Obituary
Bellona- Augustus Theodore Curtiss ,“Gus” as known by his friends and family, passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2015, after a long, brave struggle with ALS.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Bellona Presbyterian Church, Pre Emption Road, Bellona, New York,on Saturday (July 18th) at 2 p.m. A Private Family Burial will be held at the Bellona Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Gus Curtiss may be made to Ontario-Yates Hospice (75 Pre-Emption Rd., Geneva, N Y 14456), The Bellona Fire Department (P.O. Box 87, Bellona, NY 14415}; The Bellona Cemetery (P.O. Box 84, Bellona, NY 14415) or The ALS Association of Rochester, New York .
Gus was born on August 21, 1934 in Norfolk, Connecticut, to the late Albert and Elizabeth (Manville) Curtiss. Gus enlisted in the Army as a Military Police Officer on February 29, 1956. While stationed at the Military Police Security Detachment Unit (9399-3) Seneca Ordinance Depot in Romulus, New York, Gus met his one and only true love, Madeline Iddings, whom he married on November 29, 1959.
Gus was later employed by the N.Y.S. Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY. He retired after 27 years of dedicated and tireless commitment to his job, which anyone who knew Gus would expected nothing less.
Gus was well known for his volunteerism in his community. He became involved with his local fire department in Bellona, NY, in 1963 to the present. He was the Chief of the Bellona Fire Department from 1967-1969, 1974-1977 and 1980-1982. He served as 2nd Assistant Chief from 1983-1985. He was the Yates County Deputy Fire Coordinator for Town of Benton (Car 2) from 1965 to September 2008; Past Treasurer of the Yates County Fire Association; and Past Treasurer of the Northern Central Fire Association, where he was an honorary life member.
Gus also made the time to be a past Commissioner for the Yates County Junior Football League. He was currently on the Board for the Bellona Cemetery. He was a busy man, a dedicated man, but was always ready to lend a helping hand to his family, neighbors and many friends.
Gus is survived by his beloved wife, Madeline Iddings Curtiss; his loving children, Elizabeth Curtiss (friend, Richard Milczarski) and Theodore Curtiss, and his wife, Kathleen; his four cherished grandchildren, Eric Vanhemel (Jessica), Stephen Curtiss, Ashley Curtiss and Kaitlyn Hamm.; and his sister, Eleanor Ellert of Connecticut, whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by 3 sisters-in-law, Joan Carpenter, Diane Miller, and Jane Beattie; several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great -nephews; and two great-great-nephews.
Gus’ friendly manner, sense of humor, which he used to comfort all of us throughout this journey, and generous soul will be greatly missed and forever remembered by all who were privileged to have known him. He may have passed on from this world, but his spirit will remain forever in our hearts.
The family would like to thank their mother (grandmother), Madeline, for her love, compassion, patience and care for their father (grandfather). The family would also like to thank Ontario-Yates Hospice, and especially Hospice Nurse Karen Strickland. The family would also like to thank Patricia Milczarski, and Phyllis and Bob Johnson.