Obituary of Andrew F. Papa

Andrew F. Papa Sr., 93, of Center St., Fonda, passed away Monday evening at St. Mary?s Hospital in Amsterdam. Born in Fonda, NY on November 5, 1912 a son of Vincinzo ?James? Papa and Maria Rosina Ianotta. He graduated from Fonda High School in 1930 and attended Union College for three years before transferring to Hartwick College in Oneonta, receiving a B.A. in Math and Biology in 1937. During this time he played the clarinet and saxophone with ?Saxy? Marshall and his Band, touring the local nightclub circuit in upstate N.Y. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Artillery. He attended flight school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was rated a liaison pilot. He was attached with the 392nd F A Bn. 42nd Infantry Rainbow Division, adjusting artillery fire on enemy positions in the Hartz Mountains of Germany, and other locations in Germany and Bavaria. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of Captain. He continued his military service in the Army Reserves, and in 1958 he became Aviation officer of the 98th Infantry Training Division on the staff of the Commanding General. In this position he coordinated both fixed and rotary wing aviation training for the Division, as well as flying the Commanding General and members of his staff to various training units across New York State. He retired as a Major in 1965 after 21 ½ years of flying service. While in service he received the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. Following college and his return from the European Theatre, Mr. Papa went to work for the New York Central Railroad in both the track and signal departments, retiring in 1966. In 1964, the U.S. Postal Service appointed him temporary Postmaster of the Fonda office. In 1966 he was appointed Postmaster; a post he held until his retirement in 1977. He was a communicant of St. Cecelia?s Roman Catholic Church in Fonda and was a member of that parish?s Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District Board of Education during the first year of centralization; he was a member of the Fonda Fire Department, the Floyd Deckro Post 383, American Legion, the Fonda Reserve Officers Association, Schenectady Chapter and Army Aviation Assoc. of Washington, D.C. He and his wife were also involved with ?Preserve it Now?, a group dedicated to preserving architecturally historic buildings. He married Virginia Ann Schermerhorn on December 14, 1946. She died February 19, 2003. Survivors include a son, Andrew F. Papa Jr. and his wife Diane Carpenter of Fonda; a daughter Marion Ward and her husband Michael of Johnstown; five grandchildren: Joseph Alfano of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Eve Stoner of Troy, New York, Alisha Kobas of Johnstown and Danielle and Desiree Papa of Boston, Massachusetts and great grandchildren Keegan and Natalie Stoner and Caleb Kobas; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his parents and a stepmother, Rose; sisters Magdalena and Christine and brothers Anthony, Dominic, James, John and Thomas. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2005 at 3PM at the Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main St. Fultonville, New York with the Rev. Patrick Gallagher presiding. Interment with full military honors will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Fonda. The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday from 1-3PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the VFW Post 942, Route 30A, Fonda, NY 12068, G.A.V.A.C. P.O. Box 11, Amsterdam, New York, 12010 or to the Fonda Fire Department, Main St., Fonda, New York, 12068.