Jerry McElduff (1929-2017)
Gerald Francis McElduff, 88, a lifelong Beacon resident, died Aug. 14, 2017 at his daughter and son-in-law’s home in Beekman.
He was born in Beacon on July 2, 1929, the son of Michael Hugh and Mary (Bree) McElduff. On June 21, 1958 he married Anita Kelly.
Jerry loved his family, loved being Irish and especially loved Beacon. He graduated from Beacon High School and studied engineering at Syracuse University and Manhattan College. He worked at Central Hudson as a lineman and then served in the U.S. Army in Korea on the wire team running communication lines between the front line and headquarters. When he returned from service, he worked building houses in Beacon. In 1960, Jerry began his career as an engineer at IBM Poughkeepsie where he remained until his retirement in 1991.
He was a proud member of the IBM Quarter Century Club. He was a lifelong member of St. John the Evangelist Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Beacon Elks. He was also a member of Southern Dutchess Country Club, where he first asked out Anita. They enjoyed their time at the club with their children, relatives and friends their entire lives and had a special fondness for those that worked there in recent years.
Jerry touched the lives of all he met with his kindness, calmness and caring spirit. He loved doing crossword puzzles, he loved the beach, especially Long Beach Island, New Jersey, where he shared many great memories with his family. He was a fan of the Giants, Yankees and any team his children and grandchildren played on. He was one of a kind and he will be sorely missed by all who loved him.
He is survived by his children: Gerald McElduff (Mary); Maureen Mullaney (Kevin); and Edward McElduff, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who called him “Poppy”: Sean McElduff (Allyson) and their son, Kellan; Patrick McElduff (Eileen); Kathleen and Madeline Mullaney; Michael McElduff (Michelle) and their daughter, Nora; Danielle Raheem (Abdool); and Aidan and Lauren McElduff.
He also is survived by sisters, Anne Schultz and Kate Huber; his brother John McElduff (Suzanne); and his sister-in-law Virginia Wagner (Richard).
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Aug. 19 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 31 Willow St., Beacon, with burial with military honors to follow at St. Joachim Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps or St. Joachim-St. John the Evangelist Church.
Roberta Sugg (1943-2017)
Roberta Sugg, 73, a longtime resident of Beacon, died Aug. 7, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
Born Dec. 28, 1943, in Binghamton, she was the daughter of Robert and Violet (Marletta) Perlini. On June 23, 1974, she married Richard Sugg, who survives at home. Roberta retired from IBM in Poughkeepsie.
In addition to her husband, Roberta is survived by her son, Greg Lahey (Carol); her grandchildren Alyssa, Brett and Julia; her brother, Julius Perlini; and her sister, Anita Hardy (Joseph).
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 12 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill, with burial at St. Joachim Cemetery in Beacon. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society (cancer.org).
Priscilla Vonder Heide (1924-2017)
Priscilla Vonder Heide, 92, a longtime resident of Fishkill, died Aug. 7, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. Among her survivors is a daughter, Jacqueline Miller, of Beacon.
Priscilla was born Oct. 9, 1924, in Peekskill, the daughter of Edward and Gladys (Conklin) Palmer. On July 3, 1943, she married Rudolph Vonder Heide.
Besides her daughter, Priscilla is survived by her son, Rudolph Vonder Heide Jr. of Peekskill; her grandchildren, Eric Miller, Henry Miller, Patti Edwards and Rudolph M. Vonder Heide; 13 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Dorothy Croman. Services were private.
