Ann Fallon

Ann Fallon, 96, died at Saratoga Hospital on Thursday May 4, 2017

Born in Troy on April 2, 1921, she was the widow of Arnold E. Fallon, Sr. Mrs. Fallon was the daughter of the late Katherine (Tolopka) and William Karichkowsky of Troy.

She attended the former School 5, School 14, and Troy High School.  At Troy High, she participated in school theatricals.  Her interest in performance continued in the area of radio.  She played Mary Todd Lincoln in a radio drama on WGY, Schenectady in the 1930s.  She competed in the Miss Troy Beauty Pageant–the winner going on to the Miss America Pageant.  She was first runner-up.

On February 9, 1941 she married Arnold E. Fallon, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Harry Cornell Fallon of Troy, at First Presbyterian Church of Lansingburgh. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Seth L. Genung.  The couple also exchanged vows on May 4, 1941 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Troy in a ceremony conducted by Rev. Andrew Ivanyshyn.  The couple honeymooned in Montreal, Canada.  As newlyweds they lived in Little Falls, New York; where her husband was manager of Carroll’s Pharmacy.  Their son, Robert, was born in Little Falls.

Her husband joined the Naval Reserves on September 25, 1942 and was put into active service the same day.  He, at first, reported to the United States Naval Hospital in Brooklyn.  He was assigned to the United States Naval Midshipmen’s School at Columbia University; he taught pharmacy.  Mr. and Mrs. Fallon and their infant son, Robert, resided on Riverside Drive, New York City.

Her husband was part of the 5th Medical Battalion of the 5th Marine Division at Camp Joseph H. Pendleton, Oceanside, California.  During this period, the family lived in Laguna Beach.  Their daughter, Diane Christina, was born at Orange, California just weeks after Arnold was transferred to Hilo, Hawaii.  He later participated in the assault and capture of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands.  Mrs. Fallon, like so many brides during the war, is to be commended for carrying the family torch at home while her husband was serving their country.

After the war, the family resided on Liberty Street in Troy.  In 1951 she and her husband purchased the 27 room brownstone at 149 Second Street, Troy (rebuilt after a fire in 2010).  She enjoyed decorating the home.  Mr. and Mrs. Fallon did much entertaining.  The home’s dining room had a tapestry ceiling, stained-glass windows, and a beautiful sculpted fireplace.  She complimented the decor within the home using many family antiques and portraiture.

Mrs. Fallon studied art under Rudy Helmo: first at the Jewish Community Center on First Street in Troy and at the Country Club of Troy.  Painting in oil, she was comfortable with landscapes and country scenes.

In the late 40s, Mrs. Fallon was an American Red Cross volunteer at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albany. In addition, she raised money for the American Cancer Society and the Heart Fund. She also worked with the elderly at the Troy Senior Center and with developmentally-disabled adults.

She and her husband were co-presidents of the St. John’s Day School Parents Association.  She also volunteered at the school–assisting in a special needs class.

Her memberships over the years included: the Country Club of Troy;

the Troy Jewish Community Center; and the former Troy Club.  She and her husband enjoyed attending the Holly Ball each year at the country club.

In 1969, Mr. and Mrs. Fallon purchased the Milo and Gladys Hayner farm on Hill Road in Center Brunswick. They moved to Center Brunswick in 1970.

Mrs. Fallon was an officer of the Troy Drug Company, Inc., of which her husband served as president.  She was shareholder of Karichkowsky Realty Corporation.

She was supportive of her husband’s civic and professional activities–accompanying him to many New York State Pharmaceutical Society conventions and events associated with his interest in housing. Her husband was appointed by Governor Thomas E. Dewey to the State Commission to Study Rents and Rental Conditions in 1948.  Governor W. Averell Harriman reappointed her husband in 1955.  He later served as chairman of the Troy Housing Authority.  Arnold E. Fallon Apartments in Troy were named in his honor.  Mr. Fallon passed away on March 9, 1973.

She held a strong religious faith and was appreciative of each day and the joy each day brings.  Mrs. Fallon was a devoted wife and loving mother. She was cordial and kind–an encourager to family and friends.

In July of 1999, she suffered a stroke at her Brunswick farm and was taken by medical helicopter to Albany Medical Center.  The stroke was a massive one.  She was a patient at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady.  In November of 1999, she began rehabilitation at the Wesley Health Care Center in Saratoga Springs.  Although her mobility and speech were affected by the stroke–she made many strides–making full use of the expressive face God gave her, managing some words, and communicating with sign language and communication devices.  She got around very well with her motorized wheelchair; attending church services at Wesley, dining out around Saratoga, and spending many precious moments with family and friends. She also enjoyed her therapeutic swimming at Wesley.  Her positive spirit will not be forgotten by all who knew and loved her.

Ann is survived by her six children and their spouses: Robert Fallon and his wife Helen of Guilderland; Diane Boylan and her husband Lawrence of Saratoga Lake; Ann Reed and her husband Terry of Orange, Massachusetts; Arnold Fallon, Jr. and his wife Becky of La Mirada, CA; Katherine Fallon-Underwood and her husband Gerald of Menands; and Melissa Fallon of Brunswick.  Grandchildren: Katherine DeLeon and her husband Vidal; Matthew Fallon; Ann and Martha Romano; Desmond Reed; and Vivian Nichols and her husband Timothy; Amelia Tramontano and her husband Brian; Derrick and Noah Fallon; Charles and Julian Norton; Jack and Katherine Underwood; Mike and Marilyn Sullivan. Five great-grandchildren, Charles Dukes; Micah and Katina DeLeon; Weston and Violet Tramontano; and many cherished nieces and nephews. Mrs. Fallon was predeceased by a grandson, David Romano, Jr. and her brothers, Alexander, Peter, Michael, and John Karichkowsky and sisters, Mary Alice Karichkowsky and Olga Miller. In earlier years she attended St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Troy.

The funeral mass will be held Wednesday May 10th, 2017 at 10:00am at the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Third Street, Troy, NY. Calling hours will be at the McLoughlin & Mason Funeral Home, corner of 109th street and Third Avenue, will be Tuesday, May 9th from 4pm to 7pm.

Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Troy.

For full obituary, please visit mcloughlinmason.com.