6 minute read
ObiTUArieS
Sara T. Chevako, 82, of New Woodstock, passed away Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. She was born June 18, 1940, to John and Eleanor Renninger and spent her childhood in Williamsport, PA. Upon graduating from Williamsport High School in 1958, Sara went on to pursue her bachelor of science degree in chemistry at Cornell University.
During her time at Cornell, Sara married and gave birth to her son, Michael.
Balancing motherhood with career, Sara was employed as a chemist with Bristol Laboratories in Syracuse. It was also during her time at Bristol that Sara purchased her hundred-acre farm in New Woodstock, where she could finally indulge her lifelong dream of owning horses. The farm became a gathering place for the many friends Sara made through work, traveling and singing folk music.
After three years of companionship, Sara married local engineer Robert Chevako, who loved and was devoted to Sara until the day she passed.
She was also exceedingly proud when son Michael followed in her footsteps and attended her alma mater, Cornell University, to pursue a career in radio and television.
When her division of Bristol Labs relocated to Illinois in 1984, Sara chose to take an early retirement rather than leave the area she had come to love. After working as a freelance bookkeeper for area businesses, Sara agreed to take a position with State Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffman, a longtime friend. In her more than 10 years as the senator’s trusted aide, Sara’s assistance was invaluable in keeping the senator on task and on target, working diligently for the people of New York state.
In her spare time, Sara developed a passion for riding, breeding and showing Tennessee Walking horses. It gave her great pleasure to see her beautiful horses grazing in the pasture outside the barn. Sara was also an integral part of both the New York State Horse Council and the New Woodstock Historical Society, holding multiple positions in both organizations. Sara became fascinated with genealogy later in her life and was an accomplished sleuth when it came Sara T. Chevako to tracking down not only her own relatives but the relatives of other area residents. As a result, she became a proud member of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Sara was a beloved grandmother to her two grandsons, Xander and Cooper, and took great pride in their academic, athletic and extracurricular accomplishments. She was steadfast in her love, support, and encouragement of all their endeavors. Sara leaves behind her husband of 48 years, Robert Chevako of New Woodstock, as well as her son
Michael Dawson, daughter-in-law Laura Anderson and grandsons Xander and Cooper Dawson, of Hanover, MA, as well as countless friends throughout the world. Her sense of humor, sharp intelligence, unquenchable curiosity and appetite for life will be missed by all. A celebration of life for Sara will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions in
Sara’s memory may be made to the New York State
Horse council, P.O. Box 76, Harpursville, NY 13787-0076 or online at nyshc.org. Condolences for the family may be left at michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.
It is with a sad, broken heart for me to announce that my dear brother Jason Spilka passed away on Nov. 7, 2022.
Jaybird inspired our whole family to live life as he did - with love, laughter, hugs and in complete happiness for 57 years.
He was a pure, sweet, gentle soul that was part comedian and part rockstar.
He was a legend in Utica, where my mother and father raised him, and for the last seven years living in Cazenovia Jason Spilka with my wife Gail and me.
Jaybird filled our home with his music and magic daily - always entertaining and never a dull moment.
On any given day he could walk out of his room dressed as the Fonz, Gilligan, Captain Kirk, Rocky or Elvis. He kept us laughing, drove us crazy at times, and kept us on our toes.
In his younger days he attended Boces/ARC, winters in Florida with my parents, summers at camp on First and Seventh Lake, and swimming like a fish at his Deerfield home and then his home in Caz. He was a true man of leisure.
His parents, Big Joe and Janet, gave Jason a wonderful life, and he returned the favor by giving our family his magic and miracles that held us together all these years.
He passed peacefully and with dignity in his family’s arms. Jason was a true angel on earth and our entire family and friends will miss him terribly.
We would like to thank the nurses at St. Joe’s for taking special care of my dear brother right up to his precious last moments.
Goodnight Jason, I love you and will see you soon brother.
A celebration of Jason’s life will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, 1 to 4 p.m. at Newell-Fay Chapel of Schepp Family Funeral Homes, 8171 Cazenovia Road, Manlius.
For guest book, please visit scheppfamily.com.
Yaad and Tukada (Memory and Chip) welcomed at the zoo
By DaviD Tyler
The twin baby elephants at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo now have names, following a joint announcement with Micron and Onondaga County held last Friday morning.
The names selected for the plus-sized baby boys are Yaad and Tukada, which translate to Memory and Chip in Hindi. The announcement was made by April Arnzen, Micron’s senior vice president and chief people officer.
Arnzen said zoos represent education, curiosity, compassion and connection, something Micron values in the communities it invests in.
“Zoos are a hallmark of a strong com-
CNY spCa pet of the week
Meet Doug anDolive
By DOnna neWMan PHOTO BY dONNA NEWMAN
“low to the ground and fun to be around” – that’s Doug and olive! two cuter dogs you cannot find! They originally came to the shelter as strays. Olive is about three years old, twenty-six pounds, and looks like a very large Boston Terrier mix. Doug is about five years old and thirty-six pounds and looks like a very small pit mix. How they ended up at the shelter as strays is a mystery - if only dogs could talk! They were adopted quickly but returned a few months later when their family had a change of circumstance. They’re a bonded pair, and MUST be adopted together; in fact, they’re like an old married couple. They love people and especially loved the kids they lived with. They’ve become a pack of two, and would do best in a home without other dogs or cats. When you meet them, you can’t help but smile – they’re just delightful! To learn more about adoption, call 315-454-4479, emailfrontdesk1@cnyspca.org, or visitcnyspca.org.
dAvid TYlEr
april arnzen, Micron’s senior vice president and chief people officer, announces the names of the baby twin elephants. She is flanked by Onondaga County executive ryan McMahon and zoo Director Ted Fox.
munity,” she said.
She joked that elephants, like Micron, are known for their “incredible memories.”
County Executive Ryan McMahon said the county has two “miracles” to celebrate this holiday season. The first is “the historic investment in us by the greatest memory technology company in the world.” The second miracle is the unexpected twin elephants.
To celebrate these “miracles,” Micron is sponsoring a Holiday with the Animals event at the zoo on Sunday, Dec. 18. On that day – which happens to be National Twin Day - all patrons will be given free admission to the zoo.
