Elmwood Park Zoo's Beloved Jaguar Dies

A resident of the Elmwood Park Zoo for almost 20 years, Anasazi the Jaguar even graced the zoo's logo and signs.

The Elmwood Park Zoo today issued a release announcing the death of Anasazi, the zoo's beloved jaguar resident of almost 20 years. According to zoo officials, Anasazi died on Thursday, Feb. 28, of apparent kidney failure resulting from complications with cancer. He was 19 years old. Veterinarians had been caring for the ailing jungle cat for most of the past year with a special diet and medications and had planned to euthanize the animal to end it's suffering. Anasazi died on his own before that could happen, according to the release.  Anasazi came to the zoo in 1994 from a wildlife preserve in Maryland and quickly became popular with staff and visitors alike. His image even graces the logo for the zoo and appears in many of the zoo's …

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Local Sports Legend Lafton Thompson Passed Away Monday, Jan. 28

Two days after a throng of friends and family gathered at his home to show their support, the local sports legend succumbed to his 2-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

Facebook and Twitter were filled on Monday with the somber news of the passing of Lafton Thompson, a local high school and college sports star, just two days after family and friends gathered at his home to show support for the ailing man. Thompson, 34, lost his more than 2-year battle with cancer Monday afternoon, Jan. 28. Buck Jones, who attended the gathering at Thompson's home on Saturday, Jan 26, posted photos from the visit on his Facebook page. "His mom told me that he heard us cheer and clap and he gave her a 'thumbs up,' Jones posted on Facebook at the news of Thompson's death. "Maybe that was his way of telling us all something and saying good-bye, he was going to be O.K.! (At least that's what I'm going to believe.)" According …

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Matthew J. Ferenchak, 69, of Butler, Pa.

Ferenchak, an avid golfer and loyal Philly fan, was born in Norristown and formerly lived in Limerick.

Matthew J. Ferenchak, 69, of Butler, formerly of Limerick, died Monday morning, January 21, 2013, at Butler Memorial Hospital. Born Sept. 16, 1943, in Norristown, Montgomery County, he was the son of Edith Detterer Ferenchak, of Norristown and the late John Ferenchak. Matthew was a 1961 graduate of the Upper Merion High School. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. Matthew was a partner in LaFern Industrial, a machine tool consulting company, retiring in 2003. He was an avid golfer, as well as a loyal Phillies and Eagles fan. In addition to his mother, surviving are his wife, Barbara Lattanze Ferenchak, whom he married July 7, 1973; two sons, Matthew Ferenchak Jr. (Patty), of Gilbertsville, and Gary Ferenchak, of Pottstown; a …

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Groen: Wendell Young III Was 'Truly a Giant'

Montgomery County Democratic Committee Chairman Marcel L. Groen remembers president emeritus of Local 1776 and longtime Pennsylvania labor leader Wendell W. Young III, who passed away on Jan. 1.

In a world where we too often use the word "giant" or "great" to describe someone, I can honestly say that for me Wendell Young III was truly a giant as a labor leader and someone who spent his life fighting for people. I first heard of Mr. Young when I worked in the Bill Green for Mayor campaign in the spring of 1971. People would tell me how close he was to Bill Green and how influential a labor leader he was.  That was 42 years ago.  It never occurred to me that he was only 32 years old. Even then he had already achieved heights in the labor movement that few reach. Over the years I watched how innovative and caring he was for his members; how he recognized the importance of child care, before it was popular to do so, so single moms …

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Union Hall Hosting Memorial for 13-Year-Old Nathan Scott

Nathan Scott, 13, was born in Sellersville and attended Jenkintown Middle School. He passed away suddenly Dec. 26. Two memorials are planned for this week.

Family and friends of Nathan Scott, 13, a former North Penn School District student, have organized two memorials for the teen this week. Scott, a seventh-grader at Jenkintown Middle School, died suddenly the day after Christmas. A viewing and Mass for Scott will be 9 a.m. on Jan. 2, at Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Ave. in Lansdale. The first memorial is set for Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. at the North Penn Fire Co. Social Hall, 141 S. Main St., North Wales. A second memorial is set for Saturday, Jan. 5 at 11 a.m. at Laborers International Local 135 Union Hall, 740 Sandy St. in Norristown. According to a Huff & Lakjer obituary, Scott loved creating art, listening to music, playing cards and playing baseball. He was the son of …

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Rita E. Oestreich, 93, of Ambler

Rita was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Ambler for 56 years where she was a member of the Ladies Guild and ran the Day of Recollection Retreat.

Rita E. Oestreich, 93, died November 12, 2012 in her home in Ambler.  Born in Philadelphia, she was the daughter of the late John William and Elizabeth C. ( née Froelich) France. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry B. Oestreich in 1981 and her brother John P. France. She was a graduate of West Catholic High School, Class of 1938 and the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, Class of 1943. Rita was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Ambler for 56 years where she was a member of the Ladies Guild and ran the Day of Recollection Retreat. She was an avid environmentalist and gardener. She was also a member of the Norristown Garden Club.  Mrs. Oestreich is the devoted mother of Ann Marie Senior and husband …

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Salvatore F. Ferraro, 73, of Havertown

Salvatore Ferraro passed away Wednesday, Oct. 31, at his home.

Salvatore F. Ferraro, age 73, passed away Wednesday morning, October 31, 2012, at his home in Havertown. Born April 9, 1939 in Philadelphia, he graduated Overbrook High School, class of 1957. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1960 he married Sarah Marita Gillespie. Together they raised three sons and have lived in Havertown since 1976. Professionally, he was a Certified Financial Planner. He was with John Hancock for many years. After his retirement from John Hancock, Mr. Ferraro became an Independent Agent. His greatest joy of his retirement were his grandchildren, they were always Number 1! A great joke teller, he could work a room with his jokes. During his chemo treatments he would always arrive with jokes and hand …

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Doris Taylor Goggans, Beloved Wawa Manager, Dies

Her memorial service has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7, in Wayne.

Doris Taylor Goggans, Beloved Upper Main Line Wawa Manager, Dies

Her memorial service has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 7, in Wayne.

Editor's Note: The following obituary was sent to Patch by the Taylor family. Doris Taylor Goggans was born on May 1, 1944 to the late Clinton and Doris Taylor in Nutley, N.J. Doris grew up the youngest of five children in Nutley, N.J.  She attended the Nutley public schools and graduated from Nutley High School in 1962. UPDATED MEMORIAL SERVICE INFORMATION: A memorial service for Doris will be held in Wayne on Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 2 p.m at the Church of the Saviour at 651 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087. Her friends and the public are welcome to attend. Pastor Byron Craig, of Macedonia Baptist Church, will give the memorial message.  After completing high school, Doris attended Essex County Community College and became a …

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Arlen Specter Celebrated at Funeral by Friends, Family and the Famous

Vice President Joe Biden was among those to speak about the 82-year-old former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania who died Sunday.

Former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) was remembered by loved ones Tuesday as a man of independence, virtue and influence, with well over 1,000 people, including Vice President Joe Biden, filling a suburban Philadelphia synagogue for his funeral. Har Zion Temple in Lower Merion Township's Penn Valley held the 90-minute ceremony before Specter, who died Sunday at 82 in his Philadelphia home, was to be buried in Huntington Valley. Pallbearers wheeled his American flag-draped casket out of the temple as Frank Sinatra's "My Way" played. Before the funeral, the Specter family greeted a steady stream of mourners that began pouring in more than two hours early. Many of those who waited were heard talking politics, as might be expected at the …

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