SHERBURNE – Frank A. Rusavage, known as “Yogi,” formerly of Sherburne and for the past year of Norwich, passed away Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in the Chase Memorial Nursing Home of New Berlin, where he had resided for the past two months because of declining health.
Born in June of 1927 in Jessup, Pa., Yogi was the son of John and Josephine Biernaski Rusavage. During World War II, he served his country in the U.S. Army, and moved to Sherburne in 1947 from Pennsylvania after his discharge from the service. A man who loved children, he was den mother, a cub scout Master as well as a boy scout Master for many years. He had also been involved in the Pop Warner football program in the Sherburne area. Yogi was a life member of the Sherburne American Legion where he ran their Bingo program and was a member of the Sherburne Lions Club. In earlier years he had been employed by the Bennett-Ireland Co. of Norwich and the Coca-Cola Co. in Oneonta. After his retirement from Procter & Gamble, where had worked as lead carpenter for 24 years, he enjoyed spending time at the Legion and also playing golf at the Mt. Top Golf Course.
Yogi is survived by his companion of 24 years, Betty Hadlock of Norwich; by his wife, June, and his son John and his wife Svetlana, all of Sherburne; Yogi’s sisters and brother: Josephine, Rosemary and Edward; and by his step-grandson, Mark. He is also survived by Betty’s children, Ken Hadlock of Norwich and Karl Hadlock and his wife Lisa of North Norwich; and by their children, whom Yogi regarded as his own grandchildren. Yogi was predeceased by sisters Mary, Laura, Jean, Sophie, Helen and Viola and brothers, Victor, John and Joe.
At Yogi’s request, there will be no formal funeral service. Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. Interment will be at a later date in St. Malachy’s Cemetery in Sherburne.
Those wishing to remember Yogi with a memorial contribution may send it to the Alzheimer’s Association, Suite 2, 140 County Highway 33W, Cooperstown, NY 13326.