Obituary of Anita C. Handler

Anita C. Handler “1st Women’s Basketball Coach at St. Bona’s” Allegany, NY-- Anita C. Handler of 2337 Five Mile Rd. passed away Monday (March 27, 2006) in Cuba Memorial Hospital after a lengthy battle with cancer. Born December 2, 1930 in Wilkes Barre, PA she was the daughter of Frank and Jenny !DeBiase English. On November 24, 1956 at Holy Savior Church in Norristown, PA she married Fred D. Handler who survives. Mrs. Handler graduated from Norristown, PA High School in 1948 and obtained her professional nursing degree from Abington, PA Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1951. She graduated in 1955 from The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s of science degree in education and then earned her Master’s of Science in Education Administration degree from St. Bonaventure University in 1962. She was first employed as a private duty nurse in Philadelphia-area private hospitals from 1951 to 1952 and then was a general duty nurse at The Ohio State University Hospital from 1953 to 1955. She served as an officer in the United States Army Nurse Corps from 1955 to 1958. Mrs. Handler had the distinction of being the first women’s basketball coach at St. Bonaventure University during the 1960-1961 season. From 1975-76 she was an instructor in the Cattaraugus County BOCES practical nursing program, and taught full-time at St. Mary of the Angels Parochial School in Olean from 1978 to 1985. Most recently she was a substitute teacher in the Allegany-Olean area from 1985 until her retirement in 1995. She was a member of St. Bonaventure parish in Allegany and was a former member of the Archbishop Walsh High School Parents Club and the St. Mary’s and St. Bonaventure’s Home School Associations. She originated the St. Bonaventure University Tuesday Golf League for Ladies as well as the local Block Parents Association and local Smokers Anonymous chapter. She was a member of the American Red Cross and the Alpha Tau Delta Sorority. Mrs. Handler was a member of the Town of Allegany Recreation Commission from 1978 to 1985 and was a member of the Cattaraugus County !SubArea Advisory Council of the Health Systems Agency of Western New York from 1983-1986. She was also on the medical staff of the 1979 New York State Special Olympics, which were held at St. Bonaventure University. Surviving besides her husband are 5 children Fritz (Kathy) Handler of Barrington, IL, Kurt (Lisa Ann) Handler of Roswell, GA, Lisa Marie Handler of Chicago, IL, Eric (Elizabeth) Handler of New Rochelle, NY and Kirsten Handler of Lakewood, OH; 6 grandchildren; 2 sisters Amelia English and Mary Falco, both of Norristown, PA and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister and an infant brother. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Thursday from 2-4 & 7-9pm. Funeral services will be held Friday (March 31, 2006) beginning with a prayer service at 9:30am in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am at the St. Bonaventure University Chapel. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Roswell Park Cancer Institute PO Box 631 Buffalo, NY 14240-0631 or to the Olean General Hospital.