Donald Thibeault Jr., Restorer of Wooden Boats, Dies at 70

BY TOM RECCHIO MAR 13, 2024 Provincetown Independent

Wooden boat restorer Donald Andrew Thibeault, Jr., who learned his skills at Flyer’s Boatyard in Provincetown, died at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. on Feb. 23, 2024. He had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in early January; he and his wife, Kathleen, spent his last 45 days with “deepening closeness,” she said. Don was 70.

Don learned boat building as a teenager and nearly 50 years later worked for Moores Marine on the restoration of John F. Kennedy’s presidential yacht Honey Fitz in West Palm Beach.

The son of Donald Andrew Thibeault and Marie Allene (Smith) Thibeault, Don was born on Sept. 9, 1953 in Coudersport, Pa. He grew up on various farms where his father worked, one being an experimental high-altitude truck farm that grew peaches and potatoes in industrial quantities. Don learned to farm by helping his father grow food for the family. A love for the land, and later the sea, never left him. Read more…..

Nada A. Carr, 64, of 182 Skyline Drive, Kersey, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at Penn Highlands DuBois. 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and under the direction of Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc.

Jay E. Furman, 79, a resident of Evergreen Elm since 1981, passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Bradford Manor.

Born March 31, 1944 in Chicago, IL, he was the son of the late Rosalee May Furman.  Due to the untimely death of his mother, Jay was also cared for by his grandmother, Helen Furman and later by his aunt, Bertha Howard, residing in the Port Allegany area.

Jay attended school in Ulysses. Upon moving to Bradford, he was employed at Futures Rehabilitation Center, from 1981 until 2024, attending the Work Center Program performing assembly work along with participating in the Community Integration Program where he went to various locations within the community to socialize.

Patricia Ann Tehle, 85, formerly of 21 Potter Street, Bradford, passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at The Bradford Ecumenical Home.

Born on March 31, 1938, in Bradford, she was the only child of the late Patsy and Nancy (Rich) Rizzo.

On April 11, 1964, in St. Bernard Church, she married Joseph D. Tehle, who preceded her in death on July 10, 1999.

Patty was a 1956 graduate of Bradford Area High School where she was Student Council President. Patty was a 1959 graduate of Millard Fillmore Hospital School of Nursing in Buffalo, NY. She was President of the Student Council in her junior and senior years. She graduated with an associate degree in nursing.

After graduation, Patty worked in the operating room at Bradford Hospital, Bradford, Daytona Beach General Hospital, Daytona Beach, FL, and Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk, VA. She also worked in labor and delivery at Bradford Hospital, the McKean County VNA, and retired from the Bradford Ecumenical Home. She was a registered nurse for forty years. She was named Nurse of the Year in 1990.  She along with her husband owned and operated the City Line Restaurant for nearly 20 years.

Patty was a member of St. Bernard Church in Bradford. She spent two terms as President of the Bradford Hospital Nurses Organization.

John M. Ricklefs

        KEATING SUMMIT – John M. “Ripchuck” Ricklefs, 70, passed away Friday (Mar. 8, 2024) in UPMC Cole Coudersport.

     Born October 25, 1953, in Glendale, AZ, he was a son of John W. and Patricia M. Baker Ricklefs.  On Mar. 4, 2002, in Coudersport, he married Linda C. Stebick, who survives.

     John was a self-employed contractor and had worked for Sea Ray Boats, while living in Florida.  Most recently he had worked at C& S Lumber Co. of Roulette, before his retirement.

    He was a veteran having served with the US Navy, during the Vietnam War.

     John was a resident of the area since the mid 1990’s, coming from Indiana.

     He loved the outdoors and working with wood. He also enjoyed drawing, swimming, and most of all, spending time with his family. 

Paul Godfrey Mosch, 92, of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania passed peacefully on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

Born October 20, 1931 in Galeton, PA, he was the youngest of eight children. His parents were the late Otto and Mable Burrous Mosch.

He was Salutatorian of the Galeton High School class of 1949. He attended Valley Forge Military Academy. Paul received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Pennsylvania graduating with honors in 1956. During that time, he was inducted to Omicron Kappa Upsilon, a dental honor fraternity. Paul then served two years in the United States Navy as a Dental Officer in Quantico, VA. After his time with the Navy, Paul opened private practice in Coudersport, PA. He remained a solo practitioner for 38 years. He was a member of the American Dental Association, PA Dental Assoc, American Endodontic Society, and past President of the 8th District Dental Society.

Paul wore many hats; he was a member of Eulalia Lodge 342, York Rite, and Scottish Rite Freemasonry bodies. He also served as District Deputy Grand Master of Blue Lodge and Council, and Commander in Chief of the Coudersport Consistory. His commitment and leadership in the Masons was recognized by his peers and led them to nominate him for the 33rd degree of Scottish Rite Masonry and the York Rite Cross of Honor, Freemason’s highest honors.

He was an active member at the First United Presbyterian Church of Coudersport and Hampton Presbyterian Church in Gibsonia where he sang in both choirs and served as a deacon for both as well. He was a member of Hosanna Industries, a mission-building group. He went to Mexico on a church mission trip. Paul’s favorite pastime was piloting his Beechcraft V35A. He traveled with his wife and family over the years to many destinations across the United States. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, motorcycling, snowmobiling, and completed the Potter County Marathon. Paul inspired those around him with his boundless passion, perseverance and commitment to excellence in everything he did. He will be greatly missed.

Paul is survived by his wife, the love of his life for 68 years, Dorothy Ann (McMurray); son, Thomas O. Mosch and his wife, Terry; daughter, Debra Mosch Hunkele and her husband Glenn; son, David P. Mosch and his wife Kimberlie; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A visitation will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Hampton Presbyterian Church, 2942 East Hardies Road, Gibsonia PA 15044, church service will be at 12:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Coudersport Consistory, PO Box 69, Coudersport, PA 16915.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with Paul’s family at www.kingfuneralhome.com.

Kevin R. Saline, 55, of Emporium, PA passed away unexpectedly at Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Springs, Maryland on Sunday evening (March 10, 2024).

He was born January 12, 1969 in St. Marys, PA a son of Robert and Cindy Housler Saline and the late Christine Yeager Saline.  On May 30, 1992 in St. Mark Catholic Church he married Rochele Guisto, who survives.

Kevin graduated from Cameron County High School and from Williamsport Area Community College. He worked at Quala-Die/ Penn United for many years. He liked camping with his friends, spending time with his two boys, hanging out at Rooster’s garage and loved going on vacations with his wife Rochele. He was a wrestling coach, in Emporium, for over 16 years.

GREECE, NY – Dorothy Emerson, 96, formerly of Eldred, PA, died peacefully on Friday, March 8, 2024, with family at Journey Home in Greece.

Dorothy was born on May 30, 1927, at her maternal grandparents’ home in Sheffield, PA. She and her family lived in Coryville, PA during her first nine years. In 1936, her family moved to Eldred where she and her younger sister and brother grew up; all three graduated from Eldred High School.

During high school, Dorothy worked as an usher in the town theater and at Anderson’s Food Market. Unbeknownst to her at the time, her supervisor at the food market would become her mother-in-law. She met US Army Tech Sergeant Walter Emerson while he was on leave from the fighting in Europe during World War II. After serving over three years in the European Theater, Walter returned to Eldred, and they were married on May 22, 1946.

Dorothy and Walter lived in Eldred for over twenty years and raised three children. They were active in the community and in St. Raphael Catholic Parish. Dorothy was a devoted and loving Mother; dedicated to raising their three children. Due to Walter’s employment, they eventually relocated to Maynard, MA; Keene, NH; and then Conklin, NY. As their children became teenagers and young adults, Dorothy enjoyed re-entering the workforce at ACME Electric in Allegheny, NY, Sears and Roebucks in Natick, MA, and Concord Laboratories, Inc. in Fitzwilliam and Keene, NH.