Family History — Alex Salinsky

Roy raised you (solid line). Raymond M. Galavotti is biological (dashed line). Both fathers, different roles.

1. Discreet first contact with Raymond via 315-697-2546 (text first). Because whether an in-person visit is on the table for this trip depends on his response. Send tonight or early tomorrow.
2. Find + visit Robert Wilson + Laura Moser graves (mom's side). Prerequisite: locate cemeteries via Oswego records (Laura, Aug/Sept 1973) + Oneida records (Robert, late 90s). Then visit.
3. Visit Ray Jr + Betty at Lenox Rural Canastota — your grandparents on Ray's side. Betty buried Aug 22, 2026 (fresh grave, 5 weeks). Ray Jr d. June 2017, likely same plot. Address: 7196 Nelson Rd, Canastota. Contact J. Homer Ball Funeral Home (315) 697-2294 for plot location.
4. Roy's parents at Pine Plains, Sect 5 Lot 21G. The CARE act. Clean stones, photos to Roy.
5. Larry Britton call — warm entry to Galavotti family without bio-parent complexity.
6. Jennifer Mueller via Facebook/Instagram — half-sister confirmed, lives independently near Albany.
7. Aunt Jean Lewis letter — Chester VA, softer bio-family opener.

1. Pine Plains Cemetery Association

Email: pineplainscem@gmail.com · Clay NY, Onondaga County

⚠ Office closes at noon (confirmed 2026-09-28, Alex tried at 2pm and missed them). Volunteer-run. Try again Tuesday morning before noon — you'll be on the train that morning, so best window is right after landing SYR ~5:34 PM Tuesday (nope, closed) → Wednesday morning is the play. Or email tonight and follow up by phone Wed AM.

What you already know (from Find A Grave memorial 67855972 + Post-Standard obit):

• John L. Salinsky — Sect 5 Lot 21G confirmed
• Bernice (Poplaski) Salinsky — buried July 1987, likely same plot (funeral home was Williams, Cicero)
• John P. Salinsky (great-grandfather) — died 1993, buried at Pine Plains per obit

What to confirm with them: exact adjacency of the plots, cleaning-visitor rules (D/2 Biological Solution + soft nylon brushes OK?), gate hours, whether an escort is needed for cleanup.

You can still visit the cemetery today without calling — you have the section and lot number. Section 5 Lot 21G is the target. The obit puts the funeral on a Saturday morning in July/August 1987; the plot's been there 39 years.

2. J. Homer Ball Funeral Home (Canastota)

201 James St, Canastota, NY 13032 · Handled Betty's Aug 2026 funeral + interment at Lenox Rural

They will know:

• Exact plot for Betty L. (Britton) Galavotti (grandmother, buried Aug 22, 2026) at Lenox Rural Cemetery, 7196 Nelson Road
• Whether Raymond E. Galavotti Jr. (grandfather, d. June 21, 2017) is in the same plot
• Whether Ranato "Ray" Galavotti (great-grandfather, 1903-1986) + Rosa Micheletti are also at Lenox Rural
• Rev. Thomas G. Burgess (Hope Christian Fellowship) — congregation angle

Script: "My name is Alex Salinsky, I'm doing family history research on the Galavotti family from Canastota. I understand you handled Betty Galavotti's funeral in August. Would you help me locate her plot at Lenox Rural and confirm which other Galavottis are buried there?"

3. Oswego County Historian / Historical Society (Wilson side)

Richardson-Bates House, 135 E 3rd St, Oswego · Oswego County Clerk 46 E Bridge St

Julie confirmed her mother Laura Adeline (Moser) Wilson died August 1973 in Oswego. Ask historian to help locate:

• Laura's obituary (Palladium-Times or similar, Aug/Sept 1973)
• Laura's burial location
• Nelly Adeline (Moody) Moser — Laura's mother, died ~mid March 1988, likely Oswego area
• Alfred Moser — Nelly's husband, Julie's grandfather

4. Optional — Uncle Larry Britton (Munnsville)

Safest first family call. Larry is Betty's brother (living), knew Betty as a sister, knew Ray Jr. from courtship days, watched Raymond M. grow up. Family-history angle, no bio-parent complexity. Phone number requires a paid Whitepages lookup or ground-side ask at Madison County Historian.

Script: "Hi Larry, my name is Alex. I'm researching family history and just learned about my grandmother Betty Galavotti through her obituary. I understand you're her brother. I'd love to hear anything you'd be willing to share about her, Ray, and the family. No agenda, just trying to know where I come from."

5. Raymond M. Galavotti — biological father (only if ready)

Residence: 385 Rosewood Cir, Canastota NY 13032 (from handwritten family note — number matches prior tax-record hit)

Phone lines from Alex's family note (2026-09-28):

Spokeo lookup on 9994: 8 owners historically tied to this line across three generations — James J + Nancy J (Hilton Head), Julie M (Orlando), Raymond E (Blossvale — where Ray Jr died 2017), Mildred P (Rosewood Cir Canastota), and Jennifer M — confirmed with parents Raymond M + Tammy M. This is the Galavotti family phone.

Spokeo lookup on 2546: No Galavotti attribution. Owners listed are unrelated (Donald E Canastota, Lori M, Stephen E Syracuse). Possibilities: (a) it's Ray's mobile that doesn't show in Spokeo, (b) it's unlisted on his DoD line, or (c) it's stale. Try 9994 first.

Family business line (Galavotti Townhomes, 340 Rosewood Cir): same (315) 697-9994

Do not cold-call today. Get to Uncle Larry first, understand the family, then approach Raymond with context. This is the biggest conversation of the trip.

Ranked by directness × discretion. Green = confirmed contact info. Orange = needs more research.

Recommended sequence (least risk → highest stakes)

1. Uncle Larry Britton — safest first call. Family-history frame, no bio-parent revelation needed. Larry will tell you about Betty, Ray Jr, and what Raymond M. was like growing up. This builds context.
2. Facebook / Instagram search for Jennifer Mueller — she's confirmed, in her late 20s, moved away from her parents' household. A DM saying "I think we may be siblings, would love to talk if you're open" is a real option.
3. Aunt Jean Lewis — a mailed letter to Chester VA. Buffered by distance and time.
4. Text Raymond M. at 315-697-2546 — after 1-3 above, when you know how to name what you know. Text lets him choose the moment.

John Leo Salinsky (grandfather)

Home address at death: 8988 Florence St, Brewerton NY. Lived in Brewerton since 1953.

Education: 1950 graduate of Rochester Polytechnical Institute (likely RPI Troy or RIT Rochester).

Career: 33 years with Sargeant, Webster, Crenshaw & Folley engineering firm. Retired 1986. Member ASME (Mechanical Engineers), NSPE (Professional Engineers), ASPE (Plumbing Engineers).

Church: Sacred Heart Church, Cicero — Holy Name Society member. Also where he married Bernice on 27 June 1953 (witnesses Joseph Alexander + Sophie Sepcilka; Monsignor Casimer Perjda officiated).

Parents: John Paul Salinsky + Margaret (Nesius) Salinsky.

Services: Williams Funeral Home, Cicero, 8261 S. Main St. Requested contributions to Cicero Fire Department or Brewerton Ambulance Fund.

Source: Post-Standard (Syracuse) July 30, 1987 obit · Find A Grave memorial 67855972

Bernice Eleanor (Poplaski) Salinsky (grandmother)

Parents: Roy Poplaski (b. 1894 Poland, buried Herkimer) + Anna Alexander (b. 1900 Russia, buried Herkimer). Both at Calvary Cemetery, Herkimer — the wasp-nest cemetery per Roy's 2019 email.

Sibling: Stanley Poplaski (died Glens Falls NY), Alex's great-uncle. Stanley's children by his second marriage to Bertha are Richard Poplaski + Michael Poplaski (Alex's cousins once-removed).

⚠ Both of Roy's parents died within 8 days of each other in July 1987.

Bernice on July 21, John Leo on July 29. Roy was 29. Likely one of the defining events of Roy's life. Acknowledge when discussing the visit.

Robert Alexander Wilson (grandfather)

Obituary should be in Oneida-area papers (Oneida Daily Dispatch, Utica Observer-Dispatch) late 1990s. Wilson family cemetery lead: Julie says relatives are buried in Norwich, NY (Chenango County, ~1 hr south of Oneida, NOT Norwich UK).

Career: Worked for New York State Department of Agriculture. Before that, managed a large dairy farm in Massachusetts — where he met Laura.

Middle name Alexander — this is the original Scottish family name. Julie was named for him (Julie Alexandra Wilson).

Ancestry story from Julie: 17th-century Scottish relative came to Virginia during the Revolutionary War (fought on the British side to get to America), was captured, escaped, made his way north to Norwich NY. Wilson line settled there.

Laura Adeline (Moser) Wilson (grandmother)

Julie's line: "Mom died Laura Adeline Wilson, her last name would have been Moser. She died in August, and it was 1973. I know that because she died like three weeks after my birthday."

Julie's birthday is Aug 15, so Laura died ~early Sept 1973 (Julie's phrasing swings between "early August" and "three weeks after my birthday" — the second is more specific).

Obituary should be in Oswego Palladium-Times, Aug or Sept 1973. Cemetery: unknown, needs Oswego County Historian help.

Robert + Laura were divorced.

Nelly Adeline (Moody) Moser (maternal great-grandmother)

Julie's line: "Grandma died, Nelly Moser died, and this would go, I'm going to say, January, February, March of 1988. The reason I know that is because she died about a month, no longer than a month, before River was born." River born April 10, 1988 → death ~mid March 1988.

Julie says her middle name might have been Nelly May (M-A-Y). Strong English accent, family from England. Had 6 children with Alfred Moser after his 7 children from a first marriage. Laura was the oldest of the 6.

Ancestry story: Julie says psychic/precognition passed down through the Moody/Moser mothers' line. Family drawn to water, lakes, and slabs of granite/shale like England had.

Alfred Moser (maternal great-grandfather)

Had 7 children from a first marriage, then married Nelly (who was 16 when they married) and had 6 more — Laura the oldest, then Charles, Thomas, Mary, Nelly (Aunt Nelly, died of cancer), Alfred (the youngest).

Julie thinks the Moser name may have been spelled differently in the German original (like her sibling Stephen's name spelled "Steieven" in the German way, with an extra letter).

Julie's siblings (updated from voice notes)

• Martha Ann Wilson (full sister, Alex's aunt) — living, contact info unknown
• Lenny Smith — half-brother from Laura's first marriage, lived in Anaheim CA, died of brain tumor / cancer. Julie doesn't know much about him or that first marriage.

Cancer pattern in Wilson/Moser line:

• Laura (grandmother) — brain tumor, 1973
• Lenny (half-uncle) — brain tumor
• Aunt Nelly (Laura's sister) — cancer
• Nelly (great-grandmother) — cancer

Julie flagged this specifically as a family-history data point.

Betty L. (Britton) Galavotti (grandmother)

Parents: Carl Britton + Reba (Snyder) Britton — both deceased. Fifth surname branch: Snyder.

Career: Bakery manager at Tops Friendly Market, Oneida — many years, retired 1996. Oneida High School class of 1948.

Church: Hope Christian Fellowship, Canastota. Rev. Thomas G. Burgess officiated at the funeral.

Interests: Quilting, church activities, family, grandchildren.

Spouse: Raymond E. Galavotti Jr, m. many years. Ray died June 21, 2017.

Living brother: Larry Britton + Sandra Britton — Munnsville NY. Alex's living great-uncle, likely the safest first outreach.

Predeceased brothers: Roger, Richard, Thomas Edward Britton.

Source: J. Homer Ball Funeral Home obituary

Raymond E. Galavotti Jr. (grandfather)

Married Betty Britton for many years. Likely buried at Lenox Rural with Betty — confirm via J. Homer Ball funeral home.

Ranato "Ray" Galavotti (great-grandfather)

Wife Rosa Micheletti. Find A Grave memorial 84686825. There is literally a Galavotti Pl street in Canastota — the family was prominent enough to have a street named for them. Suggests Ranato developed property there.

Residence: 385 Rosewood Cir, Canastota NY 13032 (with wife Tammy)

LinkedIn: raymond-galavotti-62338025b

Headline: Chief at Department of Defense

Profile read: Nearly dormant. 0 followers, no posts, no About, no Education. Consistent with a government/defense career pattern — minimal public presence for security reasons.

Likely workplace: Griffiss Business & Technology Park, Rome NY (former Griffiss AFB, ~30 min east of Canastota). Hosts Air Force Research Lab and Rome Labs.

Family business line: Galavotti Townhomes, 340 Rosewood Cir, (315) 697-9994

Julie's line from Sep 14 voice note: "For your birth father's side, that would be Chittenango, I believe, or Canastota. Canastota."

Half-sisters (Alex's, via Raymond M. + Tammy)

Jennifer M. Galavotti (Mueller) — CONFIRMED via Spokeo 2026-09-28

Address: Mueller Rd, Coeymans Hollow, NY 12046 (near Albany, ~2h east of Canastota — she moved out of Canastota)

Also from Betty's obit — likely also half-siblings from Raymond M + Tammy, need Madison County records to confirm:

• Rosa M. Galavotti — middle initial "M" matches Ray M. pattern, likely still in Canastota
• Rebecca + Daniel Olejer — Rebecca could belong to James + Nancy (Hilton Head), Jean + Michael Lewis (Virginia), or Raymond M + Tammy. Olejer is a married-in surname so Rebecca could be from any branch.

Great-grandchildren of Betty (per obit) — likely Alex's nephews if Rebecca is a half-sibling or Ray M.'s side:

• Nathaniel Olejer
• Lincoln Olejer

Aunt Jean (Galavotti) Lewis — Virginia

New discovery from Betty's obit. Alex's paternal aunt. Living at Krag Rd, Chester VA 23831. Previously lived 205 Rosewood Cir, Canastota NY for 36 years — she grew up next door to what became Raymond M. + Tammy's house.

Age 64. Might be more open than Raymond M. to a biological-family conversation. Not in area for in-person, phone only.

Uncle James "Jim" Galavotti — Hilton Head SC

Also listed in Whitepages results as "James J Raymond Galavotti" (Canastota + Hilton Head split residence). With wife Nancy Galavotti. Not in area.

Monday Sept 14, 4:06 PM — 7 min 13 sec

Saturday Sept 19, 9:48 PM — 3 min 10 sec

Monday Sept 14, 4:18 PM — 11 min 55 sec (the big one)

Monday Sept 14, 9:18 PM — 2 min 55 sec

Suggested day-by-day

• Tue Sep 29 — Train arrives 5:34 PM SYR. Uber to airport, pick up Budget rental (Chrysler Pacifica, conf 04688343US2), drive to hotel. Rest.
• Wed Sep 30 — Oswego records + Laura obituary search + Wilson cemetery lookup. Return to Syracuse for dinner.
• Thu Oct 1 — Pine Plains cemetery cleanup (Roy's parents). Onondaga County records afternoon. Consider driving through Cicero to see Sacred Heart Church (where Roy + Julie married Oct 1984).
• Fri Oct 2 morning — Wampsville records (Madison County) + Lenox Rural Cemetery (Galavotti). Back to SYR by 8 AM for 10:29 flight.

You

Alexander John Salinsky, b. 9 December 1984, Syracuse NY

Raised by: Roy John Salinsky (b. 26 June 1958)

Biological father: Raymond M. Galavotti (Canastota)

Mother: Julie Alexandra Wilson (b. 15 August 1959, Oswego)

Brother: Ryver Otter (formerly Tristin Robert Salinsky), b. 10 April 1988, Syracuse