The Memorial Wall

Dr. Henry Evan Powderly of Pawling, former principal of H.C. Crittendon Middle School in Armonk died Friday of complications related to pancreatic cancer and Parkinson's disease. He was 75 years old. Dr. Powderly was born on Aug. 23, 1944 in Warwick, New York to parents Sarah Jane Jones and John William Powderly. He grew up in Matamoras, Pennsylvania with his parents and older brother John "Jack" Powderly. He was a proud graduate of both the University of Scranton and the University of Loyola, Chicago and worked early in his career as a school administrator in Pennsylvania's Delaware Valley.

In 1976, Dr. Powderly made what would end up being the most important decision of his life when he left Pennsylvania to take a school principal job in Van Buren, Maine, a small town along the Canadian border in northern Maine. It was there where he met the love of his life, Della Theresa Madore. On October 11, 1976, Dr. Powderly and Della eloped, and they stayed married for 43 years until his death. They have two children together; Henry Even Powderly II of Yarmouth, Maine, and Nicole Fodor of Warwick.

Dr. Powderly, who earned his doctorate from Fordham University in 1993 and served as an adjunct professor there, derived much joy from his work as a school principal, and he took particular pride in the success of H.C. Crittendon. Under Dr. Powderly's leadership, HC Crittenden was named a National Blue Ribbon Public School in 2006. Excellence was his baseline. "The best for the best is the best for all," he would say.

Dr. Powderly is survived by his wife and his children, his son-in-law Michael, his daughter-in-law Samantha, his grandchildren Gwyneth, Margaux, Michael Henry and Nathaniel, his miniature pincer Romeo, his dissertation "Anatomy of an Annexation" and the immeasurable impact he made on the students, colleagues, friends and family who benefitted from his wisdom, support and love.

Creekmore (Creek) Williams passed away on June 17 with his family and close friends support and love. Creek, a very proud, strong and kind man suffered for years with Parkinson's and remained strong to the very end.

A career Law Enforcement Officer, Creek served with the Los Angeles Police Department from Appointment October 2,1965 to Retirement as Sergeant in the elite Metro Division December 19,1991. Additionally, he served his country with the United States Army 1966 to 1968.

Highlights of his Law Enforcement career include a member of the LAPD SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics) team, which to this day is recognized as one of the top three prestigious units in the United States; and he led troops assigned to protect the athletes from terrorist attacks at the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles, CA.

A second career took Creek into the Personal fitness industry to become nationally certified as a full-time trainer and managed fitness studios until 1998 when he established his own business: Creek's Personal Fitness in Palm Desert. This was a full-time second profession, which Creek loved. He made as much of a contribution to others' lives as they fulfilled his. For more than 15 years Creek led exercise and fitness training for our local residents including many we would all consider celebrities and remarkable citizens of the Valley.

Creek is survived by his wife of 28 years, Carolyn Barton Williams; son, Brian Williams and daughter, Linda (Williams) Hagerty; brother, Bob Williams and sister, Judy (Williams) Brooks; and five grandchildren: Nick, Kendra, Robbie, Katrina and Haley.

It is with great respect and gratitude we give Creek knowing his legacy will be remembered by all those lives he touched.

Albert Arnold Sears was born in Brooklyn on March 16, 1939 to Albert and Harriet Sears. He went to school in Mill Basin, Brooklyn before the family moved to Long Island where he attended Massapequa High School.

Mr. Sears first met his wife Lei Lani Yeswoit Faust in 1957 at her parent’s luncheonette, Faust’s Campus Nook on Merrick Road in Amityville. She was 15 and he was 18 and they dated for about 8 months. At the time, Mr. Sears was working as a truck driver.

In November of 1957, the St. Lawrence Seaway in New York and Canada was under construction and Mr. Sears took the opportunity of driving a dump truck on what was then a challenging project. Meanwhile, the future Mrs. Sears continued at Amityville High School but said that she never forgot him and his “humorous and fun-loving ways.”

In 1959, Mr. Sears went to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps and served until 1963. “He was so proud of his Marine Corps years,” said his wife. “He loved it.”

After receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to Faust’s Campus Nook to renew his relationship with Lani. By then, however, she was engaged to marry Joseph Yeswoit the following August.

They went their separate ways and Mr. Sears continued his trucking career with companies that stretched from the east to west coasts. Some of his employers included Sunoco fuel tankers, Risolo Diesel Fuel, Prime Petroleum, Pier One Imports and Schwerman Trucking.

“He just loved trucking,” said his wife, who added that he made many longtime friends in the trucking world who contributed to his love of trucks. She said that his motto was always “Any Load, Any Road,” and that’s exactly what he did, she said.

Mr. Sears was known for his sharp mind and his wife said that he could recall anything he read from road maps, books or roadside historical site postings.

During his trucking career he too married but that marriage ended in 1988. Through a mutual friend, Mr. Sears found out Lani had separated from her husband as well. “When he called me, I couldn’t believe my ears,” she said. “He asked if we could correspond and I immediately said ‘yes’.”

Mr. Sears moved back to Long Island a short time later towing a small trailer-home with his pickup truck, and young love was rekindled once more, said his wife.

The couple purchased a home in Amityville in 1990 and proceeded to take many road-trip vacations up and down the East Coast in his pickup truck. Sometimes Lani accompanied him in big rigs, hauling scrap metal to the ports in New York or loading fuel tankers and transporting product.

Additionally, Mr. Sears had a passion for boating and purchased a Steiger Craft at which point he and Mrs. Sears joined the Amityville Yacht Club of which Mrs. Sears’ parents, Ed and Catherine Faust, were founders. Mrs. Sears said that being involved in the Amityville Yacht Club provided “many years of fun” for the couple.

Mr. Sears and his wife received tremendous support during Mr. Sears’ illness, including from her daughter Jennifer Yeswoit Oates, her future son-in-law Tommy Gallagher and her grandchildren, James, Kailey and Jake Oates as well as from Mr. Sears son and daughter-in-law.

“I am grateful to God for the help Albert received,” she said. “He is in Paradise, healed by God’s living waters, free to drive a magnificent big rig through God’s amazing Universe. Semper Fidelis.”

Albert Arnold Sears is predeceased by his parents Albert and Harriet Sears and his sister Katherine Lennon.

In addition to his wife Lei Lani Yeswoit (nee Faust) Sears of Amityville, he is survived by his daughters Nancy Sears of Blackshear, Georgia, Katherine Lent and her husband Adam of Batavia, Ohio and his son Christopher and his wife Nikki of Flower Mound, Texas. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Karen Sears of Georgetown, Texas; his granddaughters Annalea, Hali, Corrine and Madison; his niece Becky and nephews Aaron and Cody.

John McKinley a long time Rochester resident died on Tuesday, July 30th due to complications from a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body dementia at River Bend Senior Care.

John was born in Muncie, IN in 1938 and served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1961. An early pioneer in the computer sciences he moved to Rochester in 1971 and worked at the Mayo Clinic’s computer research and IT support teams until his retirement in 2001.

John was an avid climber who took on many of the tallest mountains in the Rockies after his retirement. He was also active with a number of climbing clubs in the region. His other outdoor passions included flyfishing the local trout streams, camping, hunting in the Whitewater River valley and countless trips to the Minnesota North Shore, where he introduced his love of the outdoors to friends, family members and work associates.

John is survived by his wife of 49 years Shirley McKinley of Rochester, his son William McKinley and daughter in law Melissa McKinley of Omaha, NE, brother Michael McKinley of Muncie, IN, sister Jayne Gentry and brother in law Ed Gentry both of Bluffton, IN and 2 grandchildren Oliver and Hannah Gjere who both reside in Rochester and are carrying on the tradition of working for the Mayo Clinic. John was preceded in death by his daughter Sarah Szabo, and his sister Joanne Curtis.

Scott Bruce Meyer, age 73, husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, all round funny guy passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on August 4, 2024, from Lewy Body/Parkinsons, which he suffered with for nearly 12 years.

Scott was born on Mar 6, 1951, to parents Seymore and Doris Meyer in Brooklyn, N.Y. His family moved to Jericho, Long Island, where he grew up and attended Jericho High School. He went on to attend SUNY Albany and remained in the Capital District.

Scott is survived by his wife, Annette Nanes; daughters, Orah LeHockey (Tim) and Lily Meyer; his grandchildren, Naomi and Dylan LeHockey; his brother, Mitchell Meyer (Susana); sister-in-law, Carol Oren; brother-in-law, Bob Nanes (Jaew); and several nieces and nephews and cousins.

Scott with his wife, Annette, and partners opened the 3rd Street Theatre in 1980 and then the Spectrum Theatres in 1983. In 2009, he and Annette opened the New World Bistro Bar and later The Kitchen Table restaurant. These prominent Albany businesses were beloved by the Capital District Community and are an important part of his legacy.

Scott will always be remembered by all for his sharp wit, always coming up with the zingers that kept everyone around him laughing. He enjoyed the outdoors, hiking and biking and a love of fine cuisine. He was an accomplished keyboard player and enjoyed playing piano and his Hammond B-3 organ. He loved to travel, especially to Mexico, where he had many adventures with his wife Annette and later his family. He had a beautiful life, and he will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.