Webster, NY, at age 94

“We begin to remember not that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget.”

Sam has peacefully followed his journey to heaven for his long-awaited reunion with family and loved ones. Predeceased by his wife, Mary and daughters Donna & Janice Tripi, brothers & sisters and loving companion, Connie Profeta. Sam is survived by his sons & daughters in law, Joseph (Holly) & Sam (Rosa) Tripi; grandsons, Craig (Gwen) Hargrave, Jaiden, Sal, Joseph & Michael Tripi.

Sam was born in Rochester, NY, to his parents Giuseppe & Maria Tripi. At the young age of 18, he ran the family hardware store until he was drafted to the Army, serving in the Korean War. Prior to leaving, he became engaged to the love of his life, Mary Cianciola. Upon his return home, he and Mary were married and eventually welcomed 4 children, Donna, Janice, Joseph, and Salvatore.

Sam opened his own barbershop on the corner of Norton and Goodman streets in Irondequoit. Tripi’s Style Shop was an iconic place not only for haircuts, but good times and memories. Back in the day, everyone got a haircut from “Sam the Barber.” He first worked beside his brother, John, and then later with his brother, Fred. Sam was a hardworking man. Along with running the barbershop, he drove a truck for the Democrat & Chronicle for 25 years.

Sam built a home for his family in Mendon. For 47 years, he commuted back and forth to the barbershop until he finally retired and sold his shop. Sam and Mary enjoyed dancing and could beautifully glide across any dance floor. They would spend many nights playing cards with “the Club” and enjoyed their tight knit friendships.

Sadly, Sam & Mary lost their oldest daughter, Donna, as a child. They celebrated 42 years of a loving marriage, when Mary lost her battle to cancer at the age of 64. He became Papa to 4 handsome grandsons to carry on the family name, Jaiden, Sal, Joey, and Michael. They were his world and he set a great example of what it means to be a Tripi—a good, honest man—passing on his wisdom so they will carry his legacy with them.

After some time, Sam began a relationship with his loving companion of 20 years, Connie. They spent time dancing, traveling, and enjoying both of their families until her passing. He unexpectedly lost his daughter, Janice, to Covid in 2021.

Sam had many friends and anyone who knew him, loved him. He liked to laugh, listen to music, play golf, and spend time with family. He was a blessing and taught us what it means to show unconditional love. In his last days, he often talked about his desire to join his heavenly family and friends. His passing was peaceful, and he was surrounded by the love and support of his family.

Calling hours were held Sunday, 9/17/23, at Falvo Funeral Home, 1295 Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd. Webster. His Funeral Mass was held on Monday 9/18/23 @ 10:30 am at St. Rita’s Church, 1008 Maple Drive, Webster.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UR HomeCare/Hospice in his memory.

A special thank you to Heather, Jill, and Kim for your support during Sam’s final days.

Private interment with immediate family, next to his wife and daughters at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

Falvo Funeral Home

Posted online on September 15, 2023

Published in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Square dancers remember Sal…

From Carl Webster (in the Cloverleafs Newsletter):

“We learned that former Cloverleaf member Sal Tripi had passed away on September 12th. Sal (Sam or Salvatore) and his wife Mary were members of the 1994 board of directors for the Belles ’n’ Beaus square dance club as social directors. The June/July/August 1995 PROMENADER reported that his wife, Mary, passed away shortly afterwards. Sal with his long-time companion of 20 years, Connie Profeta, served as social directors for the Belles ’n’ Beaus club in 2003. Sal took the opportunity to participate in many extracurricular activities with other square dance friends, such as golfing and murder mystery parties. While Sal had not been dancing for a while, he will be missed by his square dance friends.”

From Kate DiNolfo (posted September 16, 2023, on the D&C obituary page):

“My dear friend, Sal, was one of the finest, kindest, most generous men I know. A true gentleman. His sense of humor was beyond the best. He made me and so many others laugh so many times over the years—whether square dancing or playing golf, he was a joy to be around. His love of family was deep, and I send my sympathies to all of you. I will miss him very much. He was a gift to all of us.”

Gilbert B. Porter, III of Fairport, NY passed away peacefully on October 10, 2023, He was 76. He was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Porter and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert B. Porter, Jr. of Baltimore, MD. He is survived by his partner, Geraldine Schwartz, of Pittsford, and her family, and by many dear friends.

Gil was an extraordinary man. In addition to being a physicist, scientist, engineer, philosopher, inventor and visionary, he was a concert pianist, a gourmet chef, a Ham radio operator, and a decades-long Square Dance caller (over 50 years). He was especially interested in robotics, artificial intelligence, and the origins of the Universe. He was also a Tesla enthusiast who enjoyed being a beta driver for his Y-Series Tesla.

As a young boy, Gil loved to ride his bike and would take off for the day to go exploring, always being home in time for dinner. He would often go to the library, as his haven, and read massive amounts of books. He was self-taught in technology and electronics and loved to play around and create new devices. He would often scavenge the dumps looking for parts that he could use on the various projects he was working on. His mother was his go-to person. However, she knew nothing about science and technology, and would be baffled when he would describe to her the project he was working on.

At his high school in Baltimore, Gil was one of the very first radio station engineers. He also began working for a local electronic design company where his passion for designing advanced electronic products and circuits really took off. While still in high school, Gil worked side-by-side with a team of professional engineers, where he designed his own power transducers and a chopper stabilized amplifier, among other things. Later he worked for a local electronics shop where he helped to identify parts and build various electronics. The shop owner would often give parts to Gil, which he would take home and build new ideas for semiconductors.

In his career, he worked as a Senior Scientist for GE Corporate Research Department and as a Principal Scientist for Xerox. He worked on many projects for the military, built computers, designed and developed new technological and electronic products and components, and performed various types of research and experimentation. He often came up with new ideas and would design them for fun, and for a challenge, and often it would be five or six years later when the company would realize how much they needed that particular design. He was a brilliant and innovative scientist and engineer who especially enjoyed the challenge of creating solutions and ideas for what others considered impossible.

Even with his high IQ and engineering brilliance, Gil was a very gentle and modest man, very kind and down-to-earth, who especially enjoyed spending time with his close friends and comrades.

His education included a Bachelor’s in Engineering Science, Electrical and Electronics Engineering from John Hopkins University, a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Rochester—William E. Simon School of Businesss and a PhD, Doctor of Philosophy, Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Gil will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. His memory will forever live on in the hearts of his family and friends.

A special Square Dance Celebration to honor Gil and his life was held on November 11th, sponsored by the Village Squares, with about 115 dancers attending.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Gilbert Porter to the Palliative Care Program at Strong Memorial Hospital, U of R Medical Center. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/medicine/palliative-care/giving.aspx

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Rochester Cremation—Henrietta on Oct. 14, 2023.

The Village Squares appreciate Gil Porter (by Peter Emmel)

As most of you know, Gil succeeded Jerry Carmen as caller for the Village Squares club in 2017. Some of you knew Gil before that as an engineer at Xerox. Even before that he helped form a square dance club in New England where he called for many years.

Gil and Jerry made an interesting duo, both bringing an engineering mentality to square dance calling, and both motivated to raise the level of dancing skills in our club. For our part, we dancers felt either the resulting thrill of learning new variations or the frustration of finding out we didn’t really know the “familiar” calls as well as we thought. We were very lucky to have such a talented caller—and by now familiar friend—as Gil to keep us dancing and learninng.

During the COVID “pause” that made in-person dancing impossible, Gil pioneered “virtual square dancing” via Zoom—forming a group that called itself the Pandemic Squares. After working out the kinks, he helped other area callers get themselves set up for remote calling.

(For anyone interested, courtesy of Joseph Carlino, I have an mp4 recording of Gil as a square dance caller coach. And, courtesy of Sidney Marshall, I have audio files of some of Gil’s favorite square dance tunes—just the music and lyric sheets, no vocal. I’ll be glad to provide copies on request: p.emmel47@gmail.com)

Carl O. Thomas was born June 3, 1935, and was raised in Texas and Oklahoma by his grandmother and mother. He attended college in Texas, living at home and working summers as a roustabout in the oil fields. In 1959 he moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the U.S. Patent Office and attended George Washington Law School at night. He met his wife Susan in 1961 as she was entering her junior year at college in NYC. They were married four days after Susan graduated.

From 1964 to 1970, Carl worked as a Patent Attorney for General Electric. He was later recognized for his role in GE’s provision of fuel cells to the Gemini space program during those years. In 1970 Carl joined Eastman Kodak, the largest employer in Rochester, NY. He secured patents around the world for T-grains, the “magic ingredient” behind the introduction of high-speed film.

Carl was always “doing something,” preferably outside. As an early convert to Kenneth Cooper’s Aerobics (1968), he jogged daily for 50 years, one year hitting a target of 1,000 miles. He and Susan bicycled extensively and spent many winter vacations on the Gulf Coast of Florida, first with their two younger children and later with their favorite bridge companions, Susan’s parents Ruby and Maurice.

Ever the naturalist, over the years Carl undertook projects in the yard ranging from construction of an ingenious tree fort on stilts for his children to planting 800 violets in the shade. Delightfully artful tall grass and floral patches punctuated by hefty boulders hauled from local creeks then gradually appeared out front.

Carl and Susan became square dancers in 1990, embarking on a wonderful 30-year experience of friendships and exercise. They both served on the Village Squares board in various capacities—most recently as treasurers. In retirement, Carl also brriefly turned his hand to writing, which he had always enjoyed, quickly authoring A Marriage in Snodgrass, his first and only novel.

But Carl’s most engaging new hobby during retirement was bird watching. He travelled from Costa Rica to Alaska usually with Susan—and ultimately ended up with a count of over 600 species on his life list.

During the later years of Carl’s life, he was diagnosed first with Parkinsonism, then with cognitive impairment. He continued to exercise daily, square dance weekly, and accompany Susan on walks. He and Susan moved to Overland Park, Kansas in November 2022, to be closer to family. After Carl was hospitalized briefly in April 2023, his health declined precipitously, and he passed away peacefully on September 27, 2023, at the age of 88, with local family at his side. He is survived by his wife Susan; daughter Linda (Anthony); son Matthew (Alison) and their daughter Margo; and daughter Elaine (Pierre) and their children Nicolas and Sophia. The family wishes to thank Tallgrass Creek Senior Living Facility and Ascend Hospice for their support during Carl’s final months.

A celebration of Carl’s life was held on Saturday, October 21 at Bob Allen Theater at Tallgrass Creek, 13800 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Johnson County Arboretum or to the Parkinson’s Research Foundation.

DONATIONS:

• Overland Park Arboretum 8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS 66013

• Parkinson’s Research Foundation P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306

The Village Squares remember Carl Thomas (by Peter Emmel):

Carl and Susan Thomas were stalwarts at the Village Squares ever since they joined the class of 1992—in the same class as Sally and me. Through the years, in addition to attending nearly every dance, they regularly took their turn on the Board, serving wherever needed including multiple turns as presidentts and treasurers. In 2019, in appreciation for nearly three decades of service to the Village Squares, Carl and Susan were presented with the Circle of Service award.

Always thoughtful and articulate, Carl wrote the Village Squares Club news article in the Promenader for many years. Once, during a period of membership decline that the club recovered from by developing the “Plus Workshop” idea, Carl wrote a very helpful distillation of the Village Squares club ethos. It captured the spirit of our club and served for many of us as a guide to “who we are” as a group, and I know it was an important contributor to our success until the arrival of COVID.

One of the most soft-spoken people I have ever met, Carl had a delightful sense of humor and frequently surprised us with off-the-wall jokes and novel ideas. Some of you may still remember his “Banana Dance” idea and the hilarious build-up he gave us. Each week, starting a month or more before the dance, he presented a different lesson on how to square dance with a banana in your hand. His ability to maintain dead-pan seriousness in such a ridiculous concept had us in stitches every week.

RIP, dear Carl.

Dr. Charles “Chuck” Raymond Day, age 90, of Rochester, NY, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2023, after a 45-year battle with cancer.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Susan Polle; ex-wife, Annabelle Day Newton; children Rebecca Hudson, Sami (Joe) Romagnola, Laura (Tony) D’Aprile, and Eric (Tania) Day; grandchildren Amber, Samantha, and Elizabeth; great-grandchild Jayana; and siblings Shirley Paine of Apple Valley, CA, and Robert Day of San Diego, CA; Nieces & Nephews, Bobby, Andrea, Lisa & Amy.

Born July 10, 1933, in Erie, PA, to Ray and Ardis Day, Chuck became an Eagle Scout and joined the Army, serving in the rocketry program at White Sands, NM, during the Korean War. He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 1959 and went on to earn a Master’s degree from Duke University in 1961 and a PhD from Ohio State in 1965. He began his long teaching career in the SUNY Brockport Psychology Department in 1965, serving as chairman of that department for the last four years before his retirement in 2000.

Chuck knew a lot about everything, was an avid reader, and was passionate about gardening and violins. Daylilies were his favorite flower, blooming every year for his birthday.

The family plans a private memorial in Chuck’s beloved gardens.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Chuck’s honor to:

Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester

99 Victor Rd

Fairport, NY 14450

OR

Pluta Cancer Center Foundation

Development Office

125 Red Creek Drive Suite 205B

Rochester, NY 14623

New Comer—Eastside Location (585-288-2880) is assisting the family.

Square dancers remember Chuck (from Anne Granger and Don Naulin):

“Chuck and his wife, Susan, danced at Silver Squares until 3–4 years ago.”

Frank A. “Ticker” Taccone of Gates, NY, passed away on October 4, 2023. Frank was predeceased by his parents, Cesare & Betty Taccone; many brothers & sisters. He is survived by his devoted wife, Angelina (Alessi) Taccone; sons, Andrew Taccone & Mark Taccone; sister, Frances (Ken) McCracken; many nieces, nephews & cousins.

Frank was known as the “Babe Ruth” of softball, his career garnered 6 Hall of Fame inductions. He enjoyed sports and was a NY Yankee fan. Frank loved his family and friends and enjoyed spending time with them all.

Frank’s Funeral Mass was celebrated at 11:00am on Thursday, October 12th at the Parish of the Holy Family, 4100 Lyell Road. Interment followed in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester, NY.

Square dancers remember Frank (from Anne Granger):

“Alice Hager told me that Frank was a long-time dancer with the Bells and Beaus.”