Southampton (NY) High School Class of 1958

Deaths and Illnesses

Jim Padgett

James Henry Padgett Sr. ("Jimmy") died March 7, 2011 at his home in East Stroudsburg, Pa., of throat cancer. He was 70.

Born Sept. 10, 1940 in Jamaica, N.Y., he was the son of the late Henry & Katie Padgett. In 1941 the family moved to Southampton, N.Y., where Jimmy attended Southampton High School. Known as "Flash" on the track team, he also played varsity basketball, football, and baseball. He was a member of the chorus, the band, and Boys' Hi-Y. He graduated from Southampton High School in 1958.

Jimmy attended Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) in Petersburg, Va., where he graduated from the Automotive Technology program. While at Virginia State, he was a member of the football team, the track team, and the ROTC rifle & drill team, and sang and toured with the Shining Light Gospel Singers of Norfolk.

He and his wife of 49 years, the former Karen Adams of Southampton, resided in St. Albans, N.Y., Tobyhanna, Pa., and East Stroudsburg, Pa.

Jimmy worked as an auto mechanic in Queens; later for the New York City Transit Authority, from which he retired after 25 years of service as a subway motorman; and most recently as a bus driver for the Pleasant Valley and Pocono Mountain school districts.

Jimmy was a member of the Tobyhanna Methodist Church where he was a member of the stewardship committee, board of trustees, worship committee, administrative council, the United Methodist Men, as well as a volunteer with Monroe County Meals on Wheels and the Pocono Farms Crimewatch.

He enjoyed fishing, gardening, playing the bass guitar, and attending NASCAR races.

Jimmy is survived by his wife; a son, James Henry Padgett Jr. ("Ajax"); a sister, Gwendolyn; a grandson, Jordan Eugene Padgett; a daughter-in-law, Shelly Arleen; a brother-in-law, Ira; nieces Shirley, Gwendolyn, Sylvia, Rita, and Vanessa; one nephew, Christopher; and numerous grandnieces and cousins.

Funeral services took place Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 11:30am at the Tobyhanna, Pa., Methodist Church.

Don Poremba '53

Donald A. Poremba, the husband of our classmate Kathy Matlega Poremba, died Feb. 7, 2011 at Southampton Hospital from heart failure and related complications. He was 76.

Funeral arrangements have been made through the O'Connell Funeral Home on Little Plains Road. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Feb. 11 at Our Lady of Poland RC Church in Southampton. He was interred with full military honors at Sacred Hearts Cemetery. Don was a proud veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a Code Enforcement Officer with the Village Police Department.

Kathy can be reached at 631-283-9023.

Renny Jessup

William Reynolds (Renny) Jessup died January 20, 2011 at Holyoke Hospital in Massachusetts.

He had been a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, then returned to Southampton where he lived on Fish Cove Road in Southampton until failing health made it necessary to move in with his brother Clifford (Kippy) in Russell, Mass.

For the past few months, he had been a resident of the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke.

Besides Kippy and his wife Martha, Renny leaves a sister, Joanne Wallace and her husband Rudy of Asheville, NC; several cousins, nieces, nephews, and a grandniece; and his favorite aunt, Lois Andrews, of Water Mill.

Renny was a hard worker and a friend to everyone who knew him.

In accordance with his wishes, Renny's cremation took place on Monday, January 24, 2011 in Springfield. Service details will be announced in the near future.

Howard Luckhardt

Howard Luckhardt, of 2029 Caracara Dr., New Bern, North Carolina, died July 27, 2010 after a long illness.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Cotten Funeral Home, 2201 Neuse Blvd, New Bern, NC 28560-4311 (252-637-3181), who have kindly provided an online obituary.

Full obituary from 27East, August 11, 2010.

Doris Saunders

We regretfully announce the death July 8, 2010 of Doris (née Hopson) Saunders of Oxon Hill, MD, from cancer.

A registered nurse, Doris held an M.A. from Catholic University. She leaves behind two living parents, her husband Omie '58, three grown children, and nine grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Bolling Air Force Base (D.C.) chapel at 1:00 p.m. August 16. Doris's ashes will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. August 17.

Full obituary from Southampton Press, Jul 22, 2010.

Dick Greene

Former Southampton resident Richard M. Greene Sr. died on March 18 at his home in Arapahoe, North Carolina. Also known as Dick, he was 69.

Born August 6, 1940, to Dorothea and Raymond Greene of Brooklyn, he grew up in Southampton, graduating from Southampton High School in 1958. He excelled at track and field and racing boats. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Munich, Germany, for two years.

A diesel mechanic, he also worked at other jobs, including as a tractortrailer driver, a part-time snowplow driver, an oil platform ferry captain, a scalloper, and promoting his wave abatement invention. If it was broken, Mr. Greene would commence to fix it, family recalled, whether it was an engine, a child's toy or a friend's troubles.

Mr. Greene had a great love of the water that he has passed down to his children. In 2002, he retired to Pamlico County where he enjoyed living and playing on the water. He earned his captain's license in 2004 and was also a volunteer for the Southeast Pamlico Volunteer Fire Department. He was also a member of the Oriental Dance Club and Alliance United Methodist Church.

According to survivors, Mr. Greene was happiest when surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors. As a loving husband, father and friend, they said, he was always willing to give a helpful hand to anyone. One of his tenants remarked that "Dick was the only Yankee that I could call a friend."

He is survived by his wife, Tatiana Greene of North Carolina; a daughter, Carol and her husband Paul Ansberry of Nevada; a son, Richard Greene Jr, and his wife Liz of California; two grandchildren, Jake and Jordan; three stepchildren, Jana, Ilia and Zhenya; and two step-grandchildren, Masha and Sasha. A memorial service officiated by the Reverend Penny Dollar Farmer will be held on Saturday, March 27, at 11 a.m., at Bryant Funeral Home Chapel in Alliance, North Carolina. A reception will follow at Mr. Greene's home.

-- Southampton Press, March 25, 2010

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the American Red Cross in Dick's memory. You can write to the family at 3101 Janiero Rd, Arapahoe, NC 28510.

Edith Avens Smith

Edith A. Smith died on October 22 at her home in Springs. She was 68.

Born November 6, 1940, in Southampton to Estel and Kenneth P. Avens, she attended Southampton High School. She worked as a bookkeeper at Emporium Hardware in Sag Harbor.

She is survived by two sons, John A. Smith of Sag Harbor and Eric P. Smith of California; two brothers, Fred Avens and Robert Avens; two sisters, Mary Athetstone and Helen Martin; five grandchildren; and eight nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Dennis A. Smith.

Services were held on October 25 at Yardley & Pino Funeral Home in Sag Harbor. Cremation followed.

-- Southampton Press, October 29, 2009

William M. Berberich

BERBERICH - William M., of Islip, NY, on October 31, 2009, in his 91st year. Beloved husband of Marie. Loving father of Kathleen, Robert, Donna, Susan, Sophia, Marie, and Stephanie. Cherished grandfather of 13 and great-grandfather of 4. Visiting, Monday, 2-4:30 and 7-9pm at the Overton Funeral Home, Inc., 172 Main St. Islip, NY. Cremation private. Funeral mass, 9:45am, Tuesday, St. Mary's RC Church, East Islip, NY. Interment of ashes immediately following, Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY.

-- Newsday, November 1, 2009

Bill Searle

We have received word of the death of William T. Searle on September 6, 2007. Condolences may be sent to his family at 88 Seabreeze Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34209.

Melvera Dickinson

Melvera Dickinson of Water Mill died on May 1 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton. Ms. Dickinson, 68, lived most her life in the Water Mill farmhouse she grew up in.

Born November 15, 1940, at Southampton Hospital, she was the daughter of Melvin and Vera Dickinson. She graduated from Southampton High School and the State University of New York at Geneseo. After graduation, she taught kindergarten in Manorville for a few years. A brother, Charles Dickinson, predeceased her in 2006.

A graveside service, officiated by Pastor Rhodes from the Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church, was held on May 5 at the Water Mill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation, Attn: Individual Giving Department, 1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311 would be appreciated by the family.

-- Southampton Press, May 7, 2009