Obituary of William and Claudia Dutch

Married for 62 years, Bill and Claudia (Giambra) Dutch passed away within a short time of one another in January of 2015, at their home in Lacey, Washington. Claudia (“Cookie”), a native of Jamestown, Ney York, was born in 1930 to Prospero and Michela Giambra. She graduated with honors from Jamestown High School in 1948 and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign languages from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in 1952. At Case Western Reserve, Claudia met and then soon married her devoted companion for life, Bill Dutch. William (“Bill”) Dutch Jr., a native of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, was born in 1927 to Scottish immigrants William Edward and Daisy Hill Dutch. Bill graduated from Ridgefield Park High School in 1945, then joined the Army, traveling to Europe to help rebuild after World War II. He then attended college, graduating from Case Western Reserve with a bachelor’s degree in business and his beautiful, loving companion for life, Claudia Giambra. Bill and Claudia married in Jamestown, in August, 1952, and eventually settled down to raise two children, Margaret and William III in Peekskill, New York. Bill worked as a compensation administrator for International Telephone and Telegraph in New York City, while Claudia was a French and Spanish teacher at Haldane Central Schools in Cold Spring, New York. After two decades they retired, first living in Cold Spring, then moving to Madison, Connecticut and the shores of Long Island Sound. They later, along with son William, moved to Washington to be with daughter Margaret and her husband, Dale Davis, and to enjoy time with their grandchildren, Alden and Eric. Although living in many places throughout their lives, Jamestown is the home that Claudia and Bill always returned to, and brought Maggie and Bill III home to. This is where there always was, and is, loving family and friends. A memorial service was held for Claudia and Bill at St. James Parish, 27 Allen Street, on Saturday, June 27, 2015. To honor Claudia and Bill, and to celebrate their love and their lives, Margaret, Dale, Bill III, Alden, Eric, with cousin, Anita Paladino, hosted a reception and buffet lunch for friends and family immediately after the service at Anita’s residence in Jamestown. We enjoyed gathering with family and friends to share memories and stories about these two loved people. Inquiries about the service can be made by contacting Maggie at madeinolywa@comcast.net. Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Aunt Cookie and Uncle Bill–We are grateful for and were blessed with the years we shared with you. You are loved and missed every day. Take care of each other on this, your next journey together. Rest in peace … you are forever in our hearts. Please leave memories of William and Claudia or condolences for their family in the Guestbook below.