Donald Bernard Rasch

March 9, 1920 - October 27, 2008

Monticello, NY

Donald Bernard "Buddy" Rasch, loving father, husband, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away as peacefully as he lived, on Monday, October 27, 2008 with family around him. He had been in failing health.

Buddy was the son of the late Albert Rasch and Belle Feldman of Monticello and was born March 9, 1920 in the Bronx, NY.

Buddy met his wife, Sunna Cooper, when she was the new schoolteacher in town who had signed up to eat her dinners at the Rasch's boarding house. They were married for 61 years and resided in Monticello until one month ago when they moved to Pennsylvania to live closer to their children.

Buddy was the president and owner of D.B. Rasch Distributors, a wholesale paint sundry distribution company, until his retirement several years ago. He and his wife, Sunna, were two of the six founding members of Temple Sholom, the first reform congregation in Sullivan County, and also served on their original board of directors.

Buddy was an avid bowler, ballplayer, skier and golfer. Health problems curtailed his activities, but he was still skiing at Holiday Mountain on his 75th birthday. He took great pleasure in teaching his children and grandchildren to ski. He was delighted to meet his new great granddaughter earlier this summer.

Buddy is survived by his wife, Sunna; his children: son, Alfred Rasch and Cindy Barimani of West Chester, PA, daughter, Nancy Rasch Salamon and Robert Williams of West Chester, PA, and his adopted daughter, Victoria King of West Chester, PA; two grandsons, Bren Salamon and fiancée, Dr. Sharon Batista of NYC and David and Margaret Salamon, and great granddaughter, Nadia Reed Salamon of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Dina Claner and Barbara Nachbar and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving sister, Margaret.

Funeral services will be held at the Joseph N. Garlick, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc., 388 Broadway Monticello, NY on Friday, October 31. at 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow at the Temple Sholom Cemetery on Southwoods Road, Monticello.

The family would kindly ask that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Discovery, Autism Awareness and Research, Box 840, Harris, NY 12742.

Funeral arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, Inc., Monticello. For directions or to send the family a condolence note, visit our website at www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.