Obituary of William A. Kesselman

William A. Kesselman of Kerhonkson, NY, a retired Social Studies teacher for Ellenville Central School, and a resident of the area for many years, died March 1, 2013 at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty, NY. He was 90. The son of the late Isaac and Bertha Kesselman, he was born in Manhattan, NY on June 25, 1922. He was a Phi Beta Kappa magna cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota and earned his Master's Degree in teaching from Harvard Graduate School of Education. He was a member of the New York Teacher's Association; an avid supporter of many Women's Rights, Civil Rights and Animal Rights organizations and the ASPCA. He served as a Technician Fourth Grade of the Antiaircraft Artillery Group in the United States Army during World War II. He was the longtime companion of Shirley Fitzgerald and her family became his family. He is survived by Shirley's daughter, Joyce Fitgerald; her grandchildren, Charles Atkins and his wife Rita, Gerald Piscopo, Sean Piscopo and his wife Dori, Michael Piscopo, Lynn Piscopo, Marjorie Rampe, Tina Cooper, Theresa Wilke, Raymond "Buddy" Cooper, Jamie Bagatta, Rebecca Cherry and her husband Wayne, Kimberley Tuckey-Wlodarczyk and her husband Gerald; many great-grandchildren; a special friend Max Hasenflue and a host of friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Dr. Henry Kesselman; his longtime companion, Shirley Fitzgerald; and her daughters, Meriem Atkins, Sadie Cooper and Alice Fitzgerald; her grandson Francis Piscopo and great-grandson Gerald Piscopo Jr. Memorial Contributions in William?s name may be made to the Middletown Human Society, 142 Bloomingburg Road, Middletown, NY 10940. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Pine Bush Cemetery in Kerhonkson at 1:30pm. Arrangements were under the directions of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, for further information please call 845-434-7363 or visit our website at www.colonialbryantfuneralhome.com.