We Remember Our Friends
Bill Allen
William “Bill” Allen, age 70, of Milton, DE passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford, DE. He was born on August 17, 1943 in Baltimore, MD son of the late Henry W. and Theresa K. (Kuciej) Allen.
Mr. Allen was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, where he graduated from Southern High School in 1961. He continued his education attending the University of Baltimore. He proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam conflict. After serving his country, he began a career with Western Electric (now known as Bell Atlantic). In 1995 after 25 years of dedicated service, he retired as a Training Instructor. Following his retirement, he began working for the State of Maryland on the creation of Training Programs. Eventually, Mr. Allen relocated to Milton, DE.
Mr. Allen was a jokester at heart who always had an infectious smile, full of humor and love, he could light up a room just by walking into it. During football season, Mr. Allen could be found cheering on his favorite team, Navy. He enjoyed a cold Coors Light and conversation with friends during happy hour at Grand Slam. He considered himself somewhat of a “beach bum,” as he loved the water and spent most weekends at his condo in Ocean city, MD. Mr. Allen was a member of the Pioneers of America, which was a Bell Atlantic Retirement Group. He was an active member of Epworth United Methodist Church. Mr. Allen was dearly loved by his family and friends and will be cherished by all who knew him.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his one brother, John Allen, in 1997. He is survived by his long time and best friend, Ron Deremer of Milton, DE; his two sons: Michael Allen of Kent Island, MD, and Matthew Allen and his wife Tina of Crownsville, MD; his granddaughter, Kassidy Allen; his sister, Linda Allen of Bear, DE; his sister-in-law, Rosemarie Allen of Baltimore, MD; his good friend, Tom Bonderenko of Baltimore, MD; and numerous nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Hank Barczak
Henry (Hank) J. Barczak, Jr, 59, of Wilmington, passed away at his home on Monday, January 13, 2014. Hank was preceded in death by his father, Henry J. Barczak, Sr. in 2009, and his sister, Joann Miller-Long in 2010. He is survived by his mother, Ann M. Barczak, his sister, Bernadette C. Wood of Chesapeake, VA, and dear friends, Tom Erickerson, Mitch Watson, Sean Reilly and many, many more. He will be truly missed by his dear and faithful friend and companion, his dog, Rudy, whom he dearly loved.
Hank will be remembered for his years of dedicated work at the Sussex County AIDS Committee in Rehoboth Beach.
Donations may be made in Hank’s name to St Hedwig Catholic Church, 408. S. Harrison Street, Wilmington DE 19805.
Joanne Ciconte
Joanne Ciconte, age 74, passed away on December 2, 2013 in Lewes, DE. She was born in Wilmington, DE on March 18, 1939, daughter of the late William A. Sr. and Marguerite Mary Ciconte. Joanne was a Wilmington, Delaware native, a graduate of St. Elizabeth’s High School and she earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Delaware. She worked in Human Resources with the Bank of Delaware (now PNC) for 38 years, having designed their employee benefits program. After adding an “early retirement” option to the bank’s benefits package, Joanne took advantage of her own ingenuity and retired early, in 1994. She and her partner, Cissy Johnson, moved downstate together full time in 2004. Joanne and Cissy were married in July, 2013.
Joanne loved music. She played orchestra bells with the Milford Community Band and the Rehoboth Concert Band. She also sang in the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus, and St. George’s Chapel choir.
Joanne volunteered her time to all kinds of wonderful organizations. She served as Treasurer of the Rehoboth Concert Band, Treasurer of the Episcopal Church Women of St. George’s Chapel, and Treasurer of the annual Christmas Shop of Rehoboth Beach. She donated her time to the Rehoboth Beach Film Society, CAMP Rehoboth, and All Saints Thrift Shop.
In addition to her parents, Joanne is preceded in death by her sister, Angelamarie B. Ciconte. She is survived by her loving spouse, Clarissa Johnson; a brother, William A. Ciconte Jr. of Wilmington, DE; and a nephew, William A. Ciconte III of Florida.
Tiny Williamson
Owen H. (Tiny) Williamson, Jr. passed away December 30, 2013, surrounded by family and friends.
Born August 24, 1960 in Hagerstown, MD, Owen was preceded in death by his Mother, Patricia Burger. He is survived by his brother Sam Seward and Beverly “Sis” Socks, as well as Uncle Bill and Aunt Bev; cousins Dutch, Bill, Pam, and Vince; nieces TJ and Jackie; nephews Sammy and Mason; and “other brother” Ed Mowen.
Owen worked as a bartender from 1997-2003 at the Renegade Resort, and was a bartender and server at Jammin’ Joes in Rehoboth for the 2002 Season. Prior to that Owen worked for Lycher, Inc. in Hagerstown as a direct care provider for developmentally disabled adults.
In 2000, prior to moving to Delaware, Owen was a volunteer at New Light Metropolitan Community Church in Hagerstown where he assisted with feeding the homeless community. While in Delaware he volunteered with Sussex County AIDS Council (SCAC) and CAMP Rehoboth.
Hobbies included, but weren’t limited to, keeping a journal, puzzles, flea markets, socializing, and getting out when he had the opportunity. Owen completed puzzles by the book and spent much time with one very special Pug named Lucy.
A memorial gathering will be held Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 1 p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE. Call 302-491-6093 for more information.
Donald Durost
Donald Carlton Durost, age 82, of Rehoboth Beach, DE, became one of God’s Angels on Sunday, November 24, 2013, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, DE. He was born on February 8, 1931 in Westbrook, ME, son of the late Frederick W. and Alberta (Shaw) Durost.
Born and raised in South Portland, ME, Mr. Durost attended grade school there, graduating with the South Portland High School Class of 1949. Shortly after graduation, Mr. Durost would honorably serve his country in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1954. Following his service, he attended Randolph Macon College in Ashland, VA as a pre-ministerial student. While in school, Mr. Durost received his local preacher’s license and went on to be assigned as pastor for four rural churches in nearby Spotsylvania, VA. After completion of school and several years of pastoral duties, Mr. Durost found himself searching for more, and would move to Washington DC in exploration. In DC, he worked and helped grow several businesses including Executone of Md. Inc., and Wright & Co. Inc., where he worked his way up to Vice President at both companies. Following this work, Mr. Durost decided to further his education and attended American University where he would graduate with his Bachelors in Business Administration in 1968.
In 1970, Mr. Durost moved to Rehoboth Beach, DE where he became a partner in Atlantic Litho, a struggling printing company. Over the next 14 years, he would work tirelessly to turn the business into a thriving and profitable company. Upon his retirement in 1986, Atlantic Litho was known as the best and most respected printing company around, and Mr. Durost would be remembered as the founding father that got them there. Mr. Durost was not done work yet though, he had recently met his life partner and the love of his life, D. Lee, and together they moved to Smithville, NJ. Here, he would manage Tomasello Vineyards in the Towne of Historic Smithville and become Historic Smithville’s first town manager. Historic Smithville was a tourist attraction with a 200-year old restaurant and shoppes housed in old historic colonial buildings. The streets were constructed of cobblestone, and there were flowing gardens and a huge lake filled with geese. Smithville was a place Mr. Durost truly loved and enjoyed.
Mr. Durost is survived by his loving and devoted friend, caregiver and spouse of more than 31 years, D. Lee DeShong of Rehoboth Beach, DE; two sons: David Russell Durost of Whitman, MA and Darrell Stephen Durost of Carver, MA; one grandson; one great-grandchild and a half-sister, Lynda Hauck of Williston, FL. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a half-brother, Blanchard Mills, and his step-father, Clyde Boothby.