Obituary for
RICHARD C. FONDA
AMSTERDAM EVENING RECORDER, AMSTERDAM N.Y.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1973

Richard Fonda, Musician, Bowler,
Cancer-Fighter Succumbs at Age of 54

FORT PLAIN — Richard Fonda, 54, Arnold Lane, Nelliston, died at 8 p.m. Friday at his home of lung cancer following a long illness. He was born Nov. 16, 1919, in Cherry Valley, the son of Andrew Fonda and the late Jennie Klinkhart Fonda. Dick Fonda received his early education in the Cherry Valley school and later graduated from Oneonta High School. A professional musician for many years, he played in the trumpet section of the Joe Sanders Band throughout the country in the 1940s and also was a member of the Abe Lyman and Mai Hallett orchestras. Later he headed his own orchestra in the Mohawk Valley, "Mary Maloy and Her Men of Note," which included his wife, who sang professionally under that name, and two brothers. Alley Manager 16 Years He had been employed as manager of the Valley Bowl for the past 16 years. He was a member of the Gloversville Local of the American Federation of Musicians and had been active in the Fort Plain Small Fry league. Fonda was a member of St. James Catholic Church. An avid bowler, Dick Fonda was a member of several local leagues and had carried an average in the 190s until illness intervened several years ago. Earlier this year, he was presented a plaque from the Montgomery County unit of the American Cancer Society for spearheading the "Small Towns Fight Cancer Day" at the Valley Bowl in which nearly $6,500 was raised for the 1973 Cancer Crusade. He was married to the former Miss Mary Cuddihy, Hoosick Falls, Jan. 4, 1946, in Evansville, Ind., who survives in addition to his father, Andrew, Nelliston; two sons, Joseph, a student at Berklee College of Music, Boston, Mass., Jeffrey, who resides at home, and a daughter, Miss Dickelle Fonda, Brownsville. Tex.; two brothers, Paul Fonda, Canajoharie, and Sheldon Fonda, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Doris Boyce, Phoenix, Ariz.; two cousins, Mrs. Grace Edick and Mrs. Anthony Triumpho, and an aunt, Mrs. Eunice Kettler, all of Canajoharie. Bequeathed p Science The Rev. John J. Sullivan, pastor of St. James Catholic Church, celebrated the Mass of the Immaculate Conception for the immediate family at the Fonda home Friday evening after which a family friend, the Rev. Robert Hess, pastor of the Fort Plain Reformed Church, conducted a prayer service. He had bequeathed his body to medical science and it was taken to the Albany Medical College by the Gray Funeral Home Friday night. Interment will be made at a later date in the Fort Plain Cemetery.