Attila G. V. de Illy

Attila G. V. 'Butch' de Illy of VanKleeck Lane, died Sunday, August 20, 2006 at Benedictine Hospital. He was 82. He was born in New York City on November 3, 1923, a son of the late Geza V. and Margit Zimmerman de Illy. Mr. de Illy was a machine apprentice at Ideal Wrapping Machine in Middletown and became a journeyman in 1944. He was a graduate member of the 58th. class of Officer Candidates at the U.S. Maritime Officers School at Ft. Trumbull, CT in 1945. He received a Certificate of Merit in Highest Standing in the machine shop at the U.S. Maritime Officers School. He served in the Merchant Marines from 1944 - 1946. He belonged to the American Legion Post 150. Mr. de Illy invented and filed patents for the design of inside and outside measurements gauges. He invented a hinge and a machine to manufacture it for a carpenter's rule as a consultant to the Evans Rule Company. His work was published in the July '55 Tool Engineer publication. A Development Manufacturing Engineer at I.B.M., Kingston for many years, he retired in 1986. While at I.B.M. he received the DSD Management Excellence Award. He was a member of the I.B.M. Quarter Century Club, and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. He was past-president of the American Society of Tool and Manufacturing Engineers. He spearheaded the organization of the Catskill Region Chapter #151 in 1958. Formerly of Middletown and New Paltz, he moved to Town of Ulster in 1958. He was a parishioner of St. Catherine Laboure Church. An avid hunter, fisherman, fish and game cook, he belonged to the Lake Katrine Rod and Gun Club, was a life member of the National Rifle Association. He had been an active volunteer for the Boy Scouts in the past. His wife Harriet M. 'Irish' de Illy died November 26, 2005. One brother Joseph B. de Illy died previously. Surviving are seven children Victor de Illy of Town of Ulster, Colleen Neese and her husband Bruce of Carrollton, TX, Gregory de Illy and his wife Melanie of Atlanta, GA, Marilyn de Illy of San Mateo, CA, Timothy de Illy of New York City, Christopher de Illy of Town of Ulster and Gerard de Illy and his partner Chuck Harry of Petaluma, CA; five grandchildren Fred DeSeino, Jonathan, Michelle, Gena and Madeleine de Illy; two great grandchildren Kaitlyn and Tristan; many nieces and nephews. Reposing at the Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral will be Thursday at 9:00 AM from the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Catherine Laboure Church at 10:00 AM. Cremation will take place in Wiltwyck Cemetery, Kingston. Inurnment will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Middletown at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut, 501 George St., New Haven, CT 06511 or the Leukemia Society of America, 5 Computer Drive West, Suite 100, Albany, NY 12205