IN MEMORIAM: Fabian Bressett, 76;
Served 33 Years On CV Town Board
CHERRY VALLEY – Fabian John Bressett III, who served on the Cherry Valley Town Board for 33 years, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2015, at home with his wife by his side, after a brief and courageous battle with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). He was 76.
Fabian was born in Cooperstown on July 30, 1938, the son of the late Fabian Jerome & Iva Nancy (Walker) Bressett. He was a Class of 1956 graduate of Cherry Valley Central School, and he attended Morrisville Ag & Tech studying auto mechanics.
On April 14, 1962, he was united in marriage to his wife, Carol A. (Hull) Bressett at the Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, and they shared a happy, loving marriage of 52 years. He is survived by three children, Amy L. Bressett, Cherry Valley; Lisa A. (John) Drake, Latham; and Fabian J. (Karen) Bressett IV, Edmesto, and five grandchildren who he was very proud of: Jason (Jessica) Drake, Niskayuna; Adam Drake, Latham; and Kendra, Paige and Kelsey Bressett, Edmeston.
Through the years he worked as an auto mechanic at DeSena Motors, Cooperstown; Copley & Barringers, Cherry Valley; M.W. Roosevelt, Palatine Bridge; and Hawkins Auto Sales, Nelliston. He then had a 25-year career at GE Aerospace in Utica as a supervisor in the Security Department. Upon retirement from GE, he was a bus driver for Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School for 10 years. He was also drove Cooperstown trolleys.
He was a member of the Cherry Valley United Methodist Church, the Wanderers Car Club, Index, and the Country Cruisers, East Springfield. After retiring, he and his wife wintered in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for about 12 years.
He had a true love of cars and anything mechanical. He always had the ability to fix anything and preferred to do so, rather than buy new. One of his biggest pride and joys was the 1950 Chrysler New Yorker that he restored and loved to drive around town and to cruise-ins. He enjoyed many happy times with his buddies at Larry’s Barber Shop and his friends at the Cherry Valley Senior Meals site.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, he is survived by a sister, Marlene A. Clark, Harrisville; sisters-in-law Barbara (Gene) Ahl, Fernandina Beach, Fla., Linda Roof, Johnstown, and Gloria Storms, Carthage; two aunts – Ruth (Walker) Keller and Catherine Walker, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents; his grandparents, Fabian J & Maggie (Jordan) Bressett, East Springfield, and John & Nora (Utter) Walker, Salts Springville; aunts and uncles Dorothea (Walker) Hicks, Alta (Walker) Helmes, John Walker, Jr., Robert Walker and Kenneth Walker, Bessie (Bressett) Flint, Pearl (Bressett) Sproston and Mable (Bressett) Meyer; his in-law’s James & Evelyn Hull, Cherry Valley, and brothers-in-law John Clark and George Storms.
The family wishes to thank Drs. Hills, Patel, Leonardo and the entire Cancer Treatment Center staff at Bassett Medical Center and the Catskill Area Hospice staff for their wonderful care.
Calling hours will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Ottman Fneral Home, Cherry Valley. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial in the spring at the Cherry Valley Cemetery..
Memorial contributions may be made to a scholarship to be created in his memory for a Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School senior who will be pursuing an education in auto mechanics (donations may be sent to Cherry Valley-Springfield Central School, attn: Laura Carson, PO Box 485, Cherry Valley, NY 13320), the Bassett Medical Center Cancer Treatment Services Transportation Fund (c/o Friends of Bassett, 1 Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326), or Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc. (1 Reynolds Street, Oneonta, NY 13820).
Arrangements are entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.