Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 42

Ci TIMES SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 1994 7 SUNCOAST DEATHS New Port Richey. WEBER, FRIEDA 88, of Holiday, died Jan. 20. National Cremation Society, Holiday. North Pinellas SEGRETI, GREGORY, 85, of Spring Hill, died Saturday (Jan.

22, 1994) at HCA Oak Hill Hospital. Born in Italy, he came here 16 years ago from Maryland, and was retired from the U.S. Navy. He was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Nancy Marsden, Derwood, a brother, Mario, Be-thesda, two sisters, Teresa Pro-vanzano, Washington, D.C., and Rose Furguele, Italy; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Brewer Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory, Spring Hill Chapel. SMITH, FRANCES 77, of Homosassa, died Friday (Jan. 21, 1994) at Seven Rivers Hospital. Born in Troy, she came here 17 years ago from Punta Gorda, and was a retired nurse's aide.

She was an Episcopalian. Survivors include a son, Freeman, Athens, five daughters, Joyce Black, Lakeland, Jean Trumbull, Waverly N.Y., Elizabeth Hall, Elmira, N.Y., and Sally Neiley and Mary Ann Seymour, both of Homosassa; 16 grandchildren; and 1 1 great-grandchildren. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs. OBITUARIES CACIOPPO, JAMES 71, of Homosassa, died Friday (Jan. 21, 1994) at home.

Horn in Brooklyn, N.Y., he came here eight years ago from Garden City, N.Y., and was a retired machinist in the tool and die industry. He was a Catholic. Survivors include his wife, Annette a daughter, Susan Lesco, East Northport N.Y.; and a brother, Angelo, Middle Village, N.Y. Charles E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

DURHAM, FRANCES LEN-NON, 78, of Inverness, died Friday (Jan. 21, 1994) at Citrus Memorial Hospital. Born in Bloomfield, N.J., she came here 25 years ago from Pinellas Park and was a retired real estate broker. She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Survivors include two sons, Peter, Brooksville, and Kevin, Floral City; two daughters, June Johnson, Inverness, and Beth Wilkinson, Bushnell; a brother, Philip Len-non, St.

Petersburg; a sister, Marguerite Kostenko, Hopewell, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Charles E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness. DZIEGIELEWSKI, PATRICIA ANN "PAT," 44, of Spring Hill, died Friday (Jan. 21, 1994) at University Community Hospital, Tampa.

Born in Patchoque, N.Y., she came here six years ago from Heliport, N.Y., and was a certified nurse's aide in home care. She was a Baptist and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 8681, Beverly Hills. Survivors include her husband, John; a son, John Hudson; two daughters, Laura Crystal and Jacqueline Marie, both of Spring Hill; her father, Robert Reynolds, Bluepoint, N.Y.; a brother, Bobby Reynolds, Long Island, N.Y.; and a sister, Vernes Gessner, Bluepoint. Brewer Memorial Funeral Homes and Crematory, Seven Hills Chapel. HAY, COLIN, 61, of Spring Hill, died Wednesday (Jan.

19, 1994) at Bayfiunl Medical Center. Born in Wombwell, England, he came here seven years ago from Altamonte Springs and was a retired lawn maintenance groundskeeper. Survivors include his wife, Olive; a daughter, Janet Andrea, Tucson, a son, Michael, Tucson; six brothers, Gordon, Cassel-berry, and Jack, Arthur, Granville, Robert and Ronald, all of England; a sister, Barbara Satcote, England; and three grandchildren. Gulfport Memorial Funeral Home, Gulfport. KVETON, MARY, 91, of Spring Hill, died Friday (Jan.

21, 1994). Born in Czechoslovakia, she was a winter resident here from Bayville, N.Y. Survivors include a son, Frank, Laurel Hollow, N.Y. Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness. LANNERT, JOSEPH 79, of Brooksville, died Thursday (Jan.

20, 1994) at HCA Oak Hill Hospital. Born in New York City, he came here 14 years ago from Roswell, N.M., and was a retired insurance agent for John Hancock Life Insurance. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Vicky; two sons, Edward, Ossining, N.Y., and William, Brooksville; a sister, Barbara Kernan, Port St. Lucie; and two grandsons.

Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville. LONG, JENNIE 87, of Beverly Hills, died Friday (Jan. 21, 1994) at Surrey Place Convalescent Center, Lecanto. Born in Newark, N.J., she came here one year ago from South Orange, N.J., and worked in charity. She was a Catholic.

Survivors include a daughter, Helen Napolitano, Beverly Hills; three sisters, Helen King, Belleville, N.J., Amelia MacLaehlan, Old Bridge, N.J., and Lottie Travis; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nephews and nieces. Fero Funeral Homes, Beverly Hills. This list is extracted from detailed obituaries published in other regional editions of the Times. Hillsborough LBANASZAK, CLARENCE, 67, of Tampa, died Z- Jan. 21.

C.E. Prevatt Funeral Home, Temple Terrace. JJJIEKSZA, EDWARD, 73, of Tampa, died Jan. 20. C.E.

Prevatt Funeral Home, Temple Terrace. rBOYETT, MILDRED EDNA, 89, of Brooksville and formerly of Tampa, died Jan. 21. F.T. Blount Nebraska Chapel, Tampa.

IFERLINA, ANTONIA TAGLIARINI "NINA," 85, of I Tampa, died Jan. 21. Marsicano-B. Marion Reed-Stowers Funeral Homes, Tampa. jfLEMING, EDGAR 81, of Sun City Center, died Jan.

22. Zipperer's Agape Mortuary and Crematory, Ruskin. 'JrURNEY, EDGAR LEE, 90, of Tampa, died Jan. I 21. Haynes Funeral Home, Plant City.

HAMILTON, LUCILE, 89, of St. Petersburg and formerly of Tampa, died Jan. 21. F.T.Blount Nebraska Aven. Chapel, Tampa.

Tollman, john theodore, 65, of Tampa, died Jan. 21. Holloway Funeral Home, Oldsmar. MORGAN, JAMES D. "JiM," 70, of Brandon, died Jan.

21. Stowers Funeral Homes, Brandon. PAUL AUBREY, infant son of Cindy I Myers and James Saxon, died Jan. 20. C.E.

ZL Prevatt Funeral Home, Temple Terrace. SEXTON, CATHERINE 76, of Gibsonton, died Jan. 22. Hamilton Funeral Home, Riverview. WRIGHT, ADELL, 84, of Seffner, died Jan.

21. Garden of Memories-Myrtle Hill Funeral Home, Tampa. I Pasco BRYANT, HILLARD 88, of New Port Richey, died Jan. 17. North Meadowlawn, New Port Richey.

DEAN, JAMES CALVIN, 90, of Port Richey, died Jan. 21. Michels-Lundquist Funeral Home, New I Port Richey. DEVINE, KENNETH, 74, of New Port Richey, died "Jan. 19.

National Cremation Society, Holiday. EBETSCH, MARIE 93, of Clearwater, formerly of New Port Richey, died Jan. 21. Padgett Funeral Home, Holiday. I EVERETT, ROSE E.

"BETH," 74, of Port Richey, I died Jan. 20. Arlington Funeral Home, Port Richey. EWELL, THOMAS 64, of Holiday, died Jan. 21.

National Cremation Society, Holiday. IFORTIN, MARIE RITA, 71, of Bayonet Point, died Jan. 20. and four nephews, National Cremation I Society, Holiday. IPUCK, MYRTLE 95, of New Port Richey, died Jan.

18. NorthMeadowlawn, New Port Richey. SAMPLE, ROBERT 75, of New Port Richey, died Jan. 21. Michels-Lundquist Funeral Home, BURRIER, MARY 74, of Clearwater, died Jan.

19. National Cremation Society, Holiday. CARTER, ROBERT 77, of Clearwater, died Jan. 21 Evergreen Cremation Society, Largo. CLOUGH, BERNICE 89, of Safety Harbor, died Jan.

22. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes, Dunedin Chapel. HINCKLEY, RITA 77, of Largo, died Jan. 21. C.E.Prevatt Funeral Home, Tyrone Chapel, St.

Petersburg. JACKSON, TERRY "BOB," 48, of Clearwater, died Jan. 21 Rhodes Funeral Directors Belcher Chapel, Clearwater. JASTEMSKI, WESLEY 37, of Palm Harbor, died Jan. 16.

Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park, Clearwater. JUSTUS, MARGARET, 91, of Clearwater died Jan. 18. Rhodes Funeral Directors, Druid Chapel, Clearwater. KAINEC, FRANCES 83, of Largo, died Jan.

20. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes, Serenity Gardens Chapel, Largo. McVICKER, SAMUEL, 86, of Oldsmar, died Jan. 21. Bayside Funeral Home, Safety Harbor.

PALMER RALPH, 83, of Largo, died Jan. 21. Hubbell Funeral Home, Belleair Bluffs. POND, SHELDON S. "PETE," 78, of Palm Harbor, died Jan.

20. Curlew Hills Funeral Home, Palm Harbor. ROSE, MARY LOBINGIER, 90, of Clearwater, died Jan. 21. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes, Fort Harrison Chapel, Clearwater.

THOMPSON, WAYNE JOSEPH, 36, of Dunedin, died Jan. 18. Rhodes Funeral Directors, Druid Chapel, Clearwater. South Pinellas ALEXANDER, VITO, 71, of Pinellas Park, died Jan. 21.

R. Lee Williams Son Funeral Home, St. Petersburg. BENDER, ROBERT 62, of St. Petersburg, died Jan.

20. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, St. Petersburg. BIZUB, JOSEPH ALBERT, 77, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and formerly of St. Petersburg, died Jan.

20. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel, Murrells Inlet, S.C. BURD, RUTH 90, of St. Petersburg, died Jan. 19.

Woodlawn Funeral Home, St. Petersburg. KREIDER, MILES 63, of St. Petersburg, died Jan. 21.

National Cremation Burial Society, Brooksville. LYONS, WILLIAM 87, of St. Petersburg, died Jan. 21. John S.

Rhodes, East Chapel, St. Petersburg. Mclaughlin, Elizabeth price, of St. Petersburg, died Jan. 20.

Gulfport Memorial Funeral Home, Gulfport. WOLFF, CLEMENT ANTHONY, 76, of High Point, died Friday (Jan. 21 1994) at HCA Oak Hill Hospital. Born in Jersey City, N.J., he came here 18 years ago from Long Island, N.Y., and was retired superintendent of schools for Malverne, N.Y. He was an Episcopalian, and a member of the New York Principals' Association, the National School Business Officials of New York, and High Point Mobile Patrol.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret; two daughters, Candace Kolyer, New York City, and Carol Wozniak, Lorraine, Ohio; and two grandchildren. Brewer Memorial Funeral Homes and Crematory, REUNIONS March Schools Babylon High, New York 11-12. Call (407) 291-2941. Other FL 34684. North Dakotans Feb.

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Write Norman Kautz, 1708 Starling Drive, Sarasota, FL 34231. Timken Company March 2. Call (813) 753-2087. APRIL MARCH Other Military Military Allen Military Academy (all classes) April 9. Call (713) 666-9302 or (713) 675-6777 (fax).

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17. Write Stan and Mary Lou Thomas, 1928 Sweetgum Place, Palm Harbor, Jury from Page 1 THE BEST AUTO BUYS yV )X IN THE $xzL CITRUS JpWHEELS the surveillance tapes and the lack of candor of the plaintiff herself," Wood argued. Several jurors backed up that claim. No sympathy vote "That didn't have anything to do with it," Iglio said when asked about the wheelchair. "I didn't know he was the woman's husband.

I found out from my wife later." "I don't believe his presence, even if it (his relationship to Mrs. Rice) had been known, would have made any difference," said P.F. Johnson, the jury forewoman. "He had nothing to do with the issues at all." Johnson said CJ. Rice was not mentioned during deliberations and no one speculated about who he might be.

Three of the six jurors expressed those sentiments. One declined to be interviewed, and the other two could not be reached for comment. Shulman said that even if the jury didn't believe the Everetts suffered permanent damages, his clients should have received at least $8,000 to $10,000, which would have covered their out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages. Edwards, the judge, essentially agreed. He granted a new trial, saying that the jury had been "confused" about that requirement of law.

Edwards dismissed the Everetts' complaint about Rice. "I am not basing this on the fact that Mr. Rice was in this courtroom. I saw nothing Mr. Rice did to indicate any kind of way that that prejudice could have come from Mr.

Rice," the judge said. The 5th District Court of Appeal agreed with Edwards on that point, but the court disagreed with his decision to grant a new trial. A three-judge panel, in a decision filed Jan. 14, ruled that there was sufficient non-technical evidence to justify the jury's rejecting the Everetts' claims. The Rices were happy to hear about that verdict last week.

To them, it's the fitting end to what was a simple case all along. And it also serves as vindication for a man who, despite the accusations against him, insists that he did nothing wrong. "Naturally, if your wife's on trial you want to be there and see what's going on," Rice said. "I wasn't there for any other purpose than that." described the case. The Everetts' lawyers were shocked, but when they evaluated their loss, they quickly blamed Rice's husband.

"They (the Everetts) both were injured. In terms of the severity of the injury, that should be decided by a jury untainted by the defendant's husband zooming around in a wheelchair," Shulman said. Conspicuous spectator For the lawyers, it was a nightmare come true. They feared that Rice would inspire sympathy for his wife and, in their view, that's what happened. Before trial, Shulman and Hamilton asked Circuit Judge William Edwards to bar Rice from the courtroom.

The judge didn't go that far, but he did tell Rice to avoid being seen with his wife during the trial. Rice did not sit at his wife's table or confer with her during the trial, but the lawyers said jurors saw the Rices sitting together before the trial even started. In case the jurors forgot, Rice was constantly there to remind them. "Every time that he went to change the position of the wheelchair, it made a whirring noise. It was loud enough that I could hear it, and I was concentrating on the trial," said Shulman, who was a law clerk assisting Hamilton at that trial.

After the trial, Shulman saw two jurors shake Rice's hand while they left the courtroom. That convinced him that the panel had ruled against his clients simply because they felt sorry for Mrs. Rice and her husband. Rice said he sat in back for logistical purposes. "When you're in a wheelchair, you sit where you don't block the aisle," he explained.

He also said he did not intentionally move his chair, call attention to himself or otherwise play a part in the case. He simply watched. "I personaly don't think it (CJ. Rice's presence) had any effect whatsoever," said J. Emory Wood, the lawyer who represented Mrs.

Rice. "There were strict precautions taken to make sure the jurors never saw him speaking with Mrs. Rice. He was not allowed to be a witness. You can't know exactly what happens with the jurors, but they made their decision based on -Another skeptic is the man in question: Clarence "C.J." Rice, a 72-year-old World War II veteran wh lost both legs in a 1975 car accident and has been in a wheel-chajr since.

I was there (at the trial) just to support my wife. I stayed in the bacE of the room. I didn't make a shaw of myself," Rice said during ai) Interview last week. 1 just kind of pooh-poohed it (the- argument) because there wasn't anything to it. That wasUhe only thing they could try to ap'pEal on," Rice said.

Jhe opposing attorneys have a few-last avenues to pursue, but oddS are that the verdict will stand in this case, which started strangely! and never changed course. Chicken and charges In December 1988, Rice's wife, Ann, was in line at the drive-up Section of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Crystal River. Mrs. Rice placed her order and prepared to creep toward the window to pick up her meal. In the process, she accidentally hit the accelerator instead of the brake, ramming her van into another vehicle's back.

She was go-ing'no more than 6 mph, but the other vehicle's occupants, Gary arid Nancy Everett, said they were injured. The Everetts thought they deserved up to $25,000 to make up for their out-of-pocket medical expenses, lost wages, lost ability to wrk and general pain and suffering, according to court records and interviews. I Mrs. Rice's insurance company! State Farm, didn't agree. So in Jufje 1992, the parties headed for trijil.

Mrs. Rice presented testimony and medical records to show that Mrs. Everett suffered back and netk pain long before the accident, anI that she had been involved in a previous wreck that injured her. During a pretrial deposition, Mis. Everett had denied suffering any neck pain or headaches during 19g8.

attorney representing Mrs. Rice also presented a secret surveillance videotape that showed Gary Everett lifting a heavy appliance into the ed of a truck. The jury ruled that the Everetts didn't deserve a dime. "I think it was a big fraud, a big put-up," is how juror James Iglio i.