Artman, Dean
February 27, 2008

Dr. H. Dean Artman, 81, of Pittsfield died Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at Illini Community Hospital in Pittsfield.
H. Dean Artman was born May 26, 1926 in Detroit, Mich., to Henry Ferdinand Artman and Cornelia Randa Artman, and was raised in the Detroit suburb of Huntington Woods. Immediately following his graduation from Royal Oak High School in 1944, he joined the US Navy and received training in the operation and maintenance of boilers at Naval Station Great Lakes and the Philadelphia Navy Yard. He was subsequently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Franklin and was aboard when she was attacked on 19 March 1945, leaving her the most severely damaged ship to subsequently make port under her own power in World War II. Following his rescue by the USS Hunt, he served the remainder of the war on destroyers.
After the war, he received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the Northern Illinois College of Optometry in September of 1949 and practiced optometry in the Chicago area and in Kewanee before settling in Pittsfield in early 1955.
Feb.13, 1956, he married Cornelia Green Graham in Effingham and she predeceased him Feb. 8, 1984. He married Arliss Tucker Godfrey Jan.9, 1987 in Pittsfield and she survives.
Dr. Artman examined eyes and prescribed glasses in Pittsfield from his arrival until he retired in the early 1990’s. He volunteered extensively for the Pittsfield Lions Club for many years. His main avocations were golf, boating, and reading and he was still playing golf as recently as November, 2007. He was a founding member of Old Orchard County Club in Pittsfield and had been a member of the Con Trios Yacht Club and in the St. Louis area. He also enjoyed traveling with Arliss following his retirement.
He is survived by one son, Eric, of Tiburon, Calif.; four stepdaughters, Barbee Swofford (Ken) of Pacific Grove, Calif., Linda Smith (Richard) of Traverse City, Mich., Susan Moses (Michael) of Chicago and Joan Benz (Don) of Payson; 12 grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren.
Visitation was from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26 and services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, both at the Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield. Rev. Linda Peyla officiated. Burial was at the West Cemetery in Pittsfield with military graveside rites by the Pittsfield American Legion Post 152. There was a lunch following the services at the United Methodist Church in the Orr Hall. Those wishing to send contributions in lieu of flowers may donate to the Pittsfield Lion’s Club in furtherance of their assistance to those with vision problems.
The Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is serving the family of Dr. H. Dean Artman. Condolences may be sent to info@nieburfh.com.

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ABATE, Dominick A. Sr. Dominick A. “Zugo” Abate, Sr. 82, of Wethersfield, formerly of Hartford, passed away on Wednesday, (September 13, 2006) after a long illness. He was born September 14, 1923 in Hartford and was the son of the late Rafael and Mary (Saccoco) Abate. He attended Barnard Brown School and Hartford Public High School. A veteran of the US Navy, he was stationed at the Brooklyn Naval Yard and worked on the damaged aircraft carrier USS FRANKLIN, during World War II. He was employed for many years at the Veeder-Root Manufacturing Co, the D.H.R. Construction Co., Smith and Fazzina Meat Packing Co. and after retiring he worked for the Hartford Courant. Growing up as a boy in the north end of Hartford, he helped his father and brothers with the family pigeon coop, wine making and the constant chore of chopping wood for the stove. He excelled as an amateur boxer and as a hard throwing southpaw pitcher in the Industrial League and the Twilight Baseball leagues of Hartford. He continued his love of baseball playing in several Fast Pitch Softball Leagues throughout the area, pitching into his 60’s. Later, Bocci, Horseshoes and Duck Pin bowling became the focus of his competitive spirit. He also served as a volunteer coach for the Hartford Parks and Recreation Department and the Jaycee Courant Junior and Senior Baseball Leagues. He found immense love and joy in his family and in the simple pleasures of life; good friends, singing, music, food, Roger Staubach, cooking, card playing and especially laughter. We are very proud of the many life lessons taught to us by our father. Through his words and actions, he showed us the meaning of “family”. He has now joined his best friend and wife, of 59 years, our mother, Loretta (McNeil) Abate in Heaven. The Abate family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Riverside Health and Rehab Facility of East Hartford and the staff at the Hartford Hospital Intensive Care Unit for the professional and compassionate care given to our father. He is survived by his children, June Cook of Tolland, Bobby Abate and his wife, Lisa of Rocky Hill and John Abate and his wife, Ceil of South Windsor. He was predeceased by a son, Dominick and a grandson, Jason and is survived by 10 grandchildren, Becky, Tommy, Sarah, Dominick, Tara, Darci, Bobby, Brie, Jesse and Evan, 5 great grandchildren,Jason, Kayla, Alexis, Anthony and Dominick, a brother, Ralph Abate and his wife, Mary of Tucson, Arizona, a daughter-in-law, Joanne (Santoro) Abate of Hartford and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son-in-law, Douglas Cook, a brother, Joseph Abate, sisters, Mary Cusano, Elizabeth Rossano and Teresa Quinton. Funeral service will be Monday at 9 a.m. from the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd. Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church, Main Street, Hartford. The burial will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford with full military honors. Calling hours are Sunday (Sept. 17) from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Dominick’s name may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit http://www.desopo.com

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McCrary, Robert D. Ens. 1st Div. Capt. Ret.

Surrounded by his loving family, Captain Robert Davison McCrary, U.S. Navy (Ret) passed away peacefully on November 15, 2011, due to complications following a heart operation. He was 88 years old. The son of a naval aviator, Bob was born in 1923 in Lakewood, NJ while his father was stationed at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station. As a Navy Junior, Bob moved often as his father was stationed at various locations throughout the country. Bob met the love of his life, Ann, at Coronado High School in the late ’30s when their fathers were both stationed at North Island Naval Air Station. Bob was in his first year as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy when the U.S. entered World War II and his class (1945) was accelerated to graduate a year early in June of 1944. He married Ann after graduating and soon departed to join his first ship, USS Franklin (CV-13) in the South Pacific. Bob received the Silver Star Medal for heroic actions after the Franklin was severely damaged by Japanese dive bombers prior to the invasion of Okinawa. During his 30-year naval career, Bob served on ten ships and in five shore assignments, with three of his assignments as Commanding Officer. Many of his assignments were in San Diego. Bob retired from the Navy in Virginia Beach, VA and briefly worked for Raytheon as a government contractor. When he retired from business, he and Ann became more active in their local church and the Young Life Christian youth organization. As adult lives took their children farther from home, Bob and Ann decided to return to Coronado in 1998 to enjoy the weather, old friends, and to be close to part of their family. Bob continued his involvement with Young Life in Coronado and he and Ann became very active in St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Bob was also an active member of the Coronado Chapter of the Optimist’s Club. Bob was a patriot, a war hero, a military leader, a devoted husband, a wise and caring father, a good neighbor, and a devout Christian. He had a wry sense of humor, loved to do things with his grandchildren, and generously contributed his services and other resources to a variety of religious and community programs. He will be dearly missed by his family and a wide circle of friends. Bob was preceded in death by his father, CAPT Frank McCrary, U.S. Navy (Retired), his mother, Mary McCrary, and his brother, CDR Shannon McCrary, U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Ann McCrary, his sister, Mary Ann Thomas (Ralph) of San Rafael, CA, his three children, CAPT M. Shannon McCrary, U.S. Navy (Retired) (Mary Pat) of Coronado, Mandy Kirk (Brad) of Jacksonville, FL, and Cyd Redfield of Coronado, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrance contributions be made in Bob’s name to the St Paul’s United Methodist Youth Fund.