John Oberbrunner, a pillar of the Central New York music community for more than 60 years, died on March 31 at age 92. A charter member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra as principal flutist, Oberbrunner performed in hundreds of concerts around the world, including multiple appearances at Lincoln Center and other major halls. He recorded extensively in a variety of instrumental settings, produced concerts in and around Syracuse, hosted radio programs, and taught generations of musicians on the college level and in private lessons at his highly regarded Oberbrunner Flute Studio, in addition to his longtime work as instrumental music instructor in the Syracuse public schools.
The son of professional musicians Madalyn and Carl Oberbrunner, he was raised in New York City, where he attended the High School of Music and Art and the Mannes School of Music. Recognized as a gifted young flutist, he worked for two summers in the training orchestra of the National Orchestral Association, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall while he was still in his teens, the earliest of multiple concerts there. Before he became a much sought-after teacher himself, Oberbrunner studied with the flute masters Julius Baker, Doriot Anthony Dwyer, George Hambrecht, Henry Hambrecht, and Mildred Hunt Wummer.
Oberbrunner was graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Music Education. He taught flute at his alma mater for decades, while also teaching a wide array of band and orchestra instruments to students in the Syracuse school system. For nearly half a century, literally everyone in Syracuse who ever took a music lesson on any instrument other than strings studied under John Oberbrunner.
A leading force in the presentation of high-level music, Oberbrunner performed prominently in and often produced concerts of woodwind ensembles, chamber music, and "new music" throughout the Syracuse area, including the Flutessence series that he created and led in his later years. A highlight of his legacy in music advocacy is the Mid-Winter Concert of Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music (SFCM), an annual event he initiated 20 years ago, produced, and nurtured fervently until as recently as early 2021. Working further with the SFCM, he inaugurated an annual chamber-music contest for young musicians, which continues to thrive.
His musical interests were as expansive as his gifts, as he demonstrated in the wide range of his work, recording notably with the "third-stream" jazz musician Eric Dolphy and performing with the jazz and cabaret singer Karen Oberlin, his daughter. An ardent vocalist himself, Oberbrunner sang in a variety of choral groups with his beloved wife of 61 years, Dr. Carol Oberbrunner, a professor of philosophy at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
In addition to Dr. Oberbrunner, he is survived by their three children, Gary Oberbrunner, LisaAnn Oberbrunner, and Karen Oberlin Hajdu; four grandchildren, Rowan Livingston, Anna-Astrid Oberbrunner, Carl Oberbrunner, and Emery Hajdu; and two step-grandchildren, Jacob Hajdu and Victoria Abramson. The family asks that those wishing to donate in John Oberbrunner's name do so to Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music or Symphoria. A public memorial will take place at a later date.
Written by John Oberbrunner’s son-in-law, David Hajdu

Tatum was born on February 9th, 1998, in the middle of the Winter Olympics. When she arrived, she had a shock of black hair and solemn back eyes, gazing at everything around her. She was named after her Great Grandfather Willard Tate. She was a happy baby and didn't cry often. As her black eyes turned to dark brown, she gazed at the world around her. She was quick to do everything- stand, crawl, talk, walk, and observe people. Early in life, she noticed that some children didn't want to play with others because of how they looked, dressed, or how they talked. We spent hours discussing this at home. It made her incredibly sad at a very young age.

When she was five, her younger brother was born. Alexander William was her best friend throughout her life, they played lacrosse, fished, argued over the front seat, and spent countless hours in the backseat on family trips. She was fiercely protective of him and would remain so throughout her life. She only wanted the best for him.

In 5th grade, she found a list of the classics and decided to read all of them. From this endeavor, she realized that what happened in her local school had been occurring for thousands of years and continued worldwide over race, religion, wealth, and a myriad of other issues. It seemed so much for such a young mind to grasp. As one of her friend's recently stated," she carried simple love for all of humanity."

As Tatum moved forward in school she achieved more than I can remember between Honor Rolls and Dean's Lists. She was President of the National Honor Society in High School and earned a Redhawk Merit Scholarship to Miami University. While at Miami she was a Student Instructor in the Biology Department, a Student Senator in the Associated Student Government, and President of the College Democrats. Tatum was also part of several research labs- a particularly proud day was when her first journal article was published.

Tatum had become increasingly involved in issues relating to women and minorities since high school. She was particularly concerned about vulnerable groups that lacked a voice. Her friends described her as "fearless"; there wasn't an institution, protest, or position she was afraid to take. At Miami, she became engaged in the fight against the university to provide better mental health services for sexual assault victims. Back home in Detroit, she was increasingly engaged in human rights issues across the city. I often wondered why Tatum had neither time nor money, but everything she had went to people in need,

When the pandemic hit, Tatum put her graduation plans on hold and joined a team of pharmacists and techs traveling around Michigan nursing homes to deliver the vaccine. It was a challenging experience, particularly meeting patients who hadn't had visitors in several years. That was hard for Tatum to understand. Equally difficult were the issues with insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies causing problems for her beloved patients. This triggered a change in Tatum's post-graduation plans to a focus on Medical Pharmacology.

But Tatum had a fun side as well. She loved her dog. She loved gardening and spending time in the co-op garden at school, creating nutritious meals. Tatum was also an avid weight-lifter since early high school. Tatum loved music, particularly 70's music. She also loved festivals and rallies. She was an avid sports fan- you name a sport, she followed it. But her favorites were football and lacrosse. And she loved being out on the golf course. Growing up in Michigan, Tatum was a water baby. She loved to kayak, canoe, camp, and swim. She enjoyed annual trips to Florida and cruises.

Tatum returned to Miami this spring to finish her final semester and graduate. She was so excited about her next steps, to move forward with graduate school. Tatum was writing her senior thesis about the parallels between historic pandemics in underdeveloped countries and having fun with her friends.

On Saturday, March 19th Tatum quietly passed away in her sleep.

When I think of Tatum, I picture her reading a thick book about some medical breakthrough or human rights issue while lying on her bed, on a beach, in a hotel room, or in a hammock with her dog. She looks up at me with a big smile and says "Guess what I'm reading?"

Tatum, we love you forever.
John 5:24

Instead of flowers, please make donations to Forgotten Harvest https://www.forgottenharvest.org/donate/
In memory of Tatum Moleski
29455 Juneau Lane Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Sally was diagnosed with a rare Ovarian cancer that could not be cured but it could be treated, unfortunately sally only managed to have one chemotherapy treatment and sadly fell ill and couldn't proceed with her treatment, when sally was diagnosed she only managed to live 7 months sally fought this rare cancer right till the end she was a fighter until the cancer took her away from me.

We have the painful duty to inform you that our valued work colleague Meggie Ruf has sadly passed away. We are deeply saddened. We will always remember her outgoing and direct manner.

With Meggie we have lost a valuable employee and a good colleague. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the relatives.

Please feel free to use this space to leave any thoughts and messages of remembrance for Meggie.

Royce E. Hamende, Jr., 87, of Crete, IL, passed away on January 12, 2022. He was born December 6, 1934, to the late Royce and Avis (Cotter)Hamende, Sr. in Hammond, IN. Royce is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Connie (Sieren) Hamende; his son, Royce (Karen) Hamende, III; five grandchildren, Royce (Shelly) Hamende, IV, Rachel Hamende, Katherine Hamende, Jake (Laura) Borrmann, and Nick Borrmann; five great-grandchildren; three stepchildren, Jim (Kelly) Poole, Tracy (Kevin) Gray, and Steven Poole; and six step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Alicia Snider, and his daughter, Susan Borrmann.

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” - 2 Chronicles 15:7

Born into a loving, Christian family, during the depression, and on the cusp of World War II, it is not surprising Royce grew to become a faith-filled, hard-working, strong-principled, and thrifty man. He also showed early in his life he possessed a courageous and strong soul. Upon graduation from Griffith High School (Indiana), he joined the United States Coast Guard. In spite of his pension for sea sickness, he served as an electronics technician for 21 years.

He capitalized on his industrious, mechanical, and methodical thought-processing abilities both personally and professionally. In 1995, after several years working in the pumping industry, he and his wife, Connie, started their own company, Royce Equipment, LLC. Royce designed, sold, implemented, and serviced pumping equipment, successfully managing the business until his death. Royce was always ready to lend his expertise and helping hand to family and friends in need. The expected plumbing issues aside, he would fix your car, paint your bedroom, refurbish your furniture and fixtures, wallpaper your kitchen, change out your water heater- the list was endless! In the early years of their marriage, Royce and Connie bought several homes to fix up and sell, finding this labor of love to be therapeutic. His most coveted “project” was the lake cottage he and his young children built together. In 1967, Royce purchased an untamed lot on Lake Shavehead, just across the Indiana border in southern Michigan. He and his diligent helpers spent many weekends camping on the lot as they slowly built a two-bedroom home overlooking the lake. The construction process holds many fond memories for his son, including the “Dad” engineered ramp that allowed Susan to push blocks to the bottom of the hill, powered by scooting on her bottom and shoving them with her legs. Waiting below were the pair of Royces, picking them up and stacking them for the foundation. Even after all their sweaty labor and living in a tent, Dad still made them go to church on Sundays. Royce’s little plot of paradise provided many Fourth of July celebrations, fishing expeditions, lazy days of swimming, cards, and yard games, campouts, and lots of good food!

Another source of pride for Royce was his sobriety. A good friend shared his concern with Royce that his drinking had become a problem. Royce agreed to go to Alcoholics Anonymous and he never looked back. He spent the last 36 years of his life sober. It was never a taboo subject for him and he used his experience to help others. He understood the harms the disease causes and how it affects everyone, not just the afflicted, and wanted all to learn from his mistakes.

Royce was a devout Christian and an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Crete, Illinois. He loved his Chicago Bears, was an avid NASCAR fan, cherishing his annual trips to the Daytona 500, and he was forever in pursuit for that perfect round of golf.

The last 17 months of his life he faced his toughest challenge. He endured surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, all in the middle of a scary pandemic. He remained faithful to his Lord until the very end.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” - Psalm 27:14

In memory of Royce, you may make a donation to American Cancer Society at https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/In-Memory-of-Royce.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Peter Drake of complications arising from Covid. Peter was educated at "Queen Elizabeth High School" (QEHS), Carmarthen, Wales. He trained as a teacher (chemistry teacher) at the University of Northumberland before emigrating to Australia, where he worked as a science-teacher at schools in Sydney and Newcastle. He leaves a wife, Diane and two sons, Peter and Harry. No flowers, please. His ashes have been interned after a short family funeral

Papa has left us. We’ll never stop missing him. He could fix any broken thing except our hearts because we can no longer ask his advice on whether the pieces should be glued, nailed, stitched or stapled back together. He would know what tools to use. Born September 10, 1949 in Vancouver, Washington, Benny Rex Wilson, who went by Ben, was the youngest son of Jim and Elaine Wilson and brother of Jimmy Wilson, all of whom passed on before him. His formative years were spent on the Oregon coast where his family owned the Greenleaf motel at Gleneden Beach near Lincoln City.

Ben grew up an outdoorsman; he could name any tree that grew in the Pacific Northwest, once had a pet crow, and went beachcombing for Japanese glass fishing floats and agates that washed in after a storm. He fished for salmon, went crabbing, and dug for clams. He started getting grey hairs at the age of sixteen and worked to pay for his first car before he could drive.

After his graduation from Taft Highschool, he received his Vietnam induction notice and moved to Canada to dodge the draft. He was twenty. Ben had a variety of occupations when he first arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, including a job at Seagram’s Distillery, but settled on the trade of floor installation. He eventually became the best in the business in the Lower Mainland due to his precise and beautifully finished work.

He met Karen Hart in 1972. The first thing she said to him was, “Is that your real hair?” They were best friends and life companions for 50 years. When they had children, the family moved to Tsawwassen, near the beach and the border. He taught his daughter, Shay, to listen to protest songs and appreciate history. He taught his son, Justin, his trade and how to fish and they worked and fished together for many years. Ben was a friend and mentor to his nephew, Rick and his niece, Dawn. He taught all of us to truly notice the natural world, he pointed out every hawk on a fence post, every heron in a ditch, black bears and foxes on the side of the road, he brought us buckets of seawater full of purple starfish. He would urgently speak your name and say, “look at that, look.”

Ben received his Canadian citizenship in 2015. He was soft-spoken and kind, but a raconteur, sparkling with humour, after a few cans of Kokanee. He loved old stuff, good deals, orange cats and any dragon in written or cinematic form. Ben passed away from complications relating to COPD on January 6, 2022 at the age of 72. He enjoyed six years of playing with his grandchildren, Jamie and Hunter, who clambered all over him like squirrels.

Jayne was an absolute diamond. She left Sciensus (formerly Healthcare at Home) in 2020, but during her many years with the organisation, many of her colleagues became friends. She was held in the highest regard by so many people, so we wanted to create a place for people to share thoughts, wishes and messages for Jayne; which we will pass on to her family in due course.