Salvatore DiPrima (1950-2018)
Salvatore C. DiPrima, 67, a longtime Beacon resident, died March 14, 2018.
He was born Oct. 12, 1950, in the Bronx, the son of Giovanni and Vicenza DiPrima. Sal owned and operated the Shield’s Bakery in Beacon for 15-years, then worked for IBM in East Fishkill. Sal was an avid Yankees fan.
Sal is survived by his son Christopher DiPrima (Vanessa Portas) and his grandchildren, who knew him as “Papa Sal”: Christian and Calista DiPrima and Kayla Portas.
A service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, at the Libby Funeral Home in Beacon, followed by burial at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
Rose Ronkese (1918-2018)
Rose Antoinette Ronkese, 99, formerly of Beacon, died on March 7, 2018, at her home in New Hamburg.
Born Nov. 13, 1918, in Hyde Park, she was the daughter of Salvatore and Maria Civita Simeone Camelio. Rose moved to New Hamburg when she was 4 years old. As a girl, she helped her father water the tomato seeds in his hotbed which he started every February 22. She, in turn, saved her earned money to get a permanent for her hair in Poughkeepsie.
She was known for swimming and ice skating across the Hudson River, where on the ice she met her future husband Joseph Ronkese, of Cedar Cliff. He would buy only one of her tickets to the local Valentine’s Dance if he would escort her. They were married on Dec. 2, 1945, at St. Mary’s Church, after a four-year daily writing courtship when he was serving in Europe during World War II.
Rose attended school in New Hamburg and Beacon, wrote gossip articles for the Beacon newspaper. She was employed by IBM for 25 years. She was often seen driving her red Chevy pickup truck, attending local block parties and events in New Hamburg.
She is survived by her son Joseph Ronkese (MaryAnn) of Gramsville; her daughter JoAnn Larese (Joe) of Cold Spring; her grandsons Christopher Ronkese (Andrea) of Belchertown, Massachuetts, Matthew Ronkese (Amy) of West Hartford, Connecticut, Dr. Joseph Larese of St. Louis, Missouri; a granddaughter, Jennifer Larese of New York City; great-grandchildren, Ava, Gia, Harper and Harlow Ronkese; a brother-in-law, Bruno Ronkese of Marlboro; and many others who fondly called her “Aunt Rose.” Her husband died before her, as did her six siblings.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered March 12 at St. Mary’s Church in Wappingers Falls, with burial following at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Hudson Valley Hospice (hvhospice.org).
Paul Thomas (1918-2018)
Paul Robert Thomas, 99, died March 12, 2018 at Woodland Pond at New Paltz.
Born Aug. 11, 1918, in Alamo, Georgia, he was the son of Oliver and Hattie Thomas. After graduating from the University of Georgia, he was a research chemist for 41 years at the Texaco Research Center in Beacon.
Paul was active in the First Presbyterian Church of Beacon, having served as a Sunday School superintendent, choir member and church treasurer. He was a member of the Twinco Flying Club.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Georgiana “Ginger” Thomas; his son, Glenn Thomas (Nancy) of Wappingers Falls; his daughter Susan Thomas of Hopewell Junction; his grandsons David Thomas (Theresa) of Wappingers Falls, Daniel Thomas (Nicole) of Frisco, Texas, and Marc Thomas (Marcie) of Wappingers Falls; his great-grandchildren Justin, Lucas, Austin, Tyler and Julia Thomas; and a brother, Frank Thomas of Alamo, Georgia.
A memorial service was held on March 16 at the Copeland Funeral Home in New Paltz, with internment at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church (beaconpresbychurch.org)
Father Brian Tomlinson (1937-2018)
Father Brian Tomlinson, 81, died March 10, 2018, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh.
Father Brian was born June 17, 1937 in the Bronx, the son of John and Margaret Tomlinson. He made his first profession of vows on Aug. 3, 1958, at Our Lady of Angels in Staunton, Virginia, and was ordained April 3, 1965, at St. Francis DeSales Church in Geneva, New York.
Following his ordination, he served as director of students, vocation promoter, novice master and guardian at St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon until 1980, when was transferred to St. Francis High School Seminary in Lafayette, New Jersey, to serve as rector. He later ministered to other parishes in New Jersey.
He is survived by four siblings, John, Mary, Thomas and Patrick, and their spouses.
A wake service was held March 14 at St. Lawrence Friary in Beacon and on March 15 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Passaic, New Jersey.
