Webster J. Nesselhauf

Webster J. Nesselhauf, 89 of Sarasota, Florida died Sept. 23, 2004.

He was born April 5, 1915, in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Sarasota in 1970 from Garden City, NY. He retired as a food wholesaler to the bakery industry in the New York and Long Island area. He graduated from the Packard Business School. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Garden City Community Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Gail Yook of Louden, Tenn; sons W. John of Zephyrhills, FL and James of Bradenton, FL, a sister, Elise Davis of Chatham NJ; and seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Mabel A. Nesselhauf and daughter Janice Gregory. Services will be private.

...... John B. Baxter

John B. Baxter, a retired textile executive and former mayor of Garden City, NY, died September 28, 2004 in Belleair, Fla. He was 97 years old.

Mr. Baxter joined his father’s textile manufacturing firm, Baster, Kelly & Faust, Inc., New York City in 1928 after his graduation from Holy Cross College, Worcester, MA. The firm, founded in 1878 by his grandfather and namesake, John Brady Baxter, was sold in 1970 by Mr. Baxter and his late brothers Gerard T. and Robert B. Baxter.

Mr. Baxter was born in Brooklyn, NY, the son of John E. Baxter and Katherine V. Byrne. He married Marion F. Reynolds and in April 1990 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Baxter died in October 1990. Mr. Baxter was married to Dorothy Sanders Hamlin of Belleair, Florida, in September 1992, in New York City.

A former resident of Garden City, Long Island, Mr. Baxter was first elected a Trustee of the Village in 1957, serving as Commissioner in various posts for six years, and elected Mayor from 1963-65.

Mr. Baxter was elected a Trustee of the Emigrant Savings Bank, Brooklyn, NY in 1957, and had been a member of the Board of Lay Advisors of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, Silver Springs, MD.

In addition to his wife Dorothy, Mr. Baxter is survived by his daughter Marion R. of LaGrange Park, IL, three sons: John B. Jr. of New York City, Richard R. (Brother Jordan, S.T.) of Silver Spring, MD, Thomas G. Baxter of Westport, CT; a stepdaughter, Hebe Sanders Dowling of New York City, a stepson Michael Sanders of Clearwater, FL; nineteen grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two sons, Peter B. and Anthony C. Baxter and great grandson Andrew Brady Kohn.

Lt. Colonel Vincent R. Ray, Jr.

Lt. Col. Vincent R. Ray, Jr., 55, of Heidlburg, Germany, died Sunday, September 19, 2004 after a brief illness. A Garden City resident for many years, Dr. Ray was graduated from Garden City High School, and received his undergraduate degree from Fairfield University. He earned his dentistry degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine after which he entered the U.S. Army. Dr. Ray retired from the Army last year with the rank of Lt. Colonel.

He is survived by his wife, Sharlene, and his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Vincent Ray, and his sister, Suzanne Cleary, of Garden City. A memorial mass is scheduled for October 14, 2004 at St. Anne’s Church.