In Memoriam

Mary U. Sweeney

Mary U. Sweeney (Goodwin), 92, of Garden City, passed away peacefully May 25, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Thomas F. Sweeny, Sr.

Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Owen F. and Ann F. (Farrelly) Goodwin. Before retirement in 1980, Mary was an Elementary School Teacher at P.S. 82, Jamaica, New York, for over twenty years. She was a graduate of Saint Xavier Academy, Providence, Class of 1935, and Rhode Island College, Class of 1939. She was a member of both School Alumni Associations. She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church, Garden City, and an avid bridge club player. She leaves a son, Thomas F. Sweeny, Jr. and his wife Helen, of Troy, NY; three daughters, Susan H. Sheehy and her husband John, primary care givers, of Garden City, Mary Ursula Perrier and her husband Jacques, of Paris France, and Anne F. Houin, of New Orleans, LA; two brothers, Reverend Owen F. Goodwin, ss.cc., of Fairhaven MA, and Thomas N. Goodwin, of North Providence; four sisters, Jane A. Goodwin, of North Providence, Ann F. Masse, of Warwick, Ellen M. Myers, of Providence, and Catherine M. Murphy, of East Greenwich; twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She was a sister of the late Edward J. Goodwin and Peter K. Goodwin.

There were visiting hours and a prayer service held in the Barnes-Sorrentino Funeral Home, West Hempstead. Funeral Services were held at Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, Providence. Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in the Church of Blessed Sacament, Academy Avenue, Providence. Graveside burial in Saint Ann Cemetery, Cranston.

Gerald Dennehy

Gerald Dennehy, 86, died suddenly at the Peconic Bay Medical Center on June 6, 2009. Born in Brooklyn as one of four sons of Charles and Philomena Dennehy, he grew up in Garden City and spent most if his life in New York. After graduating from Garden City High School, he went to MIT and graduated in 1944 with a degree in engineering. He joined Pan American Airways, where he was involved in the final years of operation of the Clipper Ships in flights over the North Atlantic. During the Korean War he served in the US Air Force as an aircraft development officer and was honorably discharged in 1955.

After the Air Force he moved to Setauket, where he continued to pursue a career in the aviation industry. He worked for a division of Fairchild Aircraft and became director of marketing. In 1964 he joined W. E. Hutton and Co. as an analyst specializing in the aviation industry. He was general partner from 1969 until the firm closed in 1974. He then joined Brookhaven National Laboratory, where he managed a newly formed, energy conservation unit.

After retiring in 1986, he and Peggy moved to Orient, where they became active members of the Oysterponds Historical Society. He remarried in 1996 he moved to Quogue, where he resided until his death. Through out his retirement he continued to enjoy gardening, his principal hobby. Until the day of his death he was a devoted reader of the New York Times.

His wife of fifty years, Margherita H. Mori Dennehy, predeceased him in 1995. He is survived by his second wife, Dorothy Pape Devaney Dennehy, three children, Peter N. Dennehy of Barrington, Rhode Island; Deirdre Roettinger of Middleton, Rhode Island; and Nancy Eichacker of Silver Spring, Maryland. He is also survived by sons in law Walter Roettinger, MD, and Peter Eichacker, MD, and daughter in law, Penelope H. Dennehy, MD. , a sister, Betty Leyser of Florida , seven grandchildren Johanna Dennehy and Peter M. Dennehy; Alexis J. Roettinger, MD, Katherine P.Gibbs, and Walter F. Roettinger; and Nina and Charles Eichacker) and one great-grandchild Sanna Gibson, stepson William T. Wegner and five step grandchildren.

A private graveside service will be held at Orient Cemetery. Any donations on his behalf are requested to be made to the Oysterponds Historical Society in Orient, New York.

Eleanor Smith Joseph

Eleanor Smith Joseph, also known as Mrs. Franklin H. Joseph, a Garden City resident for 70 years, has died. She was 98 years old.

Mrs. Joseph was born on November 25, 1911. She was married to the late Frederick B. Woodworth from 1937 to 1979 and Franklin H. Joseph since February, 1987.

She had four sons: Donald L. of Northport; Norman B., deceased; Lawrence M. of Huntington; and Warren F., M.D. of England. She also had eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Joseph attended Wellesley College in 1929. She also attended Guilmant Organ School, where she studied with Frederick Baldwin, Maurice Garabrant, Ernest Mitchell, Frank Harrat and Robert K. Kennedy.

Mrs. Joseph held positions at Holy Trinity Church in Valley Stream, and St. John's of Lattingtown and Locust Valley beginning in 1933.

She was the accompanist for the Men's Choral Society of Cedarhurst and the South Shore Glee Club, a member of the Long Island Choral Society and director of the Nassau Philharmonic. She played in many of the cathedrals in South America and the Philippines.

Mrs. Joseph was also an active member of the American Guild of Organists, American Cancer Society, Nassau and Garden City Historical Societies and a lifelong member of the Community Club of Garden City and Hempstead.

In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City or your favorite charity.