Terrence "Terry" Valentine of Dunkirk died peacefully in his childhood home, in the arms of his most loving, devoted wife, Cheryl. Terry became ill on October 23, 2012 and spent the next three weeks at Buffalo General Hospital. Cheryl never left Terry's side, as they were always found in their 10-1/2 years
together. They overcame many health obstacles, and by a true miracle, Terry spent his final 23 days at home surrounded by memories of his parents,
the devoted love of his wife, his stepsons, daughter in-law, his beautiful grandchildren, whom he adored, his most closest friends Bob Patterson,
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Terrence L. Valentine
Mary Fesser and Joey Till and his cousin Don Bajdas. Mr. Valentine was born in Buffalo on July 26, 1947, the son of Anthony J. and Martha (Michalak) Valentine.
Terry graduated from Cardinal Mindszenty High School in 1965, attended Fredonia State College and transferred to St. Bonaventure University. Mr. Valentine was on their tennis teams and could be often found playing tennis with his friend at Point Gratiot. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor of business administration degree in May 1970. Mr. Valentine was a fiscal affairs and financial officer with over 30 years of accomplishments. He was a
certified instructor on quality education training and attended Philip Crosby Quality College in Winter Park, Florida. Terry moved to Barrington, Rhode Island shortly after graduation, when he was employed by ITT Grinnel Corporation as a supervising senior auditor and principal associate. Mr. Valentine moved
back to Dunkirk in 1981, after his father became sick. At that time Terry was employed by Alumax Extrusions, Inc. in Dunkirk as the plant controller. In
1998, Terry was employed by the City of Dunkirk as its fiscal affairs officer, in two years, led the complete fiscal turnaround of a city government by going from
a $257,000 deficit to a surplus of $2.6 million and reduced short term debt by $1.8 million with no tax increase. Mr. Valentine retired from the Dunkirk
City School District as its school business manager. Mr. Valentine was a member of The Government Financial Officers Association since 1998 and was a member of the New York State School Business Officials. He attended I.A.A.B.O. basketball referee school and was a basketball referee for several years, and participated in many programs for the young people in our community. Terry was the president and vice-president of the Dunkirk Rotary club. He also received the presidential citation in recognition of outstanding and exemplary efforts in fulfilling the objectives of the 1987-88 presidential citation program and another for his
extraordinary act of service during the Polio Plus campaign in 1986-88. Mr. Valentine also served on the board of directors and as the assistant secretarytreasurer at Shorewood Country Club. He was also on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club, a member of the Industrial Energy Committee, past
member of the United Way board of directors. Mr. Valentine enjoyed playing tennis, was on the racquetball league, and in past years could be found
on any one of several golf courses on the east coast. Terry loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, as he adored them.
Mr. Valentine is survived by his loving wife Cheryl Boryczka-Valentine. He was the step-father of Jeffery and Carolyn Houseknecht of Rochester and
Charles and Cameron Houseknecht of Rhode Island, he was a very loving papa to Zachery Lily Houseknecht, with whom he spent most of his free
time. Terry is also survived by his father in-law Thomas Boryczka of Batavia and the late Carol Boryczka, his sister in-law, Deborah and Jeffery Westling of Dunkirk and brother in-law Thomas and Sandi Boryczka of Elba, N.Y. He is survived by many cousins, three nieces and two nephews. Funeral services will be
held Tuesday morning at 10:15 from the McGraw-Kowal Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 o'clock in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
