Obituary of Bruce E. Flaherty

FLAHERTY, Bruce E. age 94 of Elmira, NY. He was born December 7, 1920 in Endicott, NY, son of the late F. Wilmot and Charlotte May (Day) Flaherty and passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at the Chemung County Nursing Facility. He was predeceased by his siblings Jeanette Tuthill, W. Ellis Flaherty and Ruth Buckbee. Bruce is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jean (Angell) Flaherty; son and daughter-in-law Bruce and Amy Flaherty of Horseheads; several nieces and nephews including his special niece Suzanne Angell of Rochester. Bruce was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving as a Radio Operator, stateside, during WWII. He graduated from Ithaca College and began his career in broadcasting after graduation with the Ithaca College radio station. He then went to WNBF TV in Binghamton where he was a staff announcer and later News Director. After a few years there, he went to Erie, PA to WICU TV. In 1960 he began his long career in Elmira at the then WSYE, affiliate of WSYR in Syracuse, as a staff reporter and news anchor. WSYE became WETM. He retired in 1991 as the long time News Director at WETM TV. After retirement, Bruce continued at WETM with special broadcasts and commentaries for a few more years, including his "Millennium Moments." Bruce emceed Junior Miss pageants in New York and Pennsylvania. He volunteered for the local Multiple Sclerosis Society, and wrote articles for and assisted with editing the Gold Card News. Family and friends are invited to visit Walter J. Kent Funeral Home, 858 Lake St. at Washington Ave., Elmira on Monday, November 2nd from 3 to 7 pm. His funeral and committal services will follow at 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may remember Bruce through donations to the Chemung County SPCA, 2435 State Route 352, Elmira, NY 14903 or your local animal shelter, or the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515. His family thanks the entire staff at the Chemung County Nursing Facility and especially the 6th floor along with Dr. Francisco Corbalan, for the wonderful care they provided Bruce during his extended stay there.