Suzanne Moss Kelly, the first woman to serve as mayor of the Village of Blasdell, died Wednesday (Dec. 20, 2000) in Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. She was 64.
A community activist and daughter of Edward F. Moss, who was Blasdell mayor for 18 years, she took office in 1987 and led an often-controversial campaign to save the village from financial disaster.
A Democrat, she stepped down in 1991 after serving two terms, noting that "the lack of support from the public is very disheartening." Under her administration, the village recovered from the brink of bankruptcy and eliminated most of its police force in a cost-cutting move.
"People are still very critical of that decision," she said at the time, "but it's something we had to do."
After leaving office, she continued to take an active interest in village affairs. She was a frequent critic of the Village Board and the mayor, advocating sensible financial policies and government accountability. She attended Village Board meetings regularly until October.
Born and raised in Blasdell, she was proud of her roots in the village. She was a 1954 graduate of Blasdell High School, which had become part of the Frontier Central School District.
As a teenager, she was a waitress for Dairy Island restaurant in Blasdell, then worked for 25 years as an accounts payable clerk in the main office of Bethlehem Steel Corp.
Without a job when the plant closed, she earned an associate degree from Hilbert College and, while mayor, graduated magna cum laude from Buffalo State College with a degree in education. She worked for five years as a substitute teacher in Blasdell Elementary School and served as a tutor for homebound youngsters.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and manicuring the lawn at the Moss family homestead.
Surviving are a daughter, Kathryn Jelonek of Coral Springs, Fla.; her mother, Louise Moss of Blasdell; three brothers, James Moss and Richard Moss, both of Blasdell, and Edward "Buzz" Moss of Derby; and five grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 3680 South Park Ave., Blasdell, after prayers at 9 in John J. Kaczor Funeral Home, 3748 South Park Ave., Blasdell. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
Buffalo News, The (NY) - Friday, December 22, 2000
A community activist and daughter of Edward F. Moss, who was Blasdell mayor for 18 years, she took office in 1987 and led an often-controversial campaign to save the village from financial disaster.
A Democrat, she stepped down in 1991 after serving two terms, noting that "the lack of support from the public is very disheartening." Under her administration, the village recovered from the brink of bankruptcy and eliminated most of its police force in a cost-cutting move.
"People are still very critical of that decision," she said at the time, "but it's something we had to do."
After leaving office, she continued to take an active interest in village affairs. She was a frequent critic of the Village Board and the mayor, advocating sensible financial policies and government accountability. She attended Village Board meetings regularly until October.
Born and raised in Blasdell, she was proud of her roots in the village. She was a 1954 graduate of Blasdell High School, which had become part of the Frontier Central School District.
As a teenager, she was a waitress for Dairy Island restaurant in Blasdell, then worked for 25 years as an accounts payable clerk in the main office of Bethlehem Steel Corp.
Without a job when the plant closed, she earned an associate degree from Hilbert College and, while mayor, graduated magna cum laude from Buffalo State College with a degree in education. She worked for five years as a substitute teacher in Blasdell Elementary School and served as a tutor for homebound youngsters.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and manicuring the lawn at the Moss family homestead.
Surviving are a daughter, Kathryn Jelonek of Coral Springs, Fla.; her mother, Louise Moss of Blasdell; three brothers, James Moss and Richard Moss, both of Blasdell, and Edward "Buzz" Moss of Derby; and five grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 3680 South Park Ave., Blasdell, after prayers at 9 in John J. Kaczor Funeral Home, 3748 South Park Ave., Blasdell. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
Buffalo News, The (NY) - Friday, December 22, 2000
Suzanne Moss Kelly, the first woman to serve as mayor of the Village of Blasdell, died Wednesday (Dec. 20, 2000) in Mercy Hospital after a brief illness. She was 64.
A community activist and daughter of Edward F. Moss, who was Blasdell mayor for 18 years, she took office in 1987 and led an often-controversial campaign to save the village from financial disaster.
A Democrat, she stepped down in 1991 after serving two terms, noting that "the lack of support from the public is very disheartening." Under her administration, the village recovered from the brink of bankruptcy and eliminated most of its police force in a cost-cutting move.
"People are still very critical of that decision," she said at the time, "but it's something we had to do."
After leaving office, she continued to take an active interest in village affairs. She was a frequent critic of the Village Board and the mayor, advocating sensible financial policies and government accountability. She attended Village Board meetings regularly until October.
Born and raised in Blasdell, she was proud of her roots in the village. She was a 1954 graduate of Blasdell High School, which had become part of the Frontier Central School District.
As a teenager, she was a waitress for Dairy Island restaurant in Blasdell, then worked for 25 years as an accounts payable clerk in the main office of Bethlehem Steel Corp.
Without a job when the plant closed, she earned an associate degree from Hilbert College and, while mayor, graduated magna cum laude from Buffalo State College with a degree in education. She worked for five years as a substitute teacher in Blasdell Elementary School and served as a tutor for homebound youngsters.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and manicuring the lawn at the Moss family homestead.
Surviving are a daughter, Kathryn Jelonek of Coral Springs, Fla.; her mother, Louise Moss of Blasdell; three brothers, James Moss and Richard Moss, both of Blasdell, and Edward "Buzz" Moss of Derby; and five grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 3680 South Park Ave., Blasdell, after prayers at 9 in John J. Kaczor Funeral Home, 3748 South Park Ave., Blasdell. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
Buffalo News, The (NY) - Friday, December 22, 2000
A community activist and daughter of Edward F. Moss, who was Blasdell mayor for 18 years, she took office in 1987 and led an often-controversial campaign to save the village from financial disaster.
A Democrat, she stepped down in 1991 after serving two terms, noting that "the lack of support from the public is very disheartening." Under her administration, the village recovered from the brink of bankruptcy and eliminated most of its police force in a cost-cutting move.
"People are still very critical of that decision," she said at the time, "but it's something we had to do."
After leaving office, she continued to take an active interest in village affairs. She was a frequent critic of the Village Board and the mayor, advocating sensible financial policies and government accountability. She attended Village Board meetings regularly until October.
Born and raised in Blasdell, she was proud of her roots in the village. She was a 1954 graduate of Blasdell High School, which had become part of the Frontier Central School District.
As a teenager, she was a waitress for Dairy Island restaurant in Blasdell, then worked for 25 years as an accounts payable clerk in the main office of Bethlehem Steel Corp.
Without a job when the plant closed, she earned an associate degree from Hilbert College and, while mayor, graduated magna cum laude from Buffalo State College with a degree in education. She worked for five years as a substitute teacher in Blasdell Elementary School and served as a tutor for homebound youngsters.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and manicuring the lawn at the Moss family homestead.
Surviving are a daughter, Kathryn Jelonek of Coral Springs, Fla.; her mother, Louise Moss of Blasdell; three brothers, James Moss and Richard Moss, both of Blasdell, and Edward "Buzz" Moss of Derby; and five grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Our Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church, 3680 South Park Ave., Blasdell, after prayers at 9 in John J. Kaczor Funeral Home, 3748 South Park Ave., Blasdell. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Lackawanna.
Buffalo News, The (NY) - Friday, December 22, 2000
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