodgers beat the Yankees in 1955, but it happened in 2 ½ minutes! He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be sitting behind that horse, guiding it to victory. Over the span of 50+ years, Bill got to experience that feeling himself repeatedly, having driven and trained countless horses into the Winner’s Circle.

After serving his country in the Army, Saratoga Harness became Bill’s home once he met Barbara LaRouech, who groomed horses for her father. The two were married in 1966 and raised four daughters as they worked alongside each other with the horses until her passing in 2000. Having already been inducted into the Saratoga Hall of Fame in 2006, glaucoma forced Bill to retire in 2016. Otherwise, he would’ve still been training horses. That’s who he was. Hard-working. Humble. Dependable. He’d give you the shirt off his back in the middle of winter and say he was hot anyway. To his family, he was their anchor. No matter how turbulent the sea got, he kept things grounded. He was as steady and as decent a man as you will ever find, and he will be deeply missed.

Besides his wife, Barbara, Bill is predeceased by his father and mother, William and Lila Blake; his brothers Bernard, Clifton and Wendell; his mother and father-in-law, Elizabeth and Clyde Revier, and his father-in-law Fred LaRouech.

Bill is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Darcy and Steven Alheim of Moreau, daughters Laury Blake and Shelley Blake of Saratoga, daughter and son-in-law Billie and Anthony DeLuca of Greenwich; sisters Wilma Fournier and Marylyn Blake of VT, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Carol and Edward McNeil of Ft. Edward, brother-in-law Fred LaRouech of IL; grandchildren Rachael and Kenneth Ricks, Nicole and Amanda Malfer-Compton, Tyler Hendrickson, Brennan DeBates and Rylee DeLuca, five great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 3-5 p.m. on Monday, January 30, 2023 with Military Honors bestowed at 4:45 p.m. at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. A Celebration of Life will be held on May 7, 2023. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or The Glens Falls Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com