Beachwood Society

Jean Marie (Hickey) Moakley, age 91, of Naples, Florida, passed away on Thursday August 11, 2022. She was born the eldest child to the late Mary (Robertson) Hickey and Vernon Hickey on July 17, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was a long-time resident of Whitman, Massachusetts having graduated from Whitman High School in 1949. After graduating high school, she went to work in the Boston office of the United Fruit Company where she would then meet her future husband Thomas Francis Moakley of Boston, They were wed on September 11, 1954, but unfortunately also joined that day by uninvited guest Hurricane Edna, but not even a hurricane could suspend the start of their wonderful marriage...

SEMCER Edward "Ed" Merrill Semcer, master dog trainer and retired New Jersey K-9 police officer of Naples, FL, 77, died Friday, July 22, 2022 in hospice care after a short battle with cancer. Born on February 21,1945 in Denver, Colorado, Ed was the son of the late Edward Semcer and Sally Matson Semcer. Ed grew up in Newark, NJ, later residing in Maplewood. Ed worked for Singer Sewing Machine from 1964 to 1969. He began a career in law enforcement in 1970 with Millburn Township Police Department. Ed graduated from the Philadelphia Police Canine Corp in July 1974 and founded Millburn's first K-9 officer program working with his partner, Timber. Ed took his passion for dog training and created...

Mason Doubleday Colby passed away peacefully on July 18, 2022, surrounded by family. He was born in Montclair, New Jersey, on February 13, 1932, the youngest child of Whitney Coffin Colby and Elizabeth Murphy Colby. Mason will be dearly missed by his family and the many friends he has made over his 90 years. First and foremost, Mason was a devoted husband to his beloved Patricia, married for 66 years, a wonderful father to their three daughters, and an active and engaged grandfather to their six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. While primarily growing up in Montclair, as a young child, Mason spent an intriguing five years in Aruba, where his father worked during WWII. He...

Jo-Anna Price, 56, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2022. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Jo-Anna was born in Mount Holly, NJ. She is survived by her husband of 31 years Ken, her daughters Kayla (James Jadotte) and Nicolette (Rob Carlin), her granddaughters Giavanna and Gwen, her mother Barbara Verratti, her brother Ed Bobb, and many nieces and nephews. Jo-Anna was a Vet Tech for over 20 years and was recently employed at Sabal Palm Animal Hospital in Naples. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday July 29,2022 at 10 AM at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Naples. Donations in her memory to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples,...

Donald G. Mielke, 85, died peacefully at NCH on Sunday, June 12, 2022. Don was born July 1, 1936, in Garfield Heights, Ohio. Don graduated from Garfield Heights High School and received his Bachelor's Degree from Bowling Green University in Ohio. He taught elementary school in Garfield Heights until 1965 when he moved to Naples, Florida. He earned his Master's Degree from Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Don taught science and physical education for 30 years with the Collier County Public Schools before retiring in 1995. Don served with the U.S. Army and the Ohio National Guard. He volunteered at the Veteran's Hospital in Tampa as a driver. He was very active with the...

Robert "Todd" Varnum, age 80, passed away in Naples on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Todd was born in Stamford, Ct. and attended Kings Day School, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Upon graduation, he began his lifelong career at IBM in Kingston, N.Y. and later transferred to Burlington, Vt. He enjoyed many hours sailing on Lake Champlain, and upon retirement, playing on his gentleman's farm, and taking care of his Bed and Breakfast, the Amos Bliss House. In 2000, he and his wife, Sheila, relocated to Naples. Todd was a member of the Pelican Bay Sailing Club, and Men's 4.0 tennis team. He was also a member of Club Pelican Bay, where he...

Theodore ("Ted") Anthony McWilliams passed away on April 18th in Naples, Florida with his wife of 58 years, Anne Potter McWilliams, by his side, a month shy of his 92nd birthday. He was born May 24, 1930 in Danville, PA. After moving to Pittsburgh, Ted attended Saint Joseph School, Central Catholic High School and graduated college from the University of Pittsburgh in 1952 with a degree in business administration. Ted served in Korea as a First Lieutenant in the United States Airforce until 1953. He began his business career with New York Life Insurance Company. He was truly a self-made man with a strong entrepreneurial drive, entering the automotive industry with a used car lot on Baum...

Pauline Ross (Tucker) McCormack, 83, was born January 12, 1939 in Henning, Minnesota, and transitioned, joining her Lord and Savior on March 9, 2022 in Naples, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ethel Ross and was the oldest of four children. Her siblings are Adele Marano, James (Judy) Ross and Renee (Michael) Stith. Her family moved from Minnesota to Stanford, Kentucky when she was 14. There she met and dated Miller 'Mac' McCormack who would become her husband later in her life. Pauline married Ross Tucker, and they became the parents of David and Debra who were her pride and joy. The family moved to Naples, Florida in 1977, and Pauline and Ross divorced shortly after...

After a courageous battle fighting cancer, Lawrence J Mathers (Beaver) died at his daughter's home in Naples, Florida on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the age of 69. Lawrence was born in Michigan on February 13, 1953. He married his high school sweetheart Deborah on August 19, 1972. Larry worked seven years at East Jordan Ironworks Foundry before moving to Wisconsin in 1978. He then retired in 2015 from the Neenah Foundry following 37 years of strenuous work. He could talk anybody's ear off and was sure to crack a smile out of everyone he encountered. Fishing, hunting, tending to his tomato plants and flowers, and grilling out, are just a few examples of his many labors of love. He was always...

Jean Marie Simms (Merkle) passed away quietly after a brief illness in Naples Fl. Born in Chicago in 1930 Jean was survived by her husband and best friend of 71 years, John D Simms. Jean leaves behind three loving children Frederick (Kristine nee Kirsten), John Jr (Michelle nee Bethards) and Mary Simms. She leaves behind 11 grandchildren: Eric, Kristen, John III, Spencer, Michael, Madeleine, Jason, Kiley, Katheryn, Julia, Lucas. Jean was also blessed with eleven great- grandchildren with one on the way! Jean's greatest joy was planning and giving parties with John while employing her joyful and fastidious personality to make all celebrations a grand event. Of course, celebrations were a...

Gloria M. (Haugom) Hudson (age 93) died peacefully at home of natural causes on February 25, 2022 in Naples, Florida. She was born in Watertown, South Dakota on December 8, 1928 to Melvin and Grace (Bjerke) Haugom. Gloria attended schools in Ortonville, Minnesota and in Milton, Wisconsin. In addition to raising 3 children, her business career included years as a Corporate Executive Private Secretary and later a Bank Officer. She married Franklin Hudson on October 15, 1949 with whom she enjoyed 72 years of a loving marriage. Gloria is survived by three daughters: Christine Garland, Janice (Paul) Ancona and Terry Hudson. She is further survived by six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren...

Franklin W. Hudson (age 92) died peacefully at home of natural causes on February 20, 2022 in Naples, Florida. Born in Milton, Wisconsin on April 28, 1929 to Will and Flora (Hagedorn) Hudson. He spent his entire business career with PPG Industries in various sales and management positions located in Wisconsin, Texas, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. He retired from PPG in 1989 and moved with Gloria to Naples, Florida in 1991, where they had owned a home since 1978. He married Gloria Haugom on October 15, 1949, who he always introduced as "his beautiful wife, Gloria." With her, he enjoyed 72 years of a loving marriage. Gloria passed to be with him 5 days following his own passing. He is survived...

Doris Louise Bender (nee Carpenter) passed away peacefully at the age of 103 on Sunday, February 6, 2022, in Naples, Florida. She was preceded in death by her loving husband George Gus Bender, her parents Harry and Katherine Carpenter, her older sister Marie Carpenter Felts, and younger brother Paul Carpenter. Doris was born in 1918 and grew up on a farm in Verona, New York. She often spoke about getting up before dawn to milk the cows and tend to family farm chores before going to a one-room schoolhouse. She later attended nursing school and headed to California where she joined the Army and met George Bender, also in the military. Theirs was a 3-week World War II romance that lasted over...

JENKINS - John Stephen, age 74: born Omaha, Nebraska, November 12, 1947, died January 22, 2022, in Naples, Florida, of complications from Alpha 1 lung disease. Steve was preceded in death by his spouse, Christine (Lyon) Jenkins; parents John Melchiors & Mary Frances (Nye) Jenkins; and infant sibling Susan Jenkins. He is survived by sister Sandra Jenkins of Omaha, Nebraska, and brother Tom (Sherri "Annie") Jenkins of The Dalles, Oregon; nieces and nephew Stacey (Greg) Lickteig; J. Scott Switzer (Severn Taylor); and Haylee (Sarah) Schwisow; 6 great-nieces and nephews; all 3 first cousins; and many beloved friends, especially Flavia Stumpf of Brazil; and Brandon Daniel Biggerstaff and 2...

Due to Covid, the family is deferring any funeral arrangements until a later date.

Gray Tuthill of Naples, FL passed away on January 16, 2022. Gray was born June 13, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois. He lived in Chicago until joining the service in 1952 which took him to both Kansas and Louisiana. After leaving the service he returned to the Chicago area and attended Northwestern University earning a BS in Business. While at Northwestern he met a nice-looking young woman, Marcia, whom he later married. They then had three sons who now live across the United States. After college he worked in Corporate America until his retirement. His work, for the most part, was in the Chicago area except for a few years in Tacoma, Washington in the early 1960's. After vacationing in southwest...

Thomas E Daniels, Jr. 74 passed away on December 31, 2021 after a 6 year courageous battle with cancer. His friends Jerome Tocio, Jimmy Midget, and Joseph Rosen were by his side at time of passing. Thomas was preceded by his partner of 37 years, William H Potterbaum. He was the son of the late Thomas E Daniels Sr. His mother Beatrice McCarthy and step father John McCarthy and his sister Lucille Bailey. His eight nieces and nephews as well as his Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Edward and many cousins. He also leaves behind his treasured friends, Barbara Miller, Jerome Tocio, Janine, Stephen and Sydney Hebert "Sneezy", Jimmy Midget and Joseph Rosen. His Very Special friend with special needs, from...

Bernon Willis Young, 90, of Naples Florida peacefully passed away on November 24, 2021 surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Bette, three children: Catharine Young of Estero, Michael Young of Salt Lake City and Sarah McCarren (Donald) of Estero and four grandchildren. Megan Young and Kate Prestwick (Brayden) of Salt Lake City, Connor McCarren of Philadelphia, and Shannon Pope (John) of Nashville. Bernie was born to Lucile and Willis Young in Brighton, Michigan where he spent his early childhood. Always an athlete, he earned 12 varsity letters in high school, graduating from Rockford High School in 1949. He achieved Eagle Scout status as a young man. Bernie attended Michigan State...

Janet Theresa (Cotter) Rouen, 84, went to Heaven on October 19, 2021, surrounded by her children in Naples, FL. Janet, the eldest of three daughters, was born to John & Margaret (Spring) Cotter in Syracuse NY. She graduated from St. John the Baptist High School in 1955 and went on to obtain her Bachelors in Education from her beloved Le Moyne College in 1959. In 1961, Janet married her husband Thomas, and they resided in Syracuse, raising their family until 1984 when they relocated to Camp Hill, PA. In 2012 they retired to Naples, FL. Janet was a loving wife, mother, and wonderful grandmother. Always a lady, Janet had a boundless spirit for her family and friends. She possessed an...

On Friday, September 24, 2021, Carol Sykes, Suzuki violin teacher, founding member and first president of both the Suzuki Association of Massachusetts and the Young Peoples' String Consort, passed away at age 83. Carol Sykes was born May 13, 1938 in Pittsfield MA to George and Olive Sykes. She received her B.M. and M.M. degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. Carol, who spent over 60 years teaching violin, touched the lives of approximately 10,000 students over her esteemed career. More than 80 of her students have become professional violinists, Suzuki teachers, and symphony players. Her passion for music and the violin was ignited when she studied with the...

Helmut E. Nittmann passed peacefully in his home in Naples, Florida on September 12, 2021. Helmut leaves his beloved wife of 63 years, Katharina Nittmann (Schenkel); sons Peter, Helmut and Thomas; daughter Elke Rittenhouse and 7 grandchildren. Helmut was born in Trautenau, the German part of Czechoslovakia, on August 20, 1927. As a teenager refugee, he secured a job as a mechanic with Karl Mayer Machine Corp and worked his way up to President of U.S. Sales and Operations. He was tasked with expanding operations in the United States and met his future wife Katharina at a dance in Hoboken NJ. After 25 successful years, Helmut was instrumental in the startup of a new textile company called...