Obituaries
Doris Anne Nicholson Backus
Doris Anne Nicholson Backus, 88, passed away on May 8, 2022 at her longtime home on Fayette Street in Mexico, NY; in which she lived for 70 years. She was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mexico. She and one other were the first females of the session of the church. She was also a Chairman of the Board of Deacons and a Sunday school teacher for 70 years. She also helped with many of the Church’s activities. She enjoyed helping the Pastor and her husband order flowers for Church, that fit in so well with the events. She was predeceased by a son, Harry. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Horace Backus; her son John (Debra) Backus; their sons Jesse (Lauren) Vorrasi, Andrew (Hidemi) Backus, Jonathon Backus, their great-grandchildren Sophie Vorrasi and Landon Vorrasi; her daughter Kim (Marc) Grindle; and their son Derek; her brother, William (Nancy) Nicholson; their children Shamus Nicholson, Dr. Katey Nicholson, Shawn (Lindsay) Nicholson, Sara (Craig) Clark; her great nephew and niece Emmit and Lydia; along with many nieces and nephews. All of the family were important in their own way to a fitting conclusion of a lifetime, devoted to her family and church.
Kenneth E. “Scott ” Bush
Kenneth E. “Scott” Bush, age 91 of Elmira, NY. He was born May 10, 1930 in Elmira, the son of the late Earl E. and Myrtle (May) Bush, and passed away Monday, March 14, 2022 at home. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his son-in-law Jerry Miller. Kenneth is survived by his wife of 71 years, Virginia (Watts) Bush; children Ann (Warren) Wood of Himrod, NY, Betsy Miller of Pine City, NY, Jim (Meg) Bush and Scott (Lisa) Bush of Elmira, NY, Carl (Rochelle) Bush of Breesport, NY, and Cindy (David) Nagy of Millerton, PA along with 21 grandchildren, 37 greatgrandchildren; and numerous other relatives. Kenneth was a lifetime dairy farmer, and was an active member of the agriculture community. Serving on several boards including CC Holstein Club, CC Agriculture Society, Farm Land Protection and CC Farm Bureau, both at the local and state levels. Ken also served his community as being one of the founding members of the East Hill Volunteer Fire Department, was active on the board of the CC Soil and Water Conservation for 40 years. Ken also served his community as a CC Legislator for 8 years and an Elmira Town board member for 22 years. Despite all his achievements, if you asked Ken what
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his greatest accomplishment was, it was undoubtedly the bond and memories he created with his family and friends. Ken will always be loved and missed by those fortunate to have shared their lives with his. He will be laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Elmira, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may donate in Kenneth’s name to the East Hill VFD, 266 Jerusalem Hill Road, Elmira, NY 14901, or Breesport Baptist Church, 1811 N Chemung Road, in Breesport, NY 14816.
Ronald “Ronny ” Osofsky
Ronald “Ronny, Ronnie or Ron” Osofsky passed away on Friday, May 13, 2022, overlooking the alfalfa fields from the home where he and his wife Kathleen raised their family. Born January 27, 1941 with a love for the farm and a desire to spend all of his time with animals made dairy farming an easy choice for Ronny. His parents, Helen and David Osofsky, raised Ronny and his three younger siblings on the “Home Farm” on Schultz Hill Road in Pine Plans, NY. The earliest stories of Ronny include his parents having to fence-in the yard to keep him from running to the barn. However, he quickly burrowed underneath leading to more extreme measures. He graduated from Pine Plains Central School in 1958 and went onto the University of Rhode Island, where he studied Animal Science and made lifelong friends who enjoyed their time visiting the farm and enjoyed his mother’s cooking. After graduating in 1962, he returned home to farm and to substitute teach at the local High School. A favorite family story was the time that Ronny fell in the manure pit at the farm, and against his objections, the principal insisted it was still okay for him to come teach that day. The students in that room probably still remember the odor. His parents supported his dream to start his own farm in the area and he moved a few miles away to ultimately milk cows in the more modern facility on Route 82. He fell in love and married a local girl, Kathleen “Cathy” Freney in 1971. They welcomed three children, Jonathan, Carey and Daniel, as well as some beloved Golden Retrievers over the next decade. This is also when Ronny’s interest in high end dairy cattle genetics peaked. Investor cattle became popular in the 1980s, which brought an influx of interest to dairy farms in the Hudson River Valley. It also allowed Ronny to expand the scope of his business and passion for dairy farming, adding on farms, including a show herd at the old Eldridge farm on Route 199 and the purchase of the old Deleval Research Farm on Prospect Hill Road, now the location of Ronnybrook Dairy. Aside from his family, one of his proudest accomplishments was breeding the purebred Holstein bull, Ronnybrook Prelude, who for a time was one of most
New York Holstein News July/August 2022
