Class of 1959

Ed Sill Book Available!

This book was born at a GCHS Class of 1959 Alumni Reunion, written in part by our classmate Ed Sill, and finished by his wife Sandie after he died in January, 2006. Ed was diagnosed with polio in 1956 and cancer in 1980. He writes about his life, including his high school days at Guilderland, and how he faced and dealt with his challenges. Testimonials from his friends and family describe a man who was an inspiration to so many. Here's how you can order a copy. Click on any of the links below:

• Amazon.com

• Barnes & Noble

• Books a Million

• Publisher: Aperture Press.

Remembering our GCHS Class of 1959 Alumni

George E. Stahl, 72, died in his sleep at home on November 12, 2012. A member of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2, he worked for many years for Beltrone Construction Co. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy A. Stahl; children, Nancy J. (Michael) Sokil, Diane R. (James) Gade, Donna L. Abbruzzese and George J. (Amber Roback) Stahl; grandchildren, John Sokil, Timothy, Matthew, Thomas, James and Caroline Gade, Megan and Sierra Koniowka; brothers, Bernard J. (Ruth) Stahl and Charles H. Stahl. He donated his body to the Albany Medical College Anatomical Gift Program.

Published in the Albany Times Union on November 17, 2012

Nancy Cubit Wright, 69, died April 8, 2009, at St. Mary's Hospital, Troy, NY. She worked for Campbell Plastics in Rotterdam. Survivors include her sister, Beverly Hansen (John); one niece; three nephews; 11 grand nieces and nephews.  Published in the Schenectady Daily Gazette Co. on 4/9/2009.

Jeffrey L. Peterson of Manlius, NY passed away Friday, October 20, 2006 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse as a result of pulmonary fibrosis. Born in Akron, Ohio, he served with the US Army and the National Guard. Jeff was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union Local #58 for 45 years and was a member of the Archie VanPatten American Legion Post #141 in Manlius. He coached Pop Warner football and Little League baseball in Manlius for many years. Jeffrey was an avid gardener and model railroad train enthusiast.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Patricia (Tiffany, class of 1960); two sons, Craig S. (Camille) Peterson of Cicero and Douglas M. Peterson of Tully, his mother, Kathryn M. Peterson of Manlius, a brother, Dennis B. (Cheri) Peterson of LaFayette, four grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Our GCHS 1959 exchange student, Alice Dickes-Michel, died on August 21 2006 in her home country of Luxembourg. She is survived by her mother, Lucy Dickes, of  Luxembourg, Luxembourg, her older brother Paul Dickes, of Bereldange, Luxembourg, her younger brother Carlo Dickes, of Bridel, Luxembourg, daughter Katja Michel in Prague, Czech Republic, and her son Philip Michel in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Her father Albert Dickes is deceased.

Alice was born on September 27^th, 1940 in Luxembourg. She received her Masters in Sociology in Louvain, Belgium. From 1964 to1972 she worked for the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. Beginning in 1972 she was employed by the European Parliament in Luxembourg, dealing with third world country development. At the end of her successful career she was the head of the department for Environment and Social Affairs.

Alice Dickes-Michel is shown (left) in her 1959 GCHS yearbook photo, at the 40^th class reunion in 1999 with Jim Hauser, and again in 1999 with Lynda Jensen-Thomas at the old school bell.

Robert Willard Jacobson died on May 19, 2006. He was born on May 26, 1941 to Howard and Glendora (Ebert) Jacobson in Albany, New York.      

Bob is survived by his sons Robert and Joseph of Virginia, his mother Glendora (Ebert) Jacobson of Guilderland, NY and St. Albans, VT, his brother Howard Jacobson, his wife Lynda of Dublin, GA, his sister Elizabeth Bluto and her husband Gary of St. Albans, VT, his sister Marilyn Kaddaras and her husband Michael of Chandler, AZ, a daughter, Robyn, in Schenectady, Robyn's two sons Stephen and Robert, and he was a great-grandfather to Stephen's daughter Mackenzie. He has two sons, Robert of Portsmouth, Virginia and Joseph of Alexandria, Virginia. Bob was predeceased by his father Howard Jacobson, Jr. in November, 1997.

Bob graduated from Guilderland Central High School in Guilderland Center, NY in 1959, and Union College in Schenectady, NY in mechanical engineering. He worked for several local companies including General Electric, BF Goodrich Aerospace, and most recently IBM.

Some of his fondest memories were babysitting children over the last 25 years and working with his own children on the many cars they owned. Bob will also be missed by several special friends and relatives including Uncle Arthur (Pat) Barber of Shelburne, John (Howie) Keefer of Grand Isle, and Jennifer McCarthy of Burlington.  

Addresses:
Betty (Mrs. Gary) Jacobson Bluto (sister), 49 Parah Drive, St. Albans, VT  05478-2623;
Robyn (daughter), 2551 Barton Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12306.

Joan Milne Behnke, 64, of Burlington, VT died on Friday, March 31, 2006, at Fletcher Allen Health Care. 

She was born in Albany, N.Y., on Oct. 10, 1941, the daughter of Joseph and Marian (Baldwin) Milne. 

Joan was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who greatly enjoyed her family and friends. Joan is survived by her husband of 39years, Frederick W. Behnke of Burlington; her children, Karen McQuilkin of Cambridge, Linda LaVallee and her husband, Roger, of Burlington, James C. Behnke, also of Burlington, and Christine Groat and her husband, Bill, of Albany, N.Y.; two brothers and their wives, Robert and Janet Milne of Evansville, Ind., and John and Virginia Milne of Albany, N.Y.; a brother-in-law and his wife, George and Patricia Behnke of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and six nieces. 

She was predeceased by her father, Joseph Milne, on Jan. 27, 1989, and by her son, Jon Joseph Behnke, on March 4, 1989. 

Joan worked for many years as a library assistant at Lyman C. Hunt and Thayer Schools. She served as a player agent for the North Burlington Little League for over 30 years. She loved camping, quilting, fabric and traveling. She and her husband were Caravan Hosts for the Winnebago Travel Club. 

She was a member of St. Mark Church for 34 years. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there, with interment in Resurrection Park Cemetery, South Burlington.

Ed Sill passed away on January 10, 2006, at the age of 65 years. He was born in Albany and was a graduate of Guilderland Central High School. While he was part of our class of 1959 during much of his school years, he graduated in 1960, having lost time while fighting polio much of his life. He attended several Class of 1959 reunions.

He was employed as an information specialist for Sanofi-Aventi of Great Valley, Pa., for 44 years, retiring in 2003. He was active in Rensselaer politics, serving as a former alderman of the first ward. Ed was president of the Babe Ruth League and was involved in managing or coaching softball and little league teams. He was a communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Exeter Twp.

Ed was married for 45 years to Sandra LaMountain Sill, and was the father of Tammy M. Sill and Denise I. Heifer, both of Reading, Pa., Ronald E. Sill of Huntsville, Ala. and Kenneth R. Sill of Scotia, N.Y.; grandfather of Jared, Aaron, Kassandra, Nicole, Kristopher, Shannon and Lauren; brother of Irene DeMeur of Granville, Patricia LaValley of Ariz. and Francis Sill of N.Y. He was also survived by several nieces and nephews and was a friend to everyone.

These pictures of Ed were taken from our yearbook and at the Class of 1959’s 45^th reunion in 2004.

Edward F. Gepfert Jr. died Monday, February 7, 2005 at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy.

Born on April 30, 1941 in Albany, he was the son of the late Edward and Ellen (Cain) Gepfert Sr. Ed retired from the Coca Cola Bottling Company in Colonie. He was an avid bowler, enjoyed hunting and was a pilot. He loved to spend quality time with his cherished grandsons, who kept him smiling.

He loved the hobby of train collecting and was a NASCAR fan. He was also a coach for the Clifton Park Junior Bowlers. Ed was an Army veteran, having served his country in the Vietnam War. He was the husband of Ella Mae (Sanstspree) of Clifton Park, whom he married on August 21, 1976.

Ed was the father of Patricia (Jake) Weber of Clifton Park, and the brother of Sandra (Ralph) Cook of Malta, Kathy DeBenedetti (Dick) of Clifton Park and Rose (Frank) Gepfert-Paturzo of Latham. He was a grandfather to Jacob, Paul and Zac Weber of Clifton Park. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was held on Thursday, February 10 at the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home in Clifton Park. Interment with full military honors was held at the Gerald B.H. Solomon National Cemetery, in Schuylerville.