Obituaries 08.11.11

John E. Harrington

    John E. Harrington, 80, former chief financial officer of AT&T and resident of Amagansett and Stamford, Conn., died at his Connecticut house on Aug. 8 after a long illness.

    A native New Yorker and the eldest of three sons, Mr. Harrington began his career at New York Telephone in New York City in 1955, two years before receiving a master’s degree in business administration from New York University. He rose through the ranks to become a vice president and controller, retiring from AT&T in 1987.

    The son of Irish immigrants, Michael Harrington and the former Lily Shea, Mr. Harrington attended Holy Spirit School and All Hallows High School, both of which are in the Bronx. He was an altar boy while in grammar school. He went on to graduate first in his class from the State University Maritime College, also in the Bronx, where he fostered a lifelong devotion to sailing. He was a member of the Fort Schuyler Maritime Association and held a Coast Guard captain’s license.

    In addition to his success in academic endeavors, Mr. Harrington’s proficiency at sea aided him throughout his military service, which included active duty as a lieutenant, junior grade, in the Navy from 1953 to 1955 as well as several years in the Navy Reserve, ultimately becoming a full lieutenant.

    Mr. Harrington is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Joan Turbidy, by four children, John Harrington, David Harrington, and Joanne Harrington, all of Stamford, and Michael Harrington of Prairie Village, Kan., as well as three grandchildren. His youngest child, Kevin Harrington, died in 1983. Mr. Harrington  was also predeceased by his brothers, Donald Harrington, in 1998, and Walter Harrington, in 2010.

    The family has suggested memorial donations to Summer Sea Term Appeal at the Fort Schuyler Maritime Alumni Association in the Bronx.

    A Mass will be said tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church, Scofieldtown Road in Stamford. Mr. Harrington will be buried at Queen of Peace Cemetery on Rockrimmon Road, also in Stamford. To leave online condolences, one can visit leopgallagherstamford.com.

Raymond Jaffie

    Raymond Jaffie, who bought and operated the Huntting Inn in East Hampton in the 1970s, died of pancreatic cancer on Aug. 2 in Hollywood, Fla. He was 83.

    Mr. Jaffie was a member of the Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Union and serviced the New York Coliseum, Madison Square Garden, the Jacob Javits Convention Center, and many Broadway theaters. After retiring, he moved his family to East Hampton.

    He was born in New York City on Aug. 16, 1927, a son of Harry Jaffie and the former Margaret Dooley. He spent his early years in New York City, East Hampton, and South Florida.

    He served in the Army during World War II, missing the Normandy invasion when his mother became ill. He was later stationed in the Pacific theater of operations.

    On March 12, 1956, he married the former Corinne Katherine (Mickey) Shea. The couple had four children, who survive: Harry Jaffie of Hicksville, Susan Jaffie of East Hampton, Tina Parsons of Brewster, Mass., and Diane Fleming of Southampton. He also leaves four grandchildren.

    A memorial celebration will take place at the Huntting Inn on Sept. 19. The time of the event is to be announced. Memorial contributions were suggested for any humane society.

Kate MacNiven

    Katherine Elizabeth MacNiven, who was known as Kate, began visiting Amagansett on winter weekends when her family bought a house there, and she lived in that hamlet for 20 years. She died on July 25 at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx after a heart attack. She was 49.

    Ms. MacNiven had lived in the Bronx for the last six or seven years. The daughter of Margot MacNiven of Amagansett and the late Thomas MacNiven, she was born in New York City on Sept. 11, 1961, and grew up in Larchmont, N.Y. She graduated from the School of the Holy Child in Westchester County.

    Besides her mother, Ms. MacNiven is survived by a son, Andrew MacNiven of Amagansett, and by two brothers, Thomas E. MacNiven Jr. of Wainscott and Hugh MacNiven of New Jersey.

    A Mass was said on Monday at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in East Hampton, the Rev. Donald Hanson officiating. Ms. MacNiven was cremated, and her ashes will be scattered at a future date.

William Warga, 68

    A service was held on July 7 at Calverton National Cemetery for William Warga, who died at the age of 68 of complications of pneumonia on June 25 in Las Vegas. His ashes were placed in a columbarium near those of his parents, the late William V. and Loretta Shade Warga. An Air Force honor guard took part.

    Mr. Warga, who was called Mickey, was born in Mineola on July 14, 1942, but grew up in Bridgehampton and Sagaponack.

    “Mickey loved sports with a passion his whole life,” Eileen Grubb, one of Mr. Warga’s sisters, said, remarking that her brother had been coached by Merle Wiggin and been a Bridgehampton High School student when Carl Yastrzemski, the Baseball Hall of Famer, was there.

    After graduating from high school, Mr. Warga joined the Air Force, which eventually took him to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, where he settled. Before moving there, he had worked for the telephone company in New York and Glendora, Calif.

    Mr. Warga is survived by three children: Beth Hunter of Bluebell, Pa., Diana O’Connor of South Bend, Ind., and Michelle Musnicki of East Hampton. He had been married and divorced twice. In addition to Ms. Grubb, Mr. Warga is survived by two other sisters, Rosemary Franca of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Susan Grubb of Water Mill, and by eight grandchildren.

    His family has suggested memorial contributions to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Stanley Schellinger

    A graveside service for Stanley Schellinger, 79, of Sandra Road, Springs, will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Green River Cemetery on Accabonac Road in Springs.

    Mr. Schellinger, who was known as Pep, died on Tuesday at Southampton Hospital. A full  obituary will appear in a future issue.

Herman L. Stephens Jr.

    Herman Stephens Jr., a 33-year resident of Gardiner Avenue in Springs and a custodian at the East Hampton Middle School, died on Monday at the age of 57.

    A funeral service will be held for Mr. Stephens today at the Calvary Baptist Church at 4 p.m., preceded by visiting hours from 1 to 3 p.m.

    A full obituary will appear in a future issue.

Joseph W. Sherry

    Joseph W. Sherry of Sag Harbor, a former electrician who served in three wars, died on Aug. 2 at the age of 84.

    Visiting hours will be held today from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in Sag Harbor. A Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in that village. Burial will follow in St. Andrew’s Cemetery.

    The family has suggested memorial contributions to St. Andrew’s, 122 Division Street, Sag Harbor 11963, or the Stella Maris School, 135 Division Street, Sag Harbor.

    A full obituary will appear in a future issue.