Area Deaths

Allan James Baumstark, 25, of Spring Hill, died Friday, Aug. 29. He moved to this area 20 years ago from his native Cape May, N.J.
Mr. Baumstark was the owner and operator of an irrigation company, a U.S. Army veteran and a Catholic by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Heidi; a son, Allan Jr.; a daughter, Keyara; his mother, Barbara; a brother, John; four sisters, Dawn, Betty, Barbara and Ashlie; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Joseph Richard Fleming, 82, of Spring Hill, died Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. He was born in Bronx, New York, and moved to this area 16 years ago from Forest Hills, N.Y.
Mr. Fleming was executive vice president of Group Health, Inc. and retired as director of the City of New York dedicated service center of Empire Blue Cross & Blue Shield of New York. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the South Pacific as a staff sergeant. He was a member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, where he served as an usher for the past 10 years, and the St. Joan of Arc Holy Name Society. He was past treasurer of St. Vincent DePaul, 3rd degree Knights of Columbus Council 11317 St. Joan of Arc, 4th degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 1721, and a lifetime member of VFW Post 10209.
Survivors include his wife, Randy; three sons, Joseph Fleming Jr. of Lodi, N.J., James Fleming of Midland Park, N.J., and John Fleming of Upper Saddle River, N.J.; a daughter, Maureen Lehocky of Wyckoff, N.J.; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Pinecrest Funeral Chapels, Mariner Boulevard Chapel, Spring Hill.

Alexander Gray Craig, 82, of Spring Hill, died Monday, Sept. 1, in Brooksville. He was born in Hamilton, Scotland, and moved to this area 19 years ago from Breezy Point, N.Y.
Mr. Craig retired from the U.S. Treasury Dept. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran in Fleet Air Wing III, a life member of VFW Post 9236, Hernando Beach, a volunteer at Oak Hill Hospital for 16 years, a Sacristan and Eucharistic Minister at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 13200, 4th Degree Assembly of St. Frances Cabrini Church, Lay Carmelite Community, Immaculate Mary, Queen of the Divine Will and the Scottish Club of West Central Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Alice.
Arrangements by Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Commercial Way, Spring Hill Chapel.

Joseph R. Finamore Sr., 77, of Spring Hill, died Sunday, Aug. 31, at his home. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to this area 12 years ago from Toms River, N.J.
Mr. Finamore was a retired painter for International Brotherhood of Painters & Association Trades Local Union 694 of Neptune, N.J. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a member of the New Jersey Club of Spring Hill and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine K.; three sons, Joseph R. Finamore Jr. of Howell, N.J., Ron Finamore of Coconut Creek and Christopher Finamore of Brick, N.J.; two daughters, Denise Finamore of Brick and Roxanna Cerchio of New Egypt, N.J.; and 12 grandchildren.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Claude E. Short, of Spring Hill, died Saturday, Aug. 30, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. He was born in Arista, W.Va., and moved to this area 14 years ago from Akron, Ohio.
Mr. Short worked for Ford Motor Company and retired after 26 years of service. He was a member of UAW Local 420 in Cleveland and VFW Lodge in Akron. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, having served in Japan, and a member of the Spring Hill Cruisers Car Club and St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Elza Jeannette; a son, Michael Marquez of Spring Hill; three daughters, Stephanie Marquez of Spring Hill, Tori Kelly of Lorraine, Ohio, and Ivy Post of Munroe Falls, Ohio; a sister, Dorothy Cox of Kent, Ohio; and five grandchildren.
Arrangements by Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Seven Hills Chapel, Spring Hill.

Lois E. Osnato, 69, of Spring Hill, died Monday, Sept. 1, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. She was born in Newark, N.J., and moved to this area 19 years ago from Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Osnato was a homemaker and attended St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, James; a son, James of South Amboy, N.J.; two daughters, Laura Osnato of Galloway, N.J., and Susan Plotner of Spring Hill; two brothers, John Collins of Clifton, N.J., and William Collins of Toms River, N.J.; two sisters, Mary Joan Foley of Spring Hill and Janet Collins of Bayville, N.J.; and five grandchildren.
Arrangements by Downing Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Spring Hill.

Daniel J. Richard, 65, of Spring Hill, died Monday, Sept. 1, at his home. He moved to this area 39 years ago from his native Torrington, Conn.
Mr. Richard was the owner and real estate broker for Exit Success Realty, a member of the Board of Realtors and NRA, and a Baptist by faith.
Survivors include his wife, LaRue; three sons, Michael Richard, Matthew Richard and Eric Powell, all of Spring Hill; two daughters, Mary-Lynn Hetherington of Palmer, Mass., and Michelle Hale of Spring Hill; a brother, Robert Richard of Franklin, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Gay Rice Keys, 69, of Weeki Wachee, died Monday, Sept. 1, at Oak Hill Hospital. She was born in Gainesville and moved to this area 10 years ago from Indianapolis, Ind.
Mrs. Keys was a Realtor, president of the Glen Lakes Country Club Niners and a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and PEO.
Survivors include her husband, Howard "Jim"; two daughters, Dr. Virginia Gray-Bowie and Patricia Gray-Holt; two stepdaughters, Shellie Conway and Margie Lebin; a brother, Jay D. Rice; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Joan F. Kowalski, 73, of Spring Hill, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. She was born in Bronx, New York, and moved to this area two years ago from Long Island, New York.
Mrs. Kowalski was a nurse for the Suffolk County Health Department.
Survivors include her daughter, Jackie; a brother, Edward of Long Island; a sister, Jean Harris of Long Island; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Downing Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Spring Hill.

Roger Allen Haslett, 50, of Spring Hill, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, in Spring Hill. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to this area 26 years ago from Columbus.
Mr. Haslett was a roofer for new and old construction.
Survivors include his mother, Evelyn Sniff of Spring Hill; a son, Roger Jr. of Lakeland; three brothers, Martin Fluor and Charles Haslett, both of Columbus, and George Haslett of Alabama; a sister, Della Cline of Columbus; and a grandchild.
Arrangements by Downing Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Spring Hill.

Dorothy S. Davis, of Salt Springs, formerly of Brooksville, died Sunday, Aug. 31. She was born in Tampa, moved to Brooksville 71 years ago from Inverness, and recently moved to Salt Springs.
Mrs. Davis was a Protestant by faith and a past member of the Eastern Star in Brooksville.
Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy Galloway of Bonifay; a sister, Mary Beulah Spindler of Spring Hill; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Brooksville Chapel.

Marvin P. Melamed, 63, of Spring Hill, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. He was born in Lawrence, Mass., and moved to this area six years ago from Plymouth, Mass.
Mr. Melamed retired as a vice president in the woodworking industry. He was a member of the Hernando Boat Club and Spring Hill Wingnuts, and was Jewish by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Cherye; two sons, Aaron Melamed of Spring Hill and Scott Melamed of Quincy, Mass.; his mother, Rose Kagan of Massachusetts; a sister, Arlene Shenker of West Peabody, Mass.; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

"Rudy" N. DeMartino, 64, of Spring Hill, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Spring Hill. He was born in New York, N.Y., and moved to this area 20 years ago from Lindenhurst, Long Island, New York.
Mr. DeMartino was an aircraft mechanic for Grumman/Fairchild. He was a U.S. Army veteran, a life member of the VFW, and attended St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria; a son, Richard of Spring Hill; a daughter, Gina Wood of Freeport; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Downing Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Spring Hill.