Steven C. "Beaver" Gaetano

TURIN - Steven C. "Beaver" Gaetano, 68, of Gomer Hill Road and a former longtime resident of Boonville, passed away, after a brief illness, while surrounded by the loving care of his family on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Wynn Hospital, Utica.

Affectionately known as "Beaver," he was born in Utica on January 13, 1957, a son of Felix "Phil" and Jeanne LaQuay Gaetano. Steve grew up in Boonville, receiving his education at Adirondack Central School. He was first employed with his father, as a carpenter and later superintendent, in the operation of his family's Kortenaer Construction Co. of Boonville. Later he was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Masetek Pipeline Construction Co. of Florida. His last employment for many years, until his retirement in 2020, was for Lash Construction Co. of Albany, where he was a heavy equipment operator and superintendent of heavy highway construction.

He married Ronna Marks and later the couple were divorced.

Beaver greatly enjoyed playing golf, practicing the hobby of photography and exploring and learning new technology. However, most of all, Steve was naturally very gifted as a heavy equipment operator and, as Steve would say, he "just loved his time in construction work and operating heavy equipment, while digging in the dirt!" For many years, he owned a backhoe and greatly enjoyed volunteering his backhoe related services to friends and neighbors, and always at no charge.

Steve is survived by his fiancée and life partner, Joann Maring, Lowville; one son, Chad S. Gaetano and his fiancée, Rachel Lyons, Gloucester, MA; a daughter, Ashley Gaetano, Utica; two grandchildren, Dylan Gaetano and Greyden Bedar; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Gayle (Terry) Westervelt, Cobleskill, NY, and Heidi Vernold, Syracuse, NY; one brother Eric (Rick) Gaetano and his fiancée, Phyllis White, Boonville; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Steve was predeceased by siblings, Susan Schweinsberg, Patricia Wendt, and Phillip "Skip" Gaetano, and a brother-in-law, Rick Vernold. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Michelle (Micky) Gaetano, Boonville, and two brothers-in-law, David Wendt, Constableville, and Richard Schweinsberg, Woodgate.

Steve's family wishes to express a note of sincere thanks and appreciation to the volunteers of the Turin Fire Department Ambulance for their excellent care and kind attention given to Steve, "Beaver."

His funeral will be Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler St., Boonville, where Pastor Jack Ford from the Boonville Global Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will be in Boonville Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Turin Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance Fund, North Main St., Turin, NY 13473.

For an on-line message of sympathy, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com.