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Martin De' Baptist
Martin De’Baptist 39, of Frankford, DE, departed this life on Friday, October 26, 2012. Born in Wilmington, DE, he was the son of Valerie R. Harmon of Frankford.
He was a member of Union Wesley United Methodist Church in Clarksville, DE and was employed as a DJ and chef at Purple Parrot Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
In addition to his mother, memories will be cherished by: one daughter, Dechair White of Millsboro, DE; brothers, Bruce Harmon of Frankford, Jamell (Corinda) Harmon of Laurel, DE and Carl Harmon of Frankford; sisters, Tracy Hall of Salisbury, Stacy (Myron) Drummond of Millville, DE, Natasha Harmon of North Carolina, and Tabithia McCray of Frankford; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services were held on November 3.
Joseph Francis McNally
It is with great sadness that family and friends share the passing of Rehoboth Beach resident Joseph Francis McNally, 66, who died from the devastating effects of Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. As in life, Joseph McNally handled this disease with strength, grace and charm. For those that were fortunate to call him friend, it was his easy smile and kind heart that will be missed most.
Joe was born May 8, 1946, in Philadelphia, PA to Louise and Joseph McNally. Raised in South Philadelphia, Joe attended St. Monica’s Parish Elementary School, Bishop Newman High School, and graduated from LaSalle College with a degree in business administration.
Upon graduation, Mr. McNally served in the U.S. Army, during the Vietnam War as an infantryman. A medaled soldier, he spent 14 months in the fields of Vietnam, and in 1970, left the Army with distinguished honors.
Returning home in 1970, Mr. McNally was hired by the Department of Health for the city of Philadelphia as administrative assistant. After 30 years, he retired as the personnel officer for the entire Department of Public Health.
In 2002, after two years spent building their dream home, Joe and his partner Terry Jones moved to Rehoboth Beach. While Rehoboth was home, a passion for travel took them from the deserts of Palm Springs to the salt waters of the Mediterranean.
Joe loved discovering the ambiance of romantic cultures around the world with Terry. Adventure drew them to places where they could immerse themselves into the local culture. Whether in cafes on the cobblestone streets of Rome drinking coffee, or evenings spent sipping wine along the Champs-Elysees, Joe had found his true love, both in exploring the world and with Terry.
A pioneer among his friends, Joe lead many over the past 28 years to enjoy his favorite getaway in Puerto Vallarta. The contrast of sun-filled days spent relaxing on the beach against the rhythmic sounds of music under starry nights, is what attracted Joe to their second home. The community he created by sharing this special place will long remember him for his light and gentility.
Joe is survived by his loving partner of 30 years, Terry Jones; sister Louise and her husband Tom Forte; sister Mary Ann McNally; sister in-law Denise McNally; his two great-aunts, Helen Killeen and Elizabeth Hee; along with his niece and four nephews and their children.
Funeral services were held on Nov. 7. Donations are welcome and may be sent to ALS of Greater Philadelphia Under Rehoboth Beach Walk for ALS Team Joe’s Trooper in honor of Joe McNally, 21 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002.
Christopher A. Miles
Christopher A. Miles, 52, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Annapolis and Edgewater, MD, passed away peacefully into the waiting arms of Jesus Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. He was born Wednesday, Aug. 24, 1960, son of the late Joseph F. and Catherine E. (Coffman) Miles.
Mr. Miles was the companion of Jason M. Alcorn, with whom he resided in Rehoboth Beach for the past 15 years and co-owned and operated Leather Central in Rehoboth Beach. He enjoyed acting in plays and production work, being a Secret Santa and donating a lot of his time and talent to AIDS Delaware. He will always be remembered as having a positive outlook on life, being caring, loving, generous to a fault and was devoted to his family and friends.
He was survived by his partner, Jason M. Alcorn; two daughters, Amanda Cristin Miles of Grasonville, MD and Ameila Jane Miles of Lewes; two sisters, Gloria Simmons and Marilyn Torres, both of Edgewater, MD; one brother, Michael James Miles of Centreville, MD; and several nieces and nephews and their families.
A celebration of Christopher’s life will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 17, at Saketumi Restaurant, 18814 Route 1, Rehoboth Beach, DE. A lite fare will be served.
Memorial contrIbutions are suggested to American Cancer Society, PO Box 163, Salisbury, MD 21803, or AIDS Delaware, 100 W. 10th Street, 315, Wilmington, DE 19801. Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
Robert Bruce Wright
Robert Bruce Wright, 95, of Rehoboth Beach, died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012. He was born June 18, 1917 in Manila, Philippine Islands, where his father, Bruce S. Wright, was the first pastor of the Union Church of Manila. Robert Wright graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA in 1940 and married Elizabeth Truman that same year. Elizabeth died in 2008 at age 94, after 68 years of marriage to Robert.
After two years of graduate study at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, he earned a master’s of arts and an M.A.L.D. in 1942. During World War II he served in the office of the assistant chief of air staff intelligence, U.S. Air Force, in Washington, D.C. In 1945 he moved to the Department of State where he worked on policy for trade and economic relations with the Soviet Union, the individual Eastern European countries, and mainland China from the start of the Cold War until his retirement in 1976 as director of the Office of East-West Trade in the Bureau of Economic Affairs.
After moving to Rehoboth Beach in 1976, Robert and Elizabeth (Betty) traveled widely in the United States and Canada as well as abroad on family research and history. Robert was a member of the Rehoboth Art League from the late 1950s and served on the board and as president in the 1980s. In 1993, on its 250th anniversary, he completed a history of The Homestead: Peter Marsh’s House, 1743-1993, the Colonial Manor House listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a part of the responsibility of the Rehoboth Art League.
After an attack by polio in 1932, Robert took up etching. For the rest of his life he pursued, as an avocation, the ancient traditional techniques of the artist-etchers who prepared and painted their own plates. He continued to exhibit his works at intervals as long as he was able to. His prints are held by the Rehoboth Art League as well as in many private collections.
Robert is survived by two sons: Michael Bruce Wright of Bristol, R.I. and Anthony Truman Wright of Falls Church, Va. and Rehoboth Beach; daughter-in-law, MaryKae; four grandsons; two granddaughters; and three great-grandsons.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Rehoboth Art League, 12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971, or to the West Rehoboth Community Land Trust Inc. (WRCLT), P.O. Box 633, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.