Joseph Brophy

March 4, 2012

Joseph F. Brophy, 86, of Old Forge, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 4, at Sunset Nursing Home in Boonville.

Calling hours will be on Friday, March 16 between 2 and 4 p.m. and 7 and 9 p.m. at Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home at 128 Fern Avenue in Old Forge. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 17 at 11 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Old Forge.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Home Aide Service of the Central Adirondacks (HASCA) in Old Forge.

For online expressions of sympathy go to www.dfwefh.com.

Michael D. Drake

February 24, 2012

Mike Drake, 57,  passed away Friday, Feb. 24, after a brave 10 month battle against lung cancer, with his loving wife Paula by his side.

He was born on July 24, 1954 in Suffern, N.Y .to Allen and Audrey (Snyder) Drake. After graduating from Suffern High School in 1972—where he was a star running back— Mike went to college in Kansas on a full scholarship.

He worked as a mover for George Ernst in Suffern and ran a bar in Old Tappan, NY before spending several years working at P.J. Clark’s at Macy’s in Manhattan.

After moving to Big Moose in 1979 he ran Drake’s Distributing with his father and worked at The Big Moose Inn. He later managed The Knotty Pine in Old Forge. He and his wife purchased Drake’s Inn from his parents and have been running it successfully since 1985.

Besides his wife, Paula, he leaves two beloved sons, Michael ll and Matthew, both of Inlet, and his mother Audrey in Florida. His father predeceased him in 2007. He also leaves behind his mother-in-law Stella Moggia, Suffern, N.Y.; two brothers, Steven (Gus) and Ellen, Otter Lake; Allen Jr. (Beaner) and Margot, N.H.; two sisters, Susan and Bob Waltersdorf Conn.; and Penny and Shane Beach, Eagle Bay. He also leaves many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and his “self adopted son” Gary (Tater) Burrell, many friends and employees who were his “Drake’s Inn Family” and his canine buddy, Diesel.

Mike will be sorely missed by all of the good friends he has made over the years at Drake’s Inn and all of his mutual die-hard Raider Fans. There will be no services per Mike’s wishes. He also asked that all his family, friends, acquaintances, and all smokers to please do everything they can to try and quit.