Sal Cumella (1929-2024)
Salvatore Cumella, 95, who co-owned the Dorel Hat Co., died Sept. 26.
The son of poor Sicilian immigrants, Sal made hats. His mentor was Mr. John. With him, Sal made hats for, among others, Judy Garland, Aretha Marlene Dietrich and Carol Channing, and he snuck remnants to Gypsy Rose Lee.
He started his hat manufacturing company and continued until he retired at 75. His various labels were Mr. John, Adolfo, Halston and Oscar de la Renta. With his partner, Ramon Moreno, he managed to sustain a thriving hat business based in Beacon, even though hats were no longer fashionable.
Sal designed, sewed, blocked and trimmed hats. He took apart sewing machines, he gambled on big inventory, he negotiated government contracts and he ran a factory and showroom. One of his hats, handmade for Oscar de la Renta, is in the permanent costume collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Once he left the business, Sal realized there was a market for “church lady” hats, and he began making hats for Saks and hats for mom-and-pop shops like Hats for the Holy Woman.
Sal also served in the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his son, Thomas, and his stepchildren, Joann and James. His wife Joan, daughter Joanne and second wife Terry died earlier.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (aspca.org). A graveside service with military honors will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newburgh at 11 a.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 2).
Theodore Henry (1932-2024)
Theodore Edward Henry, 92, died Sept. 21 at Taconic Rehabilitation and Nursing.
He was born in Beacon on July 6, 1932, the son of Council and Adelia (Demond) Henry. He attended St. James AME Church in Beacon and Beacon High School.
Theodore served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954, during the Korean conflict, and achieved the rank of corporal. He worked for over 20 years as a machinist, starting at Tuck Tape in Beacon, and later retiring from Chemprene.
In his later years, he enjoyed outings to the Grand Union and Key Food stores, where he would meet up with friends, family and strangers-turned-friends.
His brother, James Henry, also died earlier. He is survived by a host of nieces and nephews.
A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Oct. 11 at Fishkill Rural Cemetery, with military honors rendered by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
Bob Murk (1948-2024)
Robert A. Murk, 75, a resident of Beacon since 2015 and formerly of Brooklyn, died at his daughter’s home on Sept. 24.
He was born in Brooklyn on Dec. 14, 1948, the son of Harry Murk and Margaret Deitz. In 1970, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a corpsman, providing medical assistance to a U.S. Marine Corps detachment during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged from active service in 1972 and continued as a reservist until 1975.
In addition to his military service, Bob was a dedicated community member who assisted organizations such as the Brooklyn Bucket Brigade and Camp Friendship Youth Programs. Throughout his lifetime, Bob worked in construction and was the owner/operator of Murkwood Enterprises.
On Feb. 20, 1971, he married Elizabeth Douglass in Brooklyn. She died in 2004.
He is survived by his children, Pamela (Mark) of Beacon; Karen (Greg) of Everett, Washington; and Christian of Beacon; and his grandchildren, Mark (Danielle), Kayla, Elizabeth, Nickolas and Nathan. His siblings, Harold, Donald and Patricia, died earlier.
A committal service with military honors was held Sept. 27 at Calverton National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or the Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation (hvhospice.org).
Sue Randall (1958-2024)
Susan Ann Randall, 65, died Sept. 24 at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh.
She was born in Cold Spring on Nov. 1, 1958, the daughter of Roy and Ruth (Van Herpe) Rasmus. She graduated from Beacon High School. On Nov. 15, 1981, at St. Joachim Church in Beacon, she married Rich Randall.
Sue will be remembered for being a fun-loving person who loved the company of family and friends; she could always brighten a room, her family said. She was a football and baseball fan and loved the Jets and Mets. She also enjoyed cooking.
Along with her husband of 42 years, she is survived by her children, Richard Randall (Esteban Ramirez Alba), Rebecca Chanez (Robert Chanez) and Mandy Randall; five grandchildren; and her sister, Ellen Bogardus (Royal).
