John Nardozzi 1933-2010

One life that touched so many others

My husband's uncle, John Nardozzi, passed away 5 February 2010. I didn't know Uncle Johnny very well, we'd see each other at various family events and chat awhile. So let me tell what I knew about him.

John was the youngest of eight children, born in Syracuse, NY on 18 June 1933 to Gennaro "John" and Angelina (Taddeo) Nardozzi. He grew up on Hawley Ave and was educated in the city schools. He attended Syracuse University, where he earned an accounting degree and was self employed as an accountant. He was a life long batchelor and a favorite uncle to many most all? of his neices and nephews. He had a quick wit and was always ready with a joke. He was also a big Syracuse University Sports fan and booster.

If Johnny and I had never met I could have learned most of the above from his obituary. When I learned of his passing I was saddened to realize that I knew so little about him.

On Tuesday evening, at his wake, I learned just how much he had meant to so many people. All the family that could come were there of course but there was also a steady stream of of people that all counted themselves as his friends. There were students that had rented rooms from him. John loved a good meal and ate out often. Waitresses, restaurant owners and regular dining companions came and they all had stories to tell. Wonderful stories. I knew John like SU sports but I didn't know just how much. He followed all of the sports, had season tickets and traveled to all of the away games that he could. He was also involved with an athletic alumni club. There were many people from the University, past athletes, other fans and again, they all had stories to share.

Most wakes of my experience are sad, gloomy affairs. This one was different. As the stories were told there were smiles and laughter and yet none of it seemed out of place. John was known for his sense of humor and I think he would have been pleased at the way his family and friends reminisced and celebrated his life.

We gathered again this morning to say our final goodbyes. The service and eulogy were given by a relative and that was comforting. We reflected on his life and focused on his sense of humor. We didn't linger long at the cemetery due to the cold and snow but we spent a couple of hours together as a family over a good, Italian meal.

Goodbye Uncle Johnny, you'll be sorely missed.

A Break-through

I had a huge break-through on my Kelly line over the weekend and I've been a little obsessed with tracking down the lines to see where they lead. My great-grandfather, James Kelly was born in Adams, NY and moved to Ottawa, Ontario as a young man. From what I understand he was not a good person and my grandmother had very little to do with him so I had very little information to go on. Years ago I found the family on early census records but soon lost track of the line and put it aside. Those census records are recorded in my last post.

This article was what set things in motion:

The Watertown Herald, Dec. 26, 1896, pg 1

Suicide Caused by Drink
ADAMS, Dec. 25 - William Kelly. a man of about 40 years of age, who resided on Liberty street, committed suicide Monday afternoon about 2 o'clock. He had an attack of delerium tremens Sunday night, and after that time was watched closely, as he threatened taking his life. One of his neighbors was sitting with him, and left him alone about 10 minutes, but in that short time he ran to the barn and with a knife cut his throat. Dr. W. H. Nickelson was summoned, but he died soon after the arrival of the doctor. He was a son of Mrs. Mary Kelly and lived here all his life. He leaves a wife and five small children. Coroner Sias, of Ellisburg, was summoned.

He was probably only about 35 years old. His age on the 1870 and 1880 census were both consistant with an 1862 birth.

Next I looked at the 1900 census. In Adams I found only one Kelly widow with several children:

1900 Census, Adams, Jefferson Co, NY, pg 37A, family 355

Mary Kelly head b Jun 1861 ag 38 wd Eng Eng Eng
Phillip son Jan 1881 19 s NY NY Eng
Will son Jul 1886 13 s NY NY Eng
Mammie dau Mar 1890 10 s Ny NY Eng
Hazel dau Dec 1895 5 s NY NY Eng

There were only four children listed. A few pages later I found:

1900 Census, Adams, Jefferson Co, NY, pg 41B, Frank C Raymond’s Hotel
Bert Kelly servant Mar 1883 17 s NY NY Eng Occ – Porter

Certainly not proof that Bert was the fifth child but it seemed right so I kept digging. I found hundreds of references to Bert Kelly while searching the newspaper archives. I hit pay dirt with his obituary:

The Palladium Times, Oswego, NY, September 17, 1960, pg 5

Fulton Deaths

FULTON – Bert H. Kelly, 76, of RD1, died unexpectedly Friday night at his home.

Born in Adams, Mr. Kelly had lived at RD1 45 years and until eight years ago, when he retired, operated a dairy farm. He was a member of Hannibal Lodge 550 F. and A. M.

Surviving are his wife Mrs. Lelah E. Kelly; a son Carroll Kelly of Fulton; a grandson, (name removed); two great-grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Crowder of Jamaica, L. I. and Mrs. Fred Stife (?) of Watertown.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the Foster Funeral Home.

--------------------------------------

The Fulton Patriot, Sept. 22, 1960, pg 7


Bert H. Kelly, 76, of Fulton, ………. Suddenly Friday at his home.

Mr. Kelly had lived in the Fulton area 4? years and until eight years ago operated a dairy farm. He was a member of Hannibal Lodge 50 F and A M.

Survivors include his wife, Lilah E. Kelly; a son, Carroll Kelly of Fulton; a grandson and two great-grandsons; and two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Crowder (Crawder?) of Jamaica, L. I. and Mrs. Fred Safe (?) of Watertown.

While still searching for Bert, I found his brother, William's obituary which ties the family back to William Kelly, Sr.:

Undated scrapbook article @ Old Fulton Post Cards abt 1956?

William D. Kelly

William Dwight Kelly, 70, husband of Lucy Barrett Kelly of 92 Erie St., died unexpectedly this morning at Oswego Hospital.

A Native of Adams, he was the son of the late William and Mary Liney Kelly and had lived in Oswego for the last 15 years. For the last nine years he was employed at Oswego Hospital in the maintence department. Mr. Kelly attended First Methodist Church.

Surviving with his wife are three sons, Philip and William Jr., both of Oswego and a step-son, Thomas Flemming of Syracuse; two daughters, Mrs. Catherine May and Mrs. Mary Huseby both of Oswego; two sisters, Mrs. Mammie Streiff, Watertown and Mrs. Hazel Crowder, Jamaica, L. I.; a brother, Bert Kelly, Fulton.

Burial will be in Rural Cemetery.

I will write more about what I found later.

Older Articles

I decided to start a seperate blog just for genealogy. I will continue to post articles of general interest at The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree and link to them here.

All articles written prior to December 2006 can be found here.

Some of my favorites:
Syracuse Baby Camp - The history of my grandparents house and my struggle to find it

Thank You Veterans - My Mom was an Aerographer's Mate and a cousin served on the Robin Moor

The Wreck of the Flyer - Some Fulton / DL&W Railroad history with a family connection


And some short Biographies of some ancestors:
Thomas David Berry
Michael Camfield
Tamesin Hall
Hannah Lewis Glover
Helena Grabowski
Adolph Niemann

John William Gale

New York | Canandaigua | Daily Messenger, The | 1950-03-28, pg 3

Dr. John W. Gale

Dr. John William Gale, 93, of Lima, who began the practice of dentistry in Canandaigua, died yesterday. Prior to World War I Dr. Gale practiced for 15 years in Cologne, Germany
A native of Lodi, he was graduated from Genesee Wesleyan seminary and from the University of Michigan. He prcticed in Canandaigua and Triple Falls, Wis., before going to Germany, returning to Lima on his retirement in 1912. He was a 32nd degree mason.
His only survivor is his wife, Minnie Grover Gale.
Survices will be held from the home in Lima tomorrow, at 2:30 p. m.

(Minnie Grover, 1862-1950, was the daughter of Levi Parsons Grover and Elvira M Sprague)