Francis W. Travers

TROY Francis Warren Travers, 75, of Seventh Avenue in Lansingburgh, died Sunday, June 15, 2003 at the Hospice in St. Mary's Hospital, after a long courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease. Born in Lansingburgh on December 6, 1927, he was the son of the late Joseph P. Travers and Elizabeth Cooney Travers. He was a graduate of Catholic Central High School '44, Siena College, BA cum laude, '51 and Albany Law School, L.L.B., '53. He was admitted to the New York State Bar and the Federal Bar in 1953. He was an attorney in private practice for over 20 years before being elected Rensselaer County Surrogate Court Judge in 1974. He served as Surrogate Court Judge from 1974-1986. In 1986, Judge Travers was elected to the New York State Supreme Court. He remained a Justice of the Supreme Court until his retirement in 1993. He was a former New York State Senator from 1964-1966 representing Rensselaer and Washington Counties. In 1983, he received an Award of Merit from the New York Trial Lawyers Association. In 1994, he received Catholic Central High School's Monsignor Burns Memorial Award. He also received the Man of the Year Award from the Friends of 112th Street. Judge Travers was a member and past president of the Rensselaer County Bar Association, former member of the NYS Surrogate Court Association, former member of the Association of the Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, member of the board of directors, Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Club, member and past advocate, Troy Council Knights of Columbus, former member and past president of the Board of Directors of the Rensselaer County Tuberculosis and Public Health Association, former member of the Troy Boys Club board of directors, former member and past president of the St. Augustine's School Board, former member of the Catholic Central High School Board of Education, former member of board of directors Catholic Family Services, former member of the board of directors of the Rensselaer County Family and Children's Service, former president of the Society of the Friends of St. Patrick, former member of the board of directors Capital District Transportation Authority and former director of personnel, County of Rensselaer. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. Survivors include his beloved wife of 48 years, Joanne Pemrick Travers; his loving children, Martin G. and his wife Karen L. Travers of Overland Park, Kan. and Theresa T. Mainello and her husband Mark A. of Troy; his six grandchildren, Meghan L., John M. and Katelyn E. Travers of Overland Park, Kan. and Tara E., Kathryn A. and Paul A. Mainello of Troy. He was the brother of the late Daniel H. Travers and the late John Robert Travers. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Elsie Schatzle Travers; niece, Kathleen T. Hepp; and nephew, Daniel J. Travers. Funeral services will be held Friday morning, June 20, 2003 at 9 a.m. from the Frank P. McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 870 Second Avenue (between 124th and 125th Streets) in Lansingburgh and at 9:30 a.m. from St. Augustine's Church, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Calling hours will be on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Internment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. Augustine's Church Preservation Fund, 25 115th Street, Troy, NY 12182 or to the Parkinson's Research Center at Albany Medical Center, 215 Washington Avenue Ext., Albany, NY 12205.