Robinson's 'Coach G' Passes Away

Barry Gorodnick lost his battle with cancer over the weekend.

Beloved husband, father, and Robinson Secondary School coach Barry Gorodnick passed away Saturday after a two-year-long struggle with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He leaves behind his wife, Jen Gorodnick and three children Kaitlyn, 11, Taylor, 10 and Ryan, 7. Gorodnick’s family and friends had set up a fundraising page to help pay for treatments. On Sunday, the page was updated to inform supporters of his passing. “Thanks everyone for your support throughout Barry's illness. Jen and the kids really need us now more than ever. We will continue this fundraiser to honor him and help the Gorodnicks,” read a comment from Cathy Velis, who helped start the fundraising efforts. As of Tuesday, supporters had raised $55,000 for the family. Robinson …

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WSHS Mourns Student's Death

Senior Anhely (Angie) Garcia died suddenly on April 8.

West Springfield High School Principal Mark Greenfelder announced Tuesday the sudden death of Senior Anhely (Angie) Garcia.  She "died unexpectedly on Sunday morning, April 8," Greenfelder said in an email to the school community.  "This morning [Tuesday] a school-wide announcement was made, and a moment of silence dedicated to Angie," he wrote. Angie’s family shared the funeral arrangements.  "They wanted to be sure that students would be able to attend if they so desired," said Greenfelder. Wake/Viewing Wednesday, April 11, 6 - 9 p.m. Cunningham Funeral Home 811 Cameron Street Alexandria, Virginia 22314 703-549-1800 Funeral Service Thursday, April 12, at 3 p.m. St. Raymond of Peñafort Catholic Church 8750 Pohick Road Springfield, …

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Helene T. Lesansky, Burke Resident, NOVA Professor, Dies

Lesansky was a founding member of Northern Virginia Community College.

"Helene T. Lesansky, 89, a retired economics and sociology professor at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) died of complications related to Parkinson’s disease Jan. 9 at her home in Burke," reported The Washington Post. Lesansky was a founding member of NOVA, teaching there from 1965 until her retirement in 1986. Her survivors include three sons, Henry R. Lesansky of Mount Airy and Lewis Lesansky and Mendel Lesansky, both of Burke.

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Cathy Belter, Former Springfield District Representative to School Board, Died Saturday

Long time PTA leader, education advocate died at her home.

Catherine Belter, a long time Fairfax County education advocate, died at her home Saturday.  "I am deeply saddened by the loss of a great friend and mentor," said Ramona Morrow, president of the Fairfax County Council of PTAs.  "Cathy's efforts on behalf of all children will be remembered here in Fairfax, in Virginia and nationally for years to come." Cathy served as president of the Virginia PTA from 1985 - 87, then served 10 years on the board of the National PTA, before her election to the Fairfax County School Board.  She served two terms, 2000 to 2008, as Springfield District representative. She'd also worked part time for Fairfax County Public Library. Morrow said her association and eventual friendship with Cathy began in 1987.  "…

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Sgt. Michael Boehm Laid to Rest with Full Honors

Photos of Wednesdays funeral procession in Burke, D.C. and Fairfax.

U.S. Park Police Sgt. Michael Andrew Boehm, a 19-year veteran with the U.S. Park Police, was buried with full honors on Wednesday. A U.S. Park Police helicopter flew over the Church of the Nativity, where his funeral mass was held.  The Washington Post featured photos of the funeral procession from the church to Park Police Headquarters in D.C., across Memorial Bridge, and to Sgt. Boehm's burial at Fairfax Memorial Park. Sgt. Boehm was assisting EMS Units at the scene of a critically injured person near Key Bridge when he collapsed on the C&O Canal.  He was transported to Georgetown University Hospital, where he died a short time later. He is survived by his wife, Corrina, and son, Christopher.

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U.S. Park Police Sgt. Michael Boehm's Funeral in Burke

Funeral will have substantial impact on traffic in the Burke area and on roads to and from D.C.

U.S. Park Police Sgt. Michael Boehm, who died on duty Friday, Dec. 16, will be buried with full honors Dec. 28 at Fairfax Memorial Park. According to the U.S. Park Police Blog, the public viewing will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Church of the Nativity in Burke.  The funeral Mass will be held at Church of the Nativity on Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m.  The U.S. Park Police expect substantial impact on traffic as law enforcement personnel arrive for the morning service.  "Commuters for the morning rush hour may be affected and should consider work around routes," said the blog post. Immediately following the funeral Mass, at about 11:30 a.m., a procession will be held from the church to U.S. Park Police …

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Gallery: Family, Friends say Goodbye to Firefighter Horace "Teddy" Pendergrass

Services were held Thursday morning at Zion Baptist Church in Fairfax

Family and friends said goodbye to fallen firefighter Horace Christopher “Teddy” Pendergrass at the Zion Baptist Church on Thursday morning. Hundreds of Fairfax County Firefighters and firefighters from as far as New York came to pay their respects. Pendergrass, 49, was a 21-year veteran of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. Pendergrass passed away on Saturday at the Crosspointe Fire Station in Fairfax Station. The cause of his death is under investigation, though he is believed to have died of natural causes. Pendergrass leaves behind his two daughters, Christian Adams and Tierra Pendergrass, and his son, Horace Christopher Junior, according to his obituary published for his funeral service. Pendergrass grew up in Norfolk, …

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Steve Jobs, Genius of Our Lifetime

Tributes abound; Jobs 'gave people wings.'

“Steve, your products gave me a new life. I am dyslexic, and Apple understands creativity (and) how to unleash potential. Thank you for giving me wings."  This tribute, posted at the Apple store in Clarendon, is one of many left in the wake of Steve Job's death October 5. He was 56. "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being," Apple posted on its website. Lorton's Bill Stepp held a power discussion with friends at Caribou Coffee. The subject: The death of Steve Jobs and the future of Apple, Inc. Stepp, retired from AT&T, owns no Apple stock. "Jobs was a creative engineer, not a manager. The question I have is: What other products are in the mill aside from the iPhone 5? What's in the …

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Steve Jobs dies; Apple Computer co-founder was 56

Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., who introduced simple, well-designed computers for people who were more interested in what technology could do rather than how it was done, died Wednesday at age 56.