Dansville/Boca Raton, FL: Kameron P. Mason, born September 28, 1952 in Batavia, New York passed away on June 6, 2014, in Boca Raton, Florida where he had happily made his home for the last fourteen years of his life and was intimately invested in the lives of his daughter Jennine and her two boys, Joseph and Anthony Fabiani, to whom he was affectionately known as “Bapa”.
Kam lived most of his early years on Conesus Lake where he was something of a daredevil for water sports and anything else involving speed or risk including an early career driving pace horses in Batavia and Buffalo. Ever the showman, he reveled in driving racecar #23 using the moniker, “The Undertaker”. He grew up hunting and fishing in the hills of Western New York with his father, Nelson and brother, Kirk. He passed along this love of the outdoors to his son Kevin and both grandsons.
Kam attended Livonia Central School and then pursued a lifetime desire to become a funeral director when he attended Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY; apprenticed at Gormley Funeral home in Phoenicia, NY and went on to become part owner of John W. Martin Funeral Home in Mt. Morris and then Chamberlin Funeral Home in Dansville, NY with long-time friend and partner Kevin Dougherty. He often remarked that he was privileged to have loved the work that he did including the grief counseling that he felt was inherently necessary for families in times of loss. Kam was a proud Rotarian with connections in both Mt. Morris and Dansville where he and his former wife Sue (Scardilla) Vernam were enthusiastically and civically involved and where they raised their two children Kevin and Jennine.
Kam will long be remembered for his raucous gift of humor, his fearless sense of adventure and his adherence to living life on his own terms without apology. For all who loved him, the world will be a little less colorful and exciting without him. He is predeceased by parents, Nelson and Barbara Mason and brother Kevin. Surviving family include: Jennine (Mason) Fabiani and grandsons Joseph and Anthony of Boca Raton, Florida; son Kevin Mason of Rochester; brother Kirk (Danuta) Mason of Dunedin Florida; Kathie (Mason) Briggs and her children Kiersten and Nicholas King, of Syracuse; Mason and Proctor cousins in the US and Canada and close friends in Dansville, Livonia and Mt. Morris.
The family would like to extend personal and sincere thanks to Kevin and Deanna Dougherty, Phil Saunders, Rob Waltman and Sharon K. Hartman, Roger Gray, Tom and Joanie Wamp, Bernie McIntee, Miguel Fabiani and Pablo Narvaez for their intense loyalty and support to Kam in his last months as he lost a hard fought battle to cancer.
Calling hours will be held Friday, June 13th, from 4 to 7 PM at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, 21 Big Tree Street, Rte 15 & 20A, Livonia, NY. Friends and family are invited to attend Kam’s Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 40 Elizabeth Street, Dansville, NY at 10 AM on Saturday June 14th. There will be a private interment in Ossian per Kam’s wishes. Donations in his name can be made to the Mary Saunders Beiermann Emergency Department Project, 111 Clara Barton St., Dansville, NY 14437; the Dansville Rotary, PO Box 6, Dansville, NY 14437 or a fund of personal choice. To send a condolence and for further information please visit:
www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com
Kirk,Kathie and all families We are very sorry for your loss. We will always remember his smile and the way he could make people laugh. I’m sure he will be missed by all.
I have so many memories of Kam, most involved laughter even when he tried to be serious. He was a great guy and will be missed so, so much. Jennine and Kevin: my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Your dad loved you both so much…Although I hadn’t seen him in many years, i thought of him often and always expected i would see him again one day. I guess now i will have to wait to see him again when i am called home…..until then Kam
I am so sorry to hear of Kam’s passing. High school would’ve been so dulllllll without him! I also have great memories of spending time with the Mason family at the “camp” in Dansville! What great times!
I was so sorry to hear of Kam’s passing. My memories of him will always include fun and lots of laughter. Who could ever forget his laugh. Very distinguished. My sympathy to all of you.
Sandy Brennan
Lafayette, Colorado
Kathie and family,
Very sad to hear about Kam. Stirs up alot of Lakeville and high school memories. Hold close the times you shared. I hope they will bring comfort and peace.
Kathie, Sue & family,
So sorry to hear about Kam’s illness and passing. He always made everyone around him laugh. I remember him doing his best to terrorize when we were young. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear of Cam’s passing. Great guy with a funny sense of humor!!! May God bless you and comfort you All.
very saddened to hear of Kam’s passing. What a GREAT & FUNNY guy and will be greatly missed. He certainly was a blast to be around in high school and on the lake. jim raffa, englewood florida
Kathie and Family,
I am sorry to hear of Kam’s passing. Remembering Kam brings back many fond memories of Pebble Beach and being on the lake all summer. You are all in my thoughts and in my prayers.
So sorry to hear about Kam—– Jim & I have many fond memories of him during the Conesus Inn days. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Dear Sue, Jannine, Kevin, Kirk, and Kathie,
How lucky we are to have had Kam in all his wild ways, a sense of humor never to be seen again on earth (!) and of course his wonderful and caring side as well. My heart goes out to you all.
Kathie and All,
I was so sadden to hear of Kam’s passing, but it stirred up a lot of crazy, fun and fond memories from the old school days we all shared. He will be remember and missed by many. You and your family are in my thoughts.I hope that our paths will cross again some day. Bonnie Stewart Breitigam Catawba,SC
Dear Kirk, Kathie and All,
So very sorry to hear about Kam, his bout with cancer and his passing. He was much too young. I am especialy sorry that I’m not be able to come to calling hours or the church service to express my sympathy in person and share stories with you. Know that you and your families are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless and Take Care.
My sincere sympathy,
Lou
Our thoughts are with your family. Kam was a wonderful person who lived life to it fullest. He always made us smile and laugh. He will be missed by many.
jennine,kevin..and family our thoughts and prayers are with you always..jennine your laugh is like your dads.always smiing,kevin your goofball sence of humor is like your dads,remember he will be watching over both of you and your kids..love to you all..fly like a angel my dear friend 🙂
Very sorry to hear about Kam. We remember him so well in High School especially. He was always funny and made everything seem a little bit easier.
Our thoughts are with the family.
So very saddened to hear of Kam’s passing. I have so many fun loving memories of all the Mason family. Thank God, his suffering is over. I would just bet that John met Kam at the Heavenly gate with a take down. God Bless, Mariellen Finster
Sue, Jennine and Kevin, I am so sorry for your loss. I know how important Kam was in each of your lives, and also know that you’ll carry forward the best of him in so many ways. I never had the privilege of meeting him, but it sounds like that’s my loss and Heaven’s gain! Love to you all.