Archive for September, 2019

Patrick J. McDonough

Patrick J. McDonough, 68, of Washington, D.C., passed away suddenly at his home on Monday, August 5, 2019.

Patrick was born in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1951 to Paul and Ruth (Stroup) McDonough. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore.

Patrick was an international trade attorney with the Washington, D.C. law firm of Stewart and Stewart. He had experience in a range of international trade and customs law matters and advised clients in a variety of industries. He represented clients before the U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. Trade Representative, and U.S. Customs. He was the author and co-author of numerous publications on international trade law matters. Patrick was recognized by Super Lawyers® from 2013 to 2016.

Patrick was an avid reader and lover of the arts, and held a special passion for researching his family’s ancestry. He is fondly remembered for his sharp intellect, strong work ethic, quiet sense of humor, and kind spirit.

Pat is preceded in death by his father, Paul, his mother, Ruth, and his brother, Michael. He is survived by his siblings Sharon Perraut (Ed), Marilyn Branson (Vincent), Nancy Overtone (Rayo), Paul (Sol), and Anne Marie Branzell (John), and by his 12 nieces and nephews.

A private memorial will be held. Donations may be made in Patrick’s name to the Capital Area Food Bank or the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center.

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Barbara J. Baker (Age 96)

1923-2019

Barbara passed away peacefully on September 5, 2019 at her home in Kensington, MD. She was born on February 2,1923 in Lowell, MA, the daughter of Harry and Beatrice Jenkins. She was raised in New Haven, CT, graduating from Hill House High School in 1940. She went on to attend the University of Alabama, where she became a member of the Theta U Sorority. In March of 1946, she married Arthur D. Baker, a decorated World War II, Normandy Beach hero. They moved to Maryland where they started their family of seven children, Richard, Cynthia, Leslie, Elizabeth, Robert, Bryan and Bill. They went on to have eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Barbara was an active member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Garrett Park, and a fifteen year volunteer for Meals on Wheels. She was a voracious reader, avid sports fan, but mostly a devoted mother and grandmother. Her most joyful times were spent with family and friends, especially her grandchildren. Barbara was preceded in death by her loving husband Arthur, and daughters Leslie and Elizabeth

                     She leaves us with this lasting wish:

“May our family always be a place of generosity, understanding, forgiveness and joy.”

                                       God Bless you

                                    Thank you

                     And now, it’s five o’clock somewhere!

                                           Cheers!!

Beloved wife of the late Arthur D. Baker; mother of Richard (Sharon), Cynthia Smith (Lewis), Robert, Bryan, Bill (Susan), the late Leslie Baker and the late Elizabeth Crowley. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and other loving family and friends. Relatives and friends may call at Holy Cross Church, 4900 Strathmore Avenue, Garrett Park, MD, on Saturday, September 14, 2019, from 12 to 1 PM, with Mass of Christian Burial at 1 PM. Interment Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery Hospice

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DOROTHY SARAH O’CONNELL (Age 101)

On Friday, September 6, 2019, of Silver Spring,  MD.  Beloved wife of the late Joseph C. O’Connell; mother of Joseph C. O’Connell, Jr., Susan Maier, Paul R.  O’Connell and James P. O’Connell; grandmother of Erin Dausch, Timothy Maier, Christopher Maier, Keith O’Connell, Alexis Ferris, Patrick O’Connell, Kelly Stroker, and Michael O’Connell; also survived by 19 great-grandchildren.   Relatives and friends may call at St. Bernadette’s Church, 72 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring, MD, on Wednesday, September 11, beginning at 10 a.m. where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m.  Interment Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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JOSE COLICO BELTRANO (Age 67)

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, Jose (Joe) Beltrano, of North Potomac, MD, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and loved ones.  Joe was the beloved husband of Henedina (Jean) Beltrano for 40 years; father of Joanne Beltrano Briones, Jill Beltrano, and Judy Beltrano; father-in-law of Justin Briones, and grandfather of Jefferson Briones.  He was the son of the late Pantaleon and Jovita Beltrano; brother of Apolonia, Higina, Aurora, and Esther, and the late Benjamin, Maria, Lorenza, Salud, Eusebia and Rosa. He also leaves behind countless friends from around the world.

He joined the U.S. Navy at Subic Naval Base, Philippines, as an enlisted recruit (E1), and retired at the rank of Commander after over 26 years of distinct military service. After retiring from the Navy, he began his career in federal civil service, first with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and then as a financial officer with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. After sixteen years of federal civil service, he embarked on his lifelong dream of starting his own business—Beta Systems International, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, which offered comprehensive government management consulting services.

Joe’s academic achievements included three (3) MBAs in various business and healthcare disciplines, including an Executive MBA in International Business; an MBA in General Business Administration, and an MBA in Health Care Administration. He also received a bachelor’s degree in Health Care Administration.  Moreover, he is a distinguished alumnus of the Department of Defense Professional Military Comptroller School.

With his professional and scholastic experience, he mentored numerous people in their careers, education, and business affairs. He also pursued various philanthropic endeavors, such as providing scholarship opportunities to those less fortunate through the Zig Zag Fraternity.

Joe was an avid sports fan, following most professional sports, such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards. He was also incredibly athletic, playing soccer, basketball, bowling, and tennis. Joe especially grew fond of golf in his later years. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with both his friends and his family.

His personality was larger than life, marked by his charisma, generosity, and his selfless devotion to his family and loved ones.  He will always be admired as a great leader, notably for his work ethic.  More so, his contagious smile that could light up a room will remain memorable to all.

A celebration of his life will begin with a visitation from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Tuesday, September 10, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (520 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, MD). A mass of Christian Burial will also be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 11, at 10:00 am. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date. The family requests no flowers. Rather, the family asks that memorial contributions be given directly to the Beltrano family so that a single donation can be made at the Inova Hospital Schar Cancer Institute in his honor.

GENARO NAVALLE FAJARDO, JR. (AGE 60)

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, of Gaithersburg, MD.  Beloved husband of Hideliza “Dandan” Fajardo; father of Bennard and Leo Fajardo; son of the late Dolores N. and Genaro P. Fajardo, Sr.; brother of Brigitte, Valen, Fr. Leon, Leizl, Manuel, and the late Oscar.  Relatives and friends may call at St. Mary’s Church, 520 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, MD, on Tuesday, September 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. where Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 11, at 10 a.m.  Interment Holy Cross Parish Cemetery, Nabua, Camarines Sur, Philippines at a later date.

Daniel O’Neill Carey, US Navy (Retired)

(Age 91)

On Monday, September 2, 2019, of Kensington, MD.  Beloved husband of the late Sally Jean Carey; father of Dana (Doug) Orth, Kate (Frank) McLaughlin, Kelly (Kent) Miles, Lily (Brian) Cleaves and Dan (Angie) Carey, Jr.;  grandfather of Erica, Frank, Colleen, Carey, Shannon, Erin, Laura, Dan, Zoe and Sarah; great-grandfather of Riley, Eva, Grayson, Owen and Quinn.  Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD (Valet Parking) Sunday, September 8, from 2 to 4 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, 4900 Strathmore Avenue, Garrett Park, MD, on Monday, September 9, at 11 a.m.  Interment Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

SHARON LOUISE STECKLEIN

Sharon Louise Stecklein passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, September 1, 2019.  She was 72 years young. Originally born in Wisconsin, Sharon grew up as the eldest of four children on a series of family dairy farms. She initially enrolled in the School of Nursing at University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire before earning a place in the prestigious WRAIN program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland.  She graduated with honors from the program with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Maryland and as an active duty first lieutenant in the US Army Reserve.  It was here in Maryland that she met her husband George (“Bill”) and was later honorably discharged from the service to start a family and further pursue a career in nursing. In 1980 she also earned a degree in Business Management from University College at University of Maryland at College Park – making her a Terrapin twice over.  But for over 30 years she was a NICU nurse at several local hospitals including Prince George’s Hospital, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and finally Holy Cross Hospital.  She eventually transitioned into NICO nursing case management at Holy Cross and retired from that field.  She was member of several nursing associations: National Association of Neonatal Nursing (NAAN), Sigma Theta Tau and Alpha Sigma Lambda.

Sharon grew up Lutheran and was active in her local church community.  First at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg where she served on church council and chairperson of the Social Ministry committee; and presently at St. Luke Lutheran Church where she also served on church council, the altar guild and in the food pantry.  Over the years she also was council member with The Community Ministry of Montgomery County and was both a volunteer and Food Coordinator with Gaithersburg HELP as well as a volunteer with Meals-on-Wheels.  She belonged to the Sons of Norway and could trace her family’s ancestry back to Norway.  She greatly enjoyed eating, but not making, lefse.  She was a survivor of colon cancer like her mother and aunt before her and often reminded family and friends to never forget their colonoscopies!

She greatly enjoyed her family – traveling often to see those in Wisconsin and Virginia. She was a lifelong Cheesehead and eagerly anticipated every season of the Green Bay Packers.  It is much believed that she will be watching Thursday’s Packers v. Bears opener from on high.  Sharon also enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. and visited almost every state in the union including Hawaii and Alaska.  One of her favorite trips was a two week stay in San Francisco after being declared cancer free!  She was a voracious reader and loved crossword puzzles and sudoku.  She also greatly loved her two granddaughters who only knew her as their ‘Gigi’.

Her life is celebrated by her remaining family: her beloved husband of 50 wonderful years – Bill; her daughter Tracey Stecklein Gulden and her husband Kenny;  her granddaughters Ellie and Meggie;  her sister Nancy Thompson; and her brothers John Thompson and the late Brian Thompson.  She is also survived by many dear family and friends.  Relatives and friends may call at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 9100 Colesville Road (at Highland Dr.), Silver Spring, MD, 20910, on Friday, September 6th,  from 10 to 11 a.m.  A Memorial Service will begin at 11 a.m. with a short reception at the church thereafter.  Interment Private.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church Food Pantry.

Susan Scott Rowland

Susan Scott Rowland, an artist who channeled an irrepressible exuberance through her work as a painter, printmaker and ceramicist, has died at the age of 79. Rowland worked in New York for most of four decades, creating large, abstract expressionist canvasses and, later, ceramic pottery and sculpture with rough edges and whimsical animal forms. 

Rowland was born in 1940, daughter of Catherine Buff Scott and Robert Walter Scott. She graduated from the Ethel Walker School and Vassar College. In 1961 she married Dr. George B. “Robin’’ Rowland.  Her husband became a public health doctor when they moved to the Navajo reservation in Arizona with their two young children.  

But her restless personality and creative drive did not allow her to settle for long in one place. In 1967 she moved to New York City with her children. There, she studied at the Arts Students League and embarked in earnest on her artistic career even as the landscape of the Navajo reservation left a lasting imprint on her aesthetic sensibility.

 In 1974 she moved west again to a rural community north of Santa Fe, N.M.  She finally had space of her own in which to paint, and a rugged landscape to serve for inspiration.  

“Painting every day shows loss is not forever, that horses won’t turn against their riders, that bombers will not darken the sky,’’ she wrote around that time, in personal studio notes that were described in a 2013 show catalog about her work.

She was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in 1976.  Three years later, she returned to New York  where she met and married her second husband, Charles P. “Tony’’ Sifton, a Federal judge in the US District Court in Brooklyn.  After their marriage, Rowland’s life became more settled, and her work shifted into a whole new gear: she discovered printmaking and ceramics.

 After the terrorist attacks of 2001, Rowland was inspired to pull the first new weeds growing near Ground Zero in spring of 2002 and press them onto inked plates to make monoprints.

“I wanted to print the first plants that showed up, the weeds, the volunteers,’’ Rowland was quoted as saying in a column by New York Times garden and environment writer Anne Raver.

Later, she became a trustee of the non-profit Brooklyn Arts Council; the family intends to continue selling Rowland’s work to benefit the council financially.

Susan loved art, gardening, music, and a succession of Rottweilers, most of whom were named Carla after the Good Dog Carl books.

In addition to her children Christopher, of Washington DC, and Alix, of Durango, Colo., she is survived by three Sifton stepsons, Sam; Toby; and John, and two half brothers, Sam “Spike’’ Richey, and Robert W. Scott Jr.  She also leaves five grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.  Her two other half brothers John “Jack” Richey and John Scott, pre-deceased her.

Memorial service arrangements have not yet been made. Donations may be made in Rowland’s name to the Brooklyn Arts Council.