Franklin O.L. Steinberg was dedicated to funeral service, having served as president and owner of Sunset Chapels in Manhasset, NY. He served on the New York State Funeral Directors Association(NYSFDA) Board of Directors for several years and was a board member of theMetropolitan Funeral Directors Association (MetFDA). Franklin passed away in 2018 at the age of 83. Uponhis death, the Tribute Foundation was named as a beneficiary entitled to a portion of his Trust estate.
Franklin was a great believer of education, valued his colleagues and enjoyed any opportunity to gather together. You would always find him at the NYSFDA Annual Convention. He especially enjoyed events at the casino. Beginning in 2021, educational programming at NYSFDA Conventions is provided by the NYS Tribute Foundation, thanks in part to Franklin’s generous donation.
In addition, the Tribute Foundation is pleased to provide financial support to qualified mortuary science students who reside in the state of New York and are enrolled in accredited mortuary science programs. Eligibility includes first- and second-year students, online students, and students working toward a BS degree in the Mortuary Science field of study.Find out more about this scholarship.
Thank you to our contributors who have made donations to the Tribute Foundation in 2021-2022. The levels at which they are listed are “cumulative” from the Foundation’s beginning. Gifts of Remembrance and Gifts in Honor and Celebration are also cumulative and count toward the levels of giving.
Tribute Legacy Society | $10,000 or more
Wayne and Sally Baxter | Fox Funeral Home, Forest Hills
Douglas, Martha and Lillian Brueggemann | Brueggemann Funeral Home of East Northport, Inc., East Northport
James P. Dean | Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., Oneida
Timothy P. Doyle, CFSP | Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Poughkeepsie
Dutchess-Putnam-Ulster Funeral Directors Association
Finger Lakes Funeral Directors Association
William F. Flooks, Jr. | Beecher Flooks Funeral Home, Inc., Pleasantville
Jeffrey A. and Robin Jennings | Jennings, Nulton & Mattle Funeral Home, Inc., Penfield
Leatherstocking Funeral Directors Association
Peter J. Nolan, Mark Nolan and James P. Nolan, Jr. | Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home, Inc., Northport
Ontario-Wayne-Yates County Funeral Directors Association
Richard J. and JoAnne Sullivan | Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc., Cornwall-On-Hudson
Cornerstone Benefactor | $5,000 – $9,999
Scott B. Anthony, CFSP | Anthony Funeral & Cremation Chapels, Webster
Capital District Funeral Directors Association
Robert and Mimi Enos | Hoy Funeral Home, West Seneca
Erie-Niagara Funeral Directors Association
Salvatore A. Farenga | Farenga Bros., Inc., Bronx
John Fraser | Holy Rosary Church, Hawthorne
Jeff and Peggy Gaines | Glen Rock, NJ
Henry Gutterman | New York
Josh E. Miller | Miller Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc. of Victor, Rochester
Scott and Eben Miller | Miller Printing & Litho, Inc., Amsterdam
Joseph B. Papavero | Papavero Funeral Home, Maspeth
Wesley A. and Wesley C. Powell | Powell Funeral Home, Inc., Amityville
Sal Stratis | Abigal Press
G. Robert Sweet | Sweet’s Funeral Home, Inc., Hyde Park
Gordon and Joan Terry | Edmeston
Carl W. Trainor | Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., Boonville
Medallion Circle | $2,500 – $4,999
Sharon D’ Ambrosio | Babcock Funeral Home, Ravena
Joseph Dietrich | Dietrich Funeral Home, Inc., Amherst
Tribute Foundation to Collaborate with National Alliance for Children’s Grief
The Tribute Foundation Board met via Zoom on Wednesday, March 23. During this meeting they discussed and approved a partnership with the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG). The NACG is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them. Through their members’ and partners’ collective voices, they educate, advocate, and raise awareness about childhood bereavement. The NACG is a nationwide network comprised of professionals, institutions, and volunteers who promote best practices, educational programming, and critical resources to facilitate the mental, emotional, and physical health of grieving children and their families.
This partnership with NACG will include three separate initiatives aimed at sharing resources with New York State funeral service professionals:
When Someone Dies: Supporting Children through Funerals and Memorials resource: NACG will create a resource toolkit for professionals and families that makes a point of connection during the planning, event, and follow-up of funerals and memorials. The resource toolkit can be printed and distributed by NYSFDA members.
Education webinar: The NACG will develop an educational webinar specifically for NYSFDA members designed to provide information and tools for supporting grieving children.
Presentation at NYSFDA Convention: NACG will provide a presentation that will address meeting the needs of children and teens following a death of someone in their life.
“We’re excited about this new partnership,” said Michael J. Gorton, Jr., CFSP, NYS Tribute Foundation Chair. “We’ve been researching ways to effectively provide grief support for children experiencing loss, and with NACG’s resources and experience we’re well-positioned to be able to do that now. And what a way to honor Franklin’s (O.L. Steinberg) legacy.”
NYS Tribute Foundation Board Meets
July 2021 – During their bi-annual meeting last month, the NYS Tribute Foundation Board discussed and moved forward on several items.
Board Transitions
Michael O’Connor (Abigal), Peter Rose (Betz, Rossi, Bellinger & Stewart Family Funeral Homes) and JoAnne Sullivan (Cemetery of the Highlands, Inc.; Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc.) have fulfilled their two-term limit serving a total of six years each. Their time, dedication and representation were acknowledged and appreciated. With the three outgoing board members, the board reviewed and discussed filling the open seats, and were excited to have a diverse slate of candidates.
As of August 23, 2021, the following professionals will join the Tribute Board:
Jason Harrington | Licensed Funeral Director, Reed & Benoit Funeral Home, Inc./Carpenter-Stoodley, Inc. Funeral Home
Mary King | Licensed Funeral Director, Robert M. King Funeral Home
Robin Jennings | Licensed Funeral Director, Former Educator, Jennings, Nulton & Mattle Funeral Home, Inc.
Jeffrey Reed | Mount Calvary Cemetery Group
Dave Roberts | Bereavement Specialist, Professor at Utica College
Carol Townsend-Ross | Westchester Hospice
Following the selection of new Board members, the board held a vote to fill the Chair and Secretary/Treasurer positions. Michael Gorton, Jr. was elected as Chair and Scott Hendrixwas elected as the Secretary/Treasurer. The board also appointed Mr. Gorton as the Tribute At-Large Director to serve on the NYSFDA Board of Directors.
Grant Awardees
As a not-for-profit organization dedicated to end-of-life issues, including death, dying and bereavement, Tribute awards grants to support projects, research and education.
The Board approved the following grants:
$5,000 – Hospice-VNSW-WPHC, Inc. This project, provides federally mandated non-reimbursable bereavement services to families or caregivers for up to 13 months following the loss of a loved one.
$7,500 – St. Mary’s Foundation for Children. This project offers ongoing bereavement services to parents, siblings and family members of children enrolled in St. Mary’s Palliative Care Program.
$3,000 – Camp Healing Hearts (URMC). This project offers a day camp for children who have experienced the death of a loved one by giving them an opportunity to learn healthy ways of coping.
$2,500 – Camp Heartstrings. This project provides a camp for bereaved children giving them a chance to address their needs and offer support in a safe environment.
New York State Tribute Foundation is a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Individual contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. All contributors will be recognized as part of the Tribute Foundation’s donor recognition program.
The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting education, outreach and research programs that advance the public’s understanding of end-of-life issues.
Scholarships
The Tribute Foundation has established a number of professional and continuing education scholarships.
The Foundation strives to increase the number of new funeral service professionals by providing educational scholarships to current and future funeral service professionals by encouraging existing licensed funeral directors to return to funeral service; encouraging funeral service as a second career; and providing financial scholarships as appropriate.
Education & Research
The Tribute Foundation uses its philanthropic resources to stimulate research, improve and support professional education, increase public outreach, and sponsor forums to foster policy dialogue on important end-of-life issues.
Grants
The Tribute Foundation awards grants to support projects, research and education. To achieve greatest impact with limited resources, our Board of Directors has identified several priority funding areas that guide our funding decisions. These projects can take many forms: lecture series, research programs, conferences, educational programs or materials and professional scholarships.
The NYS Tribute Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, was established in 2003 out of a desire to unite the knowledge and resources of funeral service professionals throughout New York State.
The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting education, outreach and research programs that advance the public’s understanding of end-of-life issues.
The Foundation uses its philanthropic resources to stimulate research, improve and support professional education, increase public outreach, and sponsor forums to foster policy dialogue on important end-of-life issues.
