Ponte Vedra Valley Funeral Home

Early on the morning of January 21st, Kurt Paul Pfotenhauer went into the arms of his Savior after a brutal, 18-month long battle with stage four pancreatic cancer. He was 65 years old. Across every chapter of his life - faith, family and career - Kurt was guided by integrity, humility and a deep sense of responsibility to others. A trusted advisor to politicians, a confidant to CEOs and a skilled political strategist who deftly guided companies and industries through crises large and small, Pfotenhauer was always more than 'the job.' "Kurt was a phenomenal public servant," said Senator Ron Wyden (D, OR). "His word was his bond, he was as kind and caring as he was wise, and he was my...

John "Jack" William Griffin, family man, entrepreneur, and resident of Ponte Vedra Beach, died on Saturday at the age of 85. Born on August 28, 1938, Jack was the son of the late Walter and Fern Griffin of North Branch, Michigan. As the son of a farmer and English teacher, Jack worked hard as a boy, helping out on the family farm daily. Playing on the same team as his brother, he hit a homerun at the former Tiger Stadium (home of the Detroit Tigers), during a regional all-star game at the age of only 14. Jack met the love of his life, Carolyn, on a blind date in 1960 and the couple got married shortly thereafter. They had four children and were married for a remarkable 63 years. Jack was an...

Dr. Daniel J. Picciano Jr., 81, originally from Jeannette, PA passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 in Jacksonville, FL. Born September 27th, 1942, he was the son of the late Daniel and Helen Picciano. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother, Lawrence Picciano. Dan is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marcia (Kemerer) Picciano; his children: Dan (Pam), Marc (Debbie), Sean (Yajaira), and Amy Parris (Pat); sisters: Janice McClain, Nancy (Lee) Zimmerman, and Irene Ferrainolo; sisters-in-law: Caren Picciano and Janis (Carey) Donegan; grandchildren: Daniel, Ashley, Emily, Joshua, Jamie, Anthony, Ana Lena, Miranda, and Sean; and many nieces and nephews. Dan was...

Josie Claire Cannon Doty of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida born in 1933 at St. Lukes Hospital in Jacksonville, peacefully passed away on Monday March 25, 2024. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Frank & Elvira Cannon; two sisters, Frankie Knabb and Winnie Warren; husband, Bill Doty; and son, Steve Doty. Jo is survived by her daughter, Susie Doty; her brother John Cannon; 5 grandchildren - Kendal, Taylor, Christopher, Kaity, Andee; 4 great grandchildren - Brooklyn, Hunter, Cambrie and Carson. Jo grew up in Jacksonville. She was on a mission to education right from the start. She graduated from Landon Jr./Sr. High when she was 16 years old. Then she went right to college at FSU where she...

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of David E. "Dave" Kimmel Sr., on February 23,2024 at Vicar's Landing Retirement Community in Ponte Vedra, Florida. He braved a 12-year battle with Alzheimer's. He was a devoted husband of 37 years to wife Melanie; as well as a father, grandfather, Godfather, brother and friend to many. His infectious Irish spirit lives on in all who knew him. Dave was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on April 25,1935 to the late Mary Margaret Holleran Kimmel and Cecil Byron Kimmel; he was raised In Youngstown, Ohio. He was predeceased by his first wife of 27 years Patty Sequella Kimmel and daughter Irene. He is survived by his daughter Davene (Mark)...

Robert Emery Osgood of Ponte Vedra, Florida, passed away on January 24, 2024, at the age of 74 after an extended illness. Robert is survived by his wife of 44 years, Andrea Rene Re, their daughter, Blair Carson Clark, son-in-law, Robert Clark, and grandsons, Wyatt and Teddy of Ponte Vedra, FL. Robert was born in Manchester, NH on October 6, 1949. He later attended Marist Military Academy in Atlanta, GA and graduated from Riverside Military Academy in 1969. During the Vietnam War he served as a Psychiatric Specialist stationed at Tripler Army Medical Hospital in Hawaii. After his service, he graduated from Georgia Southern College in 1975 with a master's in psychology. Following his time as...

Maryann E. (Hafner) Gac, of Jacksonville, FL (formerly from Irondequoit, NY), age 75, passed away on Saturday, December 30, 2023. For more information about Maryann and her services, please visit the funeral home website. www.pontevedravalley.com

CAROLYN JANE BRIDGE STARBIRD, 89, passed away on October 18, 2023, at River Garden Senior Center in Jacksonville, Florida. She was born on December 30, 1933, in Guilford, Maine, to Carroll and Minnie Bridge. She grew up in Parkman, Maine, with 5 siblings: Paul Bridge, Beverly Bridge, Harry Bridge, Norman Bridge, and Donna Colver. She met the love of her life, Irving Rollins Starbird, in grade school and they enjoyed 61 years of marriage. They had 4 daughters: Deanne Starbird, Beverly Gunter, Stephanie McCracken, and Gail Starbird. Carolyn enjoyed being GamGam to her 6 grandchildren: Cinnamin O'Shell Turk, Kristen Diggs, Lauren Diggs, Justin Diggs, Brooke McCracken Heim, and Brittany...

JOHN E. MASCELLINO, John E. Mascellino, 74, passed away peacefully at home with his loving wife by his side on March 2, 2023. He was born November 28, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Edward and Lucy (Lupica) Mascellino. John graduated from Maple Heights High School in 1966 and John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1970. He worked for various companies in sales and computer services management in Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. After retiring from IBM in 2013, he settled in Ponte Vedra, Florida, with his wife, Mary Ann (Zeleznikar) Mascellino. They had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2022. He is also survived by his daughter, Kelly (Mascellino)...

Raymond Rosa Alexander, 94, of Ponte Vedra, FL, passed away peacefully on October 12, 2023. Ray was born in Providence, RI on November 10, 1928, to the late Manuel and Maria (Vargas) Alexander. Ray grew up in East Providence, RI. He served in the United States Air Force and was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant. After completing his military service, he moved back to East Providence and married the love of his life Gloria (Migliorelli) on September 11, 1954. Over the years, he resided in Warwick, RI, Walpole, MA, Marston Mills, MA and most recently Ponte Vedra, FL. Raymond is survived by son: Mark Alexander (and wife, Jana) of Ponte Vedra, FL; daughter: Karen Boghdadi...

Born on August 3, 1946, William "Bill" McGillvary Orr 3rd was the eldest of two sons from Gwendolyn (n?e Bell) and William "Mac" McGillvary Orr Jr. Growing up as a slightly rambunctious child in the small town of Kinston, North Carolina, summers would find him riding his bike from Kinston to Washington, NC, over 40 miles away and over three and a half hours by bike! He did this to spend time with his grandparents and to enjoy the Pamlico River. As a teenager he attended Grainger High School, graduating in 1964. Bill was drafted, spending three years in the US Army, serving as 1st Lieutenant in Army Special Forces from 1969-1970 stationed in My Dien, on the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Returning...

October 20, 1948 October 18, 2022 Leslie Fai Palmer, 73, died peacefully at her home in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, with family by her side. Services will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in St. Peters, MO, on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at 10:30 am. Full obituary and guestbook can be found at: https://www.pontevedravalley.com/obituaries/leslie-palmer

William Law Walker passed peacefully on September 3, 2022, in Palm Coast, FL. He was born in Summit, NJ, in 1936, to Virginia and Raymond Walker. They resided in Short Hills, NJ, where he played football at Millburn High School and met his wife, Barbara Bruce Cluett. They had two children, Raymond Cluett and Margaret Metz, and were married for 40 years up to Barbara's passing. William was an avid golfer and won numerous tournaments. He attended the University of Pennsylvania and enjoyed a career in finance as an Options Trader at the CBOE and Wheat First Securities in Richmond, VA. William was a Starter at the Hammock Beach golf courses in Palm Coast for nearly two decades. William is...

Donna Lee Cote, 79, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022, at her home in Ponte Vedra, Florida where she had just relocated May 1, 2022, to be closer to her family. Donna was born on February 20, 1943, in Claremont, NH, to John Francis II and Kathleyne (Polgreen) Lee. She grew up in Newport, NH, graduating from Towle High School in 1961. She received her Bachelors of Education from Plymouth State College of the University of New Hampshire in 1965. She spent her career teaching both middle and high school history. Donna's passion for history and government was evident to her students and colleagues. She was a member of the teaching sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, and served on the school board....

Donna Lee Cote, 79, passed away Friday, June 24, 2022, at her home in Ponte Vedra, Florida where she had just relocated May 1, 2022, to be closer to her family. Donna was born on February 20, 1943, in Claremont, NH, to John Francis II and Kathleyne (Polgreen) Lee. She grew up in Newport, NH, graduating from Towle High School in 1961. She received her Bachelors of Education from Plymouth State College of the University of New Hampshire in 1965. She spent her career teaching both middle and high school history. Donna's passion for history and government was evident to her students and colleagues. She was a member of the teaching sorority, Delta Kappa Gamma, and served on the school board....

Gail Patricia White Landon was born on January 14, 1938, in Wilmington, Delaware and died on June 4, 2022, at the age of eighty-four in Ponte Vedra, Florida. She is the daughter of Willard and Grace White of Wilmington, Delaware. Gail had four older brothers, with whom she was remarkably close, Willard Thomas White III, Edward Carpenter White, Ronald Bruce White, and Paul Gerald White. Along with her brothers, Gail graduated from Tower Hill School in Wilmington and then went on to graduate from Sullens College in Bristol, Virginia in 1958. Gail was a member of the Wilmington Country Club, the Junior League of Wilmington, where she was the Editor of League News. She attended Immanuel...

Willie B. Jacobs, 74, answered His Savior's calling on May 11, 2022, surrounded by his wife, Gloria Jacobs, of almost 50 years and four children. Willie is survived by his mother, Lucile Walker; his wife, Gloria (Howell) Jacobs; half-sister, Catha Milliard; his children: Robin (Alberto) Abbott, Karla (Wendell) Charles, Kandice (Quentin) Robinson and Brandon (Stephanie) Jacobs; his four grandchildren; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and the many lives he touched as "Dean Jacobs," as Dean of Boys, during his tenure at Gainesville Highschool. Willie was preceded in death by his father, Sanford Jacobs and his sister, Geneva Ford. Arrangements are with Ponte Vedra Valley...

Our dearly beloved Emma Colleen (Wandling) Schroter, 81, entered Heaven's Gate on May 7, 2022. She had a beautiful smile that would brighten the darkest room. For all who knew her, she brought love and sunshine into their lives. Colleen was born on October 22, 1940, in Eleanor, WV, to Estel and Edith Wandling. She raised two children in Georgia before moving to Florida in 1980. Colleen was a faithful member of the Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dodsley A. Schroter; sister, Pam Malozi. Colleen is survived by her daughter, Tonya Watson (Steve Cervantes); son, Jeffery (Freida) Watson; stepchildren, Debra (Steve) Buskirk, and Bob Schroter;...

Joan Letitia Maxwell Dockins was the youngest of three children born to Donald Maxwell and Mary Kirkpatrick in Yonkers, NY, October 24, 1945. Joan grew up in Yonkers. She graduated from Gorton High School and attended college at Hunter and SUNY Oneonta. Joan married Darryl Dockins in San Francisco, CA, January 15, 1969. She had three sons: Matthew Dockins, Mark Dockins (twins) born January 8, 1970, and Michael Dockins born May 22, 1972. With birth of the twins, Joan and Darryl moved from Palo Alto to be closer to Joan's family in Yonkers. Joan spent most of her career helping companies relocate employees to new locations. Upon retirement. Joan and Darryl moved to Alliance, NE. Joan...

Deborah Peltz Wesson, 82, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022, peacefully after a short illness. She was born in Philadelphia, PA on January 14, 1940, to William and Margaret Peltz. Deborah graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Education (1961) and Salisbury State College with a MA in English (1987). Deborah was a K-12 and college-level educator. She was an avid reader and gardener, she loved the beach, swimming, travel, her family and friends, as well as all the many pets she had throughout her life. Deborah spent the last six months in sunny Florida, making new, dear friends in Ponte Vedra. Deborah is survived by her daughter, Paget Bottichio (nee Hetherington) and...

Mildred Juanita (Nita) Ervin, 91, of Jacksonville Beach, Fl, went to her Heavenly home Jan. 20, 2022, at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, in Jacksonville Beach, Fl. She was born to the late Brondell Robert & Mildred Earnestine Yarborough, Aug. 28, 1930 in Atlanta, Ga. Employed by Department of Commerce prior to marrying in 1949, and after raising two children, she worked as a sales representative for a temporary employment agency and held a Real Estate license. Nita enjoyed traveling with her family throughout America, including Hawaii, three trips to Alaska, and many locations outside the US. She enjoyed years of camping trips, in their motorhomes, with her husband, daughter and...