Diane (Drexel) Pabilonia ’60 – 02/11/2024

Posted by Christopher Byrd on 2024-10-30
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Diane D. Pabilonia (nee Diane Marie Drexel), age 81, passed away Sunday, February 11, 2024. Loving mother of Jeffrey T. Pabilonia and Kim L. Pabilonia (Mitchell B. Shaw); Cherished grandmother of Adan P. Shaw and Jaclyn P. Shaw; Survived by her brother Donald J. Drexel (Theodora) and their son Christopher Drexel as well as Diane’s partner Matthew J. Abrams and former husband Jaime A. Pabilonia; Predeceased by former husband Vincent Guandolo.

Diane was born in Buffalo, NY to Jack W. Drexel and Lorraine E. Drexel (nee Lauer). She lived in Washington, DC with her beloved cat Cartier. She studied at Amherst High School, University of Buffalo and Millard Fillmore Hospital Nursing School. Diane worked as a Registered Nurse, as a Vice President at Children’s National Hospital and she established her own design firm, MedCare Designs, Inc.

Diane was a people person and made friends wherever she went. All of her friends were very special to her. Diane’s passions included interior design, painting, photography, plants, flowers and collecting beautiful objects. Diane loved all her animals and treasured the memories of her cats Caress, and Casey, her dogs Chloe and Cadie and her canary Caruso.

Prayers will be offered on Thursday, February 29, 2024 2PM at Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home at 8630 Transit Road, East Amherst, NY 14051. Interment to follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Swormville, NY.

A Memorial Mass will be held Saturday March 2, 2024 at 2:00PM at St. Stephen Martyr Catholic Church – 2436 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20037 followed by a Celebration of Life at the Crystal Room downstairs in the Church

Link to watch Memorial Mass online: https://www.youtube.com/live/tH1C1-c0_10?si=s0IMC6quenI8xZsC

Flowers may be donated to St.Stephen Martyr Church for the Celebration of Life

Donations may be made in Diane’s memory to:

• Johns Hopkins Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, or

• The Children’s National Hospital Foundation, or

• The Foggy Bottom West End Village Association

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/east-amherst-ny/diane-pabilonia-11671009

Maria Bardos – Faculty – 09/23/2024

Posted by Christopher Byrd on 2024-10-21
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Maria Bardos Obituary
Bardos, Dr. Maria Csonka

Mar 10, 1938 – Sep 23, 2024

Passed away in Buffalo NY. She was born to Kornelia and John Csonka in Budapest, Hungary. She lived a colorful, adventurous life. Her father fled Communism in 1948 and settled in Buffalo. After numerous attempts by her mother to obtain an exit visa, the rest of the family was granted permission to leave Hungary in 1959 and was reunited with her father in the US. Because of the family’s “reactionary” background, she was not admitted to university in Hungary. She completed her higher education at SUNY Buffalo, graduating summa cum laude with a BA and a PhD in German literature. She taught German, Spanish, and Latin in Amherst Middle and High Schools for 26 years. In 1980 she received the James E. Allen Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Education in NY State. She enjoyed tennis, classical music, watercolor-painting, travelling and most of all, conversing with her numerous friends. Ever the educator, she made numerous presentations to her friends at Canterbury Woods retirement community on topics such as the art of Michelangelo, Etruscan civilization, and the Iliad. One of her proudest accomplishments was a memoir of her life during World War II and Communism, “More Than Luck.” Preceded in death by her husband Dr. Thomas Bardos, her parents, and her brother John Csonka, Jr. Survived by her sister Judy (Peter) Novak, brother Laszlo (Carol) Csonka, and cousin Géza (Judy) Csonka who helped her in her failing health. She cherished her godchildren, nieces and nephews Nicolette (Michael) Hommer, Andrea (Michael) Baer, Susan Csonka, Peter (Lisa) Novak, and Nicolas (Taylor) Csonka. If you wish, please make a donation in Maria’s memory to the American Heart Association.

Bruce Lawrence Jansen – 11/14/2023 – ’62

Posted by amherstalumnioffice on 2024-10-04
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Obituary

Bruce Lawrence Jansen, 79, of West Seneca, New York and The Villages, Florida passed away peacefully from cancer on Tuesday November 14, 2023. He was born in Buffalo, New York on July 2, 1944 to Anna and Lawrence Jansen.

Bruce attended Amherst Central Schools and then graduated with high honors from Michigan State University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. He worked in western New York as a public and industrial accountant, and then as a certified financial planner where he continued his work with LPL Financial until early 2023.

Bruce had a lifelong passion for cars and model trains. At age 5 he was able to identify the make, model and year of any vehicle that drove by his house. He enjoyed Formula 1 and Indy car racing, owned sports and classic cars, and even collected dinky model cars. Throughout his life, Bruce enjoyed travelling, bicycling, and watching the New York Yankees, football and hockey. He was a true Buffalonian in his support for Buffalo’s professional hockey and football teams. Bruce was a long time member of the Niagara Frontier Bicycle club and logged over 100,000 miles on his bicycles. He was very active in both Western New York and The Villages where he had spent time skiing, golfing, pattern dancing to country music, playing pickle ball, attending concerts or automotive events and gathering with his many friends for a good meal.

Bruce is survived by many special lifelong friends and cousins. He is slso survived by his daughter Erika Freeman (Mike), grandsons Andrew, Colin, and Mathew Freeman (Elizabeth); and by his daughter Leslie Webb (Brian), and bonus grandchildren Christian and Lexie Webb. He was proceeded in death by his parents and step-mother, Daisy Jansen.

His life will be celebrated in both Florida and New York, details are not yet available. Donations in Bruce’s memory can be made to Roswell Cancer Center or the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Original: https://baldwincremation.com/obituaries/bruce-lawrence-jansen/

Kenneth Butka – 09/22/2024 – Retired Faculty

Posted by amherstalumnioffice on 2024-10-04
Posted in: News, Obituaries. Tagged: , , , . 1 Comment

9/22/2024

Beloved husband of Susan (nee Anderson) Butka. Loving father of Kristin Butka. Loving brother of William Butka and the late Joan Mackolin. Loving uncle of Lisa (Larry) Waczkowski. A celebration of life will be held on a date and time to be announced. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday November 2, 2024 at Christ The King Church, 30 Lamarck Dr, Amherst, NY 14226, at 9:30am.

Online condolences may be placed at https://thedietrichfuneralhome.com/viewings/kenneth-r-butka/.

Richard J. Mitchell – Retired Faculty – 09/26/2024

Posted by Christopher Byrd on 2024-09-30
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October 15, 1937- September 26, 2024

Age 86 years old.

Survived by his beloved wife Elizabeth (Liza) of 64 years. Devoted father of David (Sheila), Scott and Victoria. Proud grandfather of Bruce, Kelley and Riley.

Richard was originally from Troy, Pennsylvania and remained very fond of his hometown his whole life. Obtained rank of Eagle Scout and attended Philmont & National Scout Jamboree of 1953. Graduate of Troy High School. Attended and graduated from Mansfield State Teachers College and received his masters degree from University at Buffalo. He had also obtained many post graduate credits from Canisius College and Buffalo State College.

His love of teaching high school English began in Warren, Pennsylvania. He then taught at Amherst Central High School for 30 plus years. Upon his retirement from Amherst, he continued his devotion to teaching for an additional 6 years at Holy Angels Academy. He left behind a legacy of multiple generations of students well prepared for careers and life.

Upon his final retirement he mastered the skills of fly fishing, enjoyed a lifetime of hunting, was an avid reader and could frequently be found cycling around Amherst. He also was a very enthusiastic fan of UB’s sports teams.

In accordance with Richard’s wishes there will be no services. Family to hold a private gathering at a later date.

To honor his memory donations can be made to Hospice Foundation, PO Box 590 Buffalo, NY 14240.

Note – above picture from 1965 Tower year book with Florence Sturgeon and Beverly Nopper (Meer)

Original: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/east-amherst-ny/richard-mitchell-12006451