Dr. George T. Amann of Park Avenue, passed away on Friday, December 14, 2012 at Saratoga Hospital.
Born in Troy on April 28, 1942 to the late Ludwig Alois, Sr. and Teresa Elizabeth (Holland) Amann. He is the husband of Anne (Cononica) Amann.
Dr. Amann was a graduate of Mechanicville High School, class of 1959. He attended Siena College and graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a BA in Biology. He attended the College of St. Rose and graduated with Thesis Honors in 1976 from SUNY Buffalo, School of Dentistry. He was a former science teacher in the Greater Amsterdam School District and was the owner of Dr. George T. Amann Dentist Office in Mechanicville. He was a past captain and president of the J.L. Short Hook and Ladder Co. #1, and was a past safety officer of the Mechanicville Fire Department, where he served for 52 years. In his spare time George enjoyed construction, music, classic cars and above all his family, grandchildren and patients and he "always liked a good joke".
Lucky was I, to be able to watch you grow, love, cherish and share your life for 26 years.
You were a good son, brother and friend to all who had the opportunity to know you, deserving of the respect, friendship and love, which we all have for you.
If you were lucky enough to be his friend, you know he would do anything for you.
He was someone that children could look up to as an inspiration.
I watched his career with the US Marine Corps flourish. He went in as a young man with goals to achieve. Each time he came home, I saw the Man, the Marine that he grew into.
MECHANICVILLE – Mrs. Rose A. Martone, 88, of Newman Ave., died Tuesday morning, Dec. 18th, at St. Mary’s Hospital, Troy, after a brief illness.
Born in Rochester, NY, March 20, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Andrew and Mary DeVito Wassil. Rose’s family moved and lived in Mechanicville most of her life.
A Homemaker, Rose had graduated from Troy Beauty School and had been a beautician from her home for a number of years.
She belonged to the Mechanicville Senior Citizens, the Home Bureau, loved arts and crafts, was a faithful communicant of Assumption-St. Paul Church and served as a greeter at the church and was a member of the church’s Rosary Altar Society.
She was predeceased by her husband of 46 years Emilio “Bill” Martone, who died in 1993, and also brothers Daniel and Junior Wassil and sister Beatrice Landolfo.
Survivors include her son Dr. William J. Martone of No. Bethesda, Md, granddaughters Elizabeth Ann Martone of Washington,DC and Virginia Rose Martone of Arlington, Va.
Also her longtime faithful companion Al Remancus of Mechanicville, along with nieces, nephews and their families.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday at NOON at All Saints on the Hudson South Church (St. Paul’s) 121 No. Main St., Mechanicville. Burial in Saratoga National Cemetery.
Calling hours at the North Main Street Church on Thursday from 4-7 PM.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the John Ahearn Rescue Squad, PO Box 669, Mechanicville, 12118 in memory of Rose A. Martone.
Last week, Sports Illustrated announced its choice of Lebron James for 2012 Sportsman of the Year. As the end of each year nears, every outlet everywhere compiles “best of” and “top ten” lists, names its “person of the year,” etc. In the sports world, SI’s Sportsman of the Year still holds some clout. SI’s aim is to recognize the most significant sports figure from the previous calendar year, and in that regard it is hard to quibble with the choice of Lebron James.
“The Decision” and all of the venomous aftermath was only two and a half years ago. At that time, Lebron was on the top of everyone’s “most hated” athlete lists. Looking back, it was all quite silly. Did he make a huge mistake in how he announced his move to the Miami Heat from the Cleveland Cavaliers in free agency? Of course, and he’s admitted as much since. When the Heat failed to win a title the following year, the general sports world reveled in the perceived failure. They did make it to the finals, but the storyline centered around Lebron’s inability to finish when he averaged an anemic three points in the fourth quarter of each game. Heading into the 2012 playoffs, despite being universally regarded as the best basketball player on the planet, the questions about Lebron continued to swirl. They were answered emphatically in game six of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics, when with the Heat down three games to two, Lebron delivered an epic 45 point, 15 rebound performance IN BOSTON, where he was completely and utterly unstoppable. It was the most dominant athletic performance of 2012, and when the Heat went on to defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the finals, Lebron James had placed his stamp on the 2012 sports calendar. Any stain from “the decision” has been permanently removed.
What other performances in 2012 were worthy of consideration? For me, perhaps the most electric and “goose-bump” inspiring moment was Gabby Douglas winning the woman’s all-around gold medal in gymnastics. We collectively get a thrill out of rooting for members of the stars and stripes come Olympic time, but nobody on this year’s team captured the hearts of Americans like Gabby. The stress and pressure of woman’s gymnastics, where one little bobble can cost you a place atop the medal stand, lends itself to heart-pounding drama. But Gabby’s story and smile added greatly to the theater, and when she stuck the landing on her last tumble in the floor routine to seemingly capture gold, you could almost hear the entire country exhale and applaud simultaneously.
Another option for SI might have been the Brothers Manning. Eli started the year off in grand form, securing his second Super Bowl victory and Super Bowl MVP trophy in February, highlighted by one of the more beautiful passes ever thrown in a huge moment: the “dropped in a mailbox” over the shoulder throw to Mario Manningham that kick-started the Giants’ game-winning touchdown drive. Peyton has since done his part, answering all of the doubters who thought he would never make it back from four neck surgeries, by delivering one of his greatest statistical regular seasons ever. With a great chance at winning his fifth NFL MVP award, it will be hard to look back at 2012 without thinking of the accomplishments of Archie’s kids.
In the end, as a great calendar year of sports comes to a close, I think SI got it right with Lebron. The scariest part is he’ll probably be in the conversation each year for the next decade as well.
As the cold days of December, 1862 descended on Virginia, the Federal Army of the Potomac, under its new commander General Ambrose Burnside, was massed on the hills around the town of Falmouth. Their objective was Richmond, the capital of the rebellious southern states, some fifty miles to the south. In their path, however, were the rain-swollen Rappahannock River and the city of Fredericksburg. Adding to the danger to troops attempting a crossing was a half mile of wide-open ground between the river and the town.
Urged by President Abraham Lincoln to move with haste, Burnside had moved the bulk of his officers, men, horses, wagons and artillery 40 miles in just two days. But his inability to get them across the river in a timely manner had cost him dearly. While Union troops waited on the north side of the river for the arrival of pontoons on which to build bridges to move men and arms across, 40,000 Confederate soldiers under General James Longstreet had moved in and taken up a strong defensive position along Marye’s Heights behind Fredericksburg on a four-mile stretch of high ground.
Nathan Hatalsky is pretty sure he was tossing a football around before he could walk, and it’s a safe bet that he learned how to tackle taking down his older brother, Chris. Flag football was too tame for him, but he really got into the sport when he was old enough to play for the local Junior Red Raider program. Nate loves the game of football.
The Albany Times Union named him as their small schools Defensive Athlete of the Year and The Saratogian has also named him Athlete of the Year for his outstanding accomplishments in his senior football season. To receive these two prestigious honors is the crowning achievement in Nate’s four-year varsity football career at Mechanicville High School. Nate was honored for his prowess on the gridiron where in his senior year he logged 72 solo tackles and 64 assisted tackles as well as several quarterback sacks in leading his Red Raider team to a 6 – 3 overall record.
COMBAT OUTPOST HANSON, Afghanistan – It was a day of somber remembrance for servicemembers with 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, as they attended a memorial service for Lance Cpl. Anthony Denier, Dec. 8, at Combat Outpost Hanson, Afghanistan.
In front of a formation of India Company Marines and sailors stood a battlefield cross, which consisted of an upside down rifle with a bayonet, a Kevlar helmet, a pair of boots and identification tags, all assembled to honor their fallen brother who died while conducting combat operations in Marjah, Afghanistan, Dec. 2.
“(Denier) will be missed, but surely never forgotten because we will at all times hold him, as well as his family, in our hearts,” said Lt. Col. Carl Cooper Jr., commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines.
Denier’s company commander, platoon sergeant and his peers reflected on their time spent with the India Company rifleman from Mechanicville, N.Y.
“He left us as he lived, protecting who he loved and putting their welfare before his own,” said Capt. James M. Geiger Jr., commanding officer, India Company. “I’m incredibly proud to have served with Lance Cpl. Denier, and I thank him for his courage and commitment to his brothers. To his family, we vow to always honor his memory and to always be there for you as members of our Marine family.”
Marines stood sharply at parade rest when 1st Lt. Kevin Murphy, Denier’s platoon commander, approached the podium to address the formation.
“There is no doubt that Anthony’s actions that day saved the lives of many Marines to his left and his right,” said Murphy. “I witnessed young men, in their prime, sacrificing everything for each other and with each other. I witnessed courage like this time and time again throughout the firefight. I am very proud of Anthony and his actions, for I know it is because of his sacrifice that the rest of us came home.”
Denier’s team leader, Lance Cpl. Robert Johnson, talked about his experiences and told stories about Denier and some of the things he will remember about him.
“I always knew I could ask him for advice,” said Johnson. “Being older than us, Denier had a lot of advice about life. I’m honored to have known such a great guy in my life and even more honored to have served beside him.”
Near the end of the ceremony, gunfire interrupted the silence, as the firing detail performed a three-volley salute to honor the fallen Marine.
After the service, Marines and sailors approached the battlefield cross, saying goodbye and rendering a salute as they remembered Denier’s life.
