Rosemary S. Gannon

SLINGERLANDS – Rosemary Gannon, a longtime Highland Falls resident, passed away on June 5 2014, at the age of 95.  The daughter of Henry Skahen and Catherine Guilfoyle Skahen, she was born on July 31st, 1918 in Newark, NJ, but moved to Garnerville, NY as an infant.  She graduated from Saint Peter’s School and Haverstraw High School, and took college classes at New York University.

In 1942 when she began working the Civilian Personnel Office at the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Retiring from the CPO after more than forty years, she ran West Point’s Non-Appropriated Funds Personnel Office until retiring altogether in 1987.

Mrs. Gannon was active in many civic organizations in the area and served as a member of Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals, President of the Friends of The Highland Falls Library, President of the Highland Falls/Fort Montgomery School Board, President of The Garden Club of The Highlands, President of The Highlanders Senior Citizens Club, longtime Secretary and later Trustee of The Constitution Island Association, Trustee of the Town of Highlands Historical Society, and a Trustee of the Ramapo-Catskill Library System.

She was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Highland Falls, becoming active in the Cursillo movement and volunteering as a Eucharistic minister.    She was also a longtime volunteer at the West Point Library and a volunteer gardener at the Anna B. Warner Memorial Garden on Constitution Island.  Mrs. Gannon was part owner of the MV Commander and always enjoyed her outings on the Hudson.

After moving to Slingerlands, NY, she volunteered at the Beverwyck Library as well as at New Visions, Inc. of Bethlehem, NY.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Frank M. Gannon, and two brothers, the Reverend “Harry” Paschal Skahen and the Honorable John F. Skahen.  She is survived by four sons, Frank (Jean) of Albany, NY, James of Riverside RI, Stephen (Debbie) of Elkins Park, PA, and Matthew of Highland Falls, as well as grandchildren Bill and Beth Gannon of Albany, NY and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday morning at 9:00 am in All Saints Catholic Church, Homestead St., Albany.  Relatives and friends are invited.  Interment will be at noon in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Haverstraw, NY.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hans Funeral Home, Albany.  To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.