Elizabeth McClure
Elizabeth Ketcham McClure passed away peacefully at her home at The Osborn in Rye, October 25, just shy of her 97th birthday. She was the daughter of the late Ruby and Frank A. Ketcham of New Rochelle.
Known to her many friends as Betty, she grew up in New Rochelle, graduated from Emma Willard School, attended Sarah Lawrence College, and graduated from Katherine Gibbs.
She married Carl H. McClure III, whom she lost in 1976.
After moving to Rye, Mrs. McClure became an active participant in the community. She was a member of the 15th Twig, and a longstanding member of the Little Garden Club of Rye, and of Rye Presbyterian Church, where she will be interred in the Columbarium. An avid bridge player, she was sought after as a partner and played up until her death.
She loved her four children: Marilyn M. Beck of Bedford, N.Y., Dawn M. Morton of Annapolis, Md., and Marcy and Doug, who predeceased her. In addition to her daughters, Mrs. McClure is survived by her daughter-in-law, Ruth L. McClure, and her sons-in-law, John C. Beck and William H. Morton Jr. Her seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren will lovingly remember her. She was predeceased by her sisters Jean and Jody and her brother Larned.
She will be missed by her devoted family and many friends and will be remembered for her style, warm smile, and caring heart.
Donations in Betty McClure’s memory may be made to Rye Presbyterian Church.
Helen Roman
Helen Roman, a longtime Rye resident, passed away last month, at the age of 95.
An active community member, Mrs. Roman did volunteer work for the Red Cross during World War II and later for United Hospital. She served on the Rye Girl Scouts and the Midland School PTO. She was a member of Ceres Garden Club, the Rye Conservation Society, and the Catholic Daughters of the Church of the Resurrection.
For many years, she was a Democratic District Leader in Rye. She was chairman of the Advisory Committee of Rye Senior Citizens and served on the Rye City Senior Citizen Commission.
In 2009, Mrs. Roman Helen received the James A. Shea Community Service Award from the Rye Lions Club. She was inducted into the Westchester County Senior Hall of Fame in 2011.
She and her husband Peter were married for 53 years. He predeceased her. She is survived by a daughter Pamela.
A private funeral service was held.
Alice Coshal
Alice Marie Hughes Coshal, a lifelong Rye resident, passed away November 4. She was 86.
Born April 20, 1926, to Sidney and Anne Hughes, she attended Rye City Schools, graduating from Rye High School in 1943.
On September 2, 1950, she married Richard Coshal in Rye. They were married for 57 years.
For years, Mrs. Coshal worked at United Hospital, but she reveled in her role as Secretary to the Principal at Rye High School, watching her children and grandchildren go through the Rye City school system. She retired from the position in 1996, but then worked for a short time as administrative assistant to the Port Chester Federal Teachers Credit Union, where she also served on the board.
A very active member of the community, Mrs. Coshal was involved with Rye Girl and Boy scouts, Rye Little League, PTA, the Rye Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, and Rye Seniors. She founded the Rye Women’s Softball League. She was a communicant of Church of the Resurrection and a regular at Kelly’s on Wednesday nights.
Her family said, “Alice thoroughly enjoyed her life, work, family, and friends with enthusiasm, joy, and a readiness to party.”
She was predeceased by her husband, Richard in 1997, and her sisters, Dorothea Moxhay and Barbara Sarles. She is survived by her five children: Deborah, Cathy, Richard, Steven, and George; eight grandchildren: Armin, Erie, Brad, Julie, Matt, Sarah, Adam, and Eric; and three great-grandchildren: Alex, Brinley, and Benjamin.
The family will receive friends at Graham Funeral Home November 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Church of the Resurrection November 7 at 10 a.m.
Steven Gates
Music executive Steven M. Gates passed away October 20, while enjoying one of his many passions: running. He was 54.
His love of music began in his hometown of Penfield, N.Y. His talent for trumpet was nurtured by his teacher and early mentor Ned Corman, with whom he remained close his entire life.
Mr. Gates attended the Eastman School of Music and quickly established a career in the Greater Rochester area as a performer and businessman. This early phase came full circle when, after an impressive tenure in New York City at several major recording labels and artist management companies, he established The Rochester Indie Fest, an annual celebration of independent music in downtown Rochester.
He helped shape the careers of numerous distinguished recording and performing artists, including The Canadian Brass, Phil Coulter, the Five Browns, James Galway, Tom Harrell, Jens Lindemann, Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies, Aine Minogue, Max Roach, Pepe Romero, Don Sebesky, Andy Summers, and Joe Taylor.
His impact on these, and many other artists’ career paths was accompanied by a kindness, elegance, and sense of honor that was deeply appreciated by those with whom he worked. Classical guitarist Pepe Romero observed, “In whatever situation Steven found himself, he was always a gentleman.”
As Vice President of Artists and Repertoire at RCA Victor, his artistic stewardship was responsible for a number of notable projects. He was executive producer of Don Sebesky’s Grammy Award-winning album, “I Remember Bill”, in 1999. And he was A&R Director for “The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition: The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (1927-1973)”, which received a Grammy Award for Best Historical Album in 2000.
His latest endeavor, Steven M. Gates Music, included the operation, with partner Joe Taylor, of the independent label Moonwatcher Music. SMG Music also provided management and guidance for his clients, each of whom felt he was more family than manager.
Mr. Gates was looking forward to an exciting 2013, and the release of new projects he was shepherding for Moonwatcher, including “Murf the Mole”, a children’s project currently under consideration for a 2012 Grammy nod.
Mr. Gates, a Harrison resident, also taught trumpet at the Rye Arts Center and worked part-time at The Rye Running Company.
“Steven was a man of style, fair-mindedness, and infectious wit,” said his wife, Anne Bradner.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Gates is survived by his teenage sons, Brian and Connor. He also leaves behind his father, Robert Gates of Webster, N.Y.; his sister, Karen Cook (Ed) of Port Byron, N.Y.; and two brothers, Robert Jr. (Gay Lynn) of Fall River, Mass., and James of Brooklyn. He was pre-deceased by his mother, Patricia Molloy Gates.
John Hickey Jr.
John Eugene Hickey Jr. of Old Lyme, Connecticut passed away October 30. He was 77.
Born August 4, 1935 in New York City, he was the son of the late John Eugene Hickey Sr. and Kathryn Hennessey Hickey.
He was a graduate of Fordham Preparatory School and Fordham University. He worked as an advertising executive in Manhattan for many years with the Saturday Evening Post, 3M Media Networks, and for Condé Nast, where he was Advertising Director of Brides magazine.
For over 20 years, the Hickeys lived in Rye. Mr. Hickey enjoyed boating and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Anna Hickey; along with his four children, Stephen (Irma) Hickey of Fairfield, Conn., JoAnna Grainger of Poughquag, N.Y., David (Kelley) Hickey of New Orleans, and Laura (Marc) Michaud of New Orleans; six grandchildren: Samantha Hickey, Kevin Hickey, Jessica Grainger, Robert John Grainger, Madeleine Michaud, and Charles Michaud; and a sister, Marilyn Rotella of Ocala, Fla.
A funeral mass was held November 5 at Sacred Heart Church in Georgetown, Conn.
Ellen Coats
Ellen Chaplin Coats, a longtime resident of Rye and Palm Beach, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Rye, October 20. She was 91.
She was born on July 3, 1921, in Dover, New Jersey, to Richard and Mary Ellen Modigh Chaplin. After receiving a nursing degree from Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing, she rose to become the head nurse of a surgical ward at New York Hospital. It was there that she met her future husband, E. Craig Coats, M.D.
Mrs. Coats was a very active and well-respected participant in her community, and her guidance, influence, and friendship bettered the lives of all she touched, said her family. “She was a wonderful and loving woman who will be greatly missed by her family and innumerable friends.”
She was predeceased by her husband; a daughter, Patricia, and her brother, Edward Chaplin of Dover, N.J.
She is survived by two sons, E. Craig Coats Jr. and his wife Yvonne of West Palm Beach, and Jeffrey Chaplin Coats and his wife Orquidea of Greenwich; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Contributions in Mrs. Coat’s memory may be made to the E. Craig Coats MD Scholarship Fund at Cornell Medical School, 1300 York Avenue, Box 314, NY, NY 10065.
