Von E. Strahan
9/3/1955
Von, age 69, entered into rest on Sunday, September 8, 2024 where he was greeted by many of his dogs at the end of the Rainbow Bridge.
Von was born on September 3,1955 in Canandaigua,NY. He was a unique and multifaceted man. Von played rugby for the Finger Lakes Vikings for over 30 years, he was a long distance runner who still holds many records at Marcus Whitman High School and once finished 43rd in the Boston Marathon. He was a Wildlife Specialist for the USDA.
Von was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed archery, was a Master Trapper and Houndsman and raised old English Game Chickens. He loved animals; his dogs were his best friends.Von was a self-proclaimed “Party Master and “RingLeader”. He was always busy and touched many lives around the world.
Von is survived by his life partner of 20 plus years, Michelle Kinney; children, Jacey (Mikaela) Strahan, Christa Strahan and their mother, Rita Venuti; step-children, Laura (Julia House) Kinney and Eddie (Tanya) Kinney; granddaughter and sunshine of his life, Samira Strahan-Cure; siblings, Tammy (David) Bleier, Tracy (Doug Swarthout) Henderson,Trudy Jo Strahan and Charles Bergman;special friends Jim and Joanne Ninestine as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins and so many friends, to many to mention.
Von was predeceased by his parents, Earl Strahan, Ruth Mason Bergman and Charles and Lois Bergman.
Gordon Roy Berndt
5/28/30-1/11/24
On January 11, 2024 Gordy Berndt passed away.
He was one of the founders of the Genesee Valley Trappers Association in Honeoye, NY
There will be a memorial service on May 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Victor Methodist Church, 106 East Main St., Victor, NY 14564.
Gordy’s love for trapping started at a young age when he was in 4H. One of their assignments was to pick an animal to research, he chose Foxes, and his love of trapping took off from there.
He spent most of his time working on farms and walking through the woods, learning as much as he could about wildlife. If you knew Gordy, you knew his life was in the woods, but he knew he would have to have a career, so he worked for Kodak, married Jeanie, and had four children.
His 9-5 did not stop him from pursuing his passion for the wild. He joined the Genesee Valley Trappers Association (GVTA), in which he became president, developed the Youth Trapper Training Courses for NYS, was an instructor and involved in the youth camps.
The list of Gordy’s accomplishments in the trapping world could go on and on, but here are the highlights:
- President of NYSTA
- On the Board of Directors for NYSTA
- NTA District President
- Lifetime Member (over 70 years) of the Victor Lions Club
- Involved in the NYS Otter Project
- Inducted into the National Trappers Hall of Fame
The trapping legacy he left behind will carry on for many generations to come. Thank you Dad/Grandpa/Papa/Gordy/Friend for being a beloved part of all our lives and touching the lives of everyone you met. Your jokes and knowledge will be dearly missed by all. We will see you at the next mile marker.