Robert L. Wakelee, Illustrious Potentate of Ziyara Temple, announced the appointment of Noble Vaughn A. Combs to the office of Captain of the Guard of Ziyara Temple at the Temple’s annual meeting on January 18, 2003.

The new Captain of the Guard was born in Rome, New York on September 23, 1938 and attended Rome schools.  He married the former Agnes A. Gaeta in 1957.  They have three daughters; Kathy Sweatman and her husband Kenneth, Karen Flick and her husband Jeffrey; and Kimberly Combs; and two sons and their wives, Wayne and Laurie Combs and Vaughn Thomas and Joan Combs.

For the past 37 years he has been employed by the Canteen Company of Utica-Rome ...(continue)

Illustrious Robert L. Wakelee announced the appointment of Noble William C. Brunet to the office of Outer Guard of Ziyara Temple at Ziyara’s annual meeting held on January 18, 2003.

Noble Brunet was born on September 20, 1955 and is a life-long resident of Utica.  He received his education in the Utica Public School System.

He is employed by the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute in the engineering department as a maintenance mechanic.  His responsibilities lie in the field of all maintenance repairs and new equipment installation.  One of his major responsibilities is maintaining the environmental control system for the 31 buildings owned and operated by M-W-P-A-I on its 9 acre campus.

Raised a Master Mason on ...(continue)

Illustrious Alun Ellis announced the appointment of Noble Dale R. Roberts to the office of Outer Guard of Ziyara Temple at Ziyara’s annual meeting held on January 17, 2004.

Noble Roberts was born December 29, 1956 at the Sunset Nursing Home (yes, that’s right) in Constableville, NY.  He attended and graduated from South Lewis Central School in Turin.  He received his degree in Journalism and Communication from the State university of New York.

Noble Roberts has worked in area media and has served as Area representative for the NYS Easter Seal Society and as Executive Director of the Rome Chapter of the American Red Cross.

He entered the auto industry in 1987 and was Sales Manager ...(continue)

Noble Trapanick was born in Utica, NY on March 30, 1946 and received his education in Utica.  A 1965 graduate of Utica Free Academy he continued his education at M.V.C.C., graduating in 1969 with an associated degree in Business Management.

Noble Trapanick is semi-retired from the County of Oneida, Dept of Social Services, after 38 years of service.  He has served as Buyer for the Department of Social Services for the last 12 years and presently serves in that capacity on a part-time basis.  

On November 15, 1969 he married Nancy Szafarz in Utica, NY.  Sam was raised in Roman -  Hatheway Lodge #223 on December 3, 1996 and served as ...(continue)

Maksim “Max” Berkovich was born in Gomel, Belarus, formerly of the Soviet Union on January 8, 1982.  At the age of seven, his family immigrated to Brooklyn, NY.  He graduated from James Madison High School in 1999. In 2003, he graduated from Utica College with a Bachelor’s degree in Both Economics and Political Science. 
Currently, Max is employed at Strategic Financial Services, LLC as a Portfolio Analyst and resides in Whitesboro, NY.  
Max was raised in June 2005 in Oriental-Faxton Lodge #224 F & AM where he is a Past Master. In 2008, Max affiliated with Moriah Lodge #958 and currently serves as their Master.  In 2006, Max joined the Yahnundasis ...(continue)

   Wayne L. Allen was elected to his first year as Recorder in 2009. He served as Potentate in 2008. Ill.Sir Allen was born in Utica.His early education was in received in the Utica Public Schools. His under-graduate studies were at the School of Business Administration of Clarkson College where he majored in Business and Accounting. Advance studies continued in Health Care Services at St. Louis University and were completed from the formal Health Services Program of the Graduate School of Business of Indiana University.
On September 5, 1970, Wayne married the late Karen M. Bates in Utica. Karen passed away in 2004. Our Ill. Sir is proud of his children, his daughter Heidi, ...(continue)

Noble Fred resides in Whitesboro, NY with his wife Sandy who supports him wholeheartedly, and his (only and would never spoil) daughter Emily.  He retired from the US Postal Service after 35 years, 24 of which he was in management.  He also served four years in the military and did a stint in Viet Nam.  

He is a member of Utica Lodge #47 F &AM and was raised on April 26, 2004 and is currently an officer and he is also on the Education Committee.  He was created a Noble of Ziyara Temple on November 19, 2005.   The Yahnundahsis Lodge of Perfection of the Scottish Rite finds him currently ...(continue)

Ill. Sir Wayne L. Allen announced at the annual meeting the appointment of Mark Alvarado to serve on the Divan, as Captain of the Guard.

Noble Alvarado was raised a Master Mason in Marks Lodge, Huron, Ohio in 1996.
He is currently a member of Oriental-Faxton Lodge #224, in Utica, where he is serving as the Worshipful Master.  He is also a member of the Yahnundahsis Bodies AASR where he is the Thrice Potent Master of the Lodge of Perfection, a member of Oberlin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons in Oberlin, Ohio and a life time member of the Senior DeMolay Mark Master Lodge in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2001, he joined the Shriners at Ararat Temple in ...(continue)

Noble Thomas E. (Tom) Blackstone was appointed Director of Ziyara Shriners at the Annual Meeting on January 24, 2009 by Illustrious Sir Wayne E. Towne.

Tom was born in Utica, NY on February 28, 1953 to the late Noble F. Russell and Marion Blackstone, living most of his life in New Hartford.  Tom was raised in Oriental Lodge #224 on May 23, 1978 serving as Master in 1983.  He joined the Yahnundahsis Bodies A.A.S.R. in 1985 working in different parts in all degrees.  He was created a Noble of Ziyara Shriners on June 4, 1986.  He joined the Ziyara Transportation and Director Staff in 1999.  He also became a committee member ...(continue)

    Keith A. Pope is a member of Winfield Lodge No. 581 where he was raised in 1988. He served his Lodge as Master in 1992-1993. He was a Lodge Trustee and has been chairman of the scholarship Dinner several times. He participates in degree work in his Lodge. 
   He served as District Deputy Grand Master of the Herkimer District.   Keith is a member of the Yahnundahsis Bodies A.A.S.R. and became a Noble of Ziyara Temple on April 25, 1998.  Where he served as Commander of the Legion of Honor in 2001 and Commander of the New York-Ontario Shrine Legion of Honor in 2003. He has ...(continue)

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Noble John Thomas Sargent has been appointed as Ziyara Temple’s Outer Guard for 2009 by Illustrious Potentate Wayne E. Towne.  The announcement was made at Ziyara’s Annual Meeting on January 24, 2009.

Noble Sargent was born in Rome, New York on October 16, 1967, the son of John and Beverly Sargent.  He was educated in Rome City Schools, graduating from Rome Free Academy in 1985.  In 1990, her earned a Bachelor’s degree in political Science from Utica College of Syracuse University, graduating Magna Cum Laude.  

On October 24, 1998, he married the former Judy D. Wilcox at Great Camp Sagamore in Raquette Lake, New York.  They have been blessed with two ...(continue)

To those Nobles who are not acquainted with Ziyara’s Recorder Emeritus, we present Philip Schaeffer, who was elected on June 15, 1996, to succeed Illustrious Sir William H. Griffith in this important office.

Ziyara’s Recorder Emeritus was born in Brooklyn on October 26, 1927 and received his early education in the Brooklyn schools, graduating from high school in 1945, after which he continued his education at New York University. He chose for his vocation the field of sales, representing the Sansabelt Company, manufacturers of men’s clothing, until his retirement in 1992.  He was discharged in 1947 from the U.S. Army after serving two years in the army paratroops.

He is married to the former Gloria H. ...(continue)

Noble William R. Williams, Sr. was appointed Director of Ziyara Temple by Potentate John S. Friedel at the recommendation of the Director’s Staff in 1987.

Our Director Emeritus was born in Utica, NY.  He is a graduate of Utica Free Academy and was employed as a printer.

On May 13, 1972, he married Sharon Tracy and their family consists of two sons, William R., Williams, Jr. and Kevin G. Williams.  He attends Central United Methodist Church.  The Williams’ make their residence in Utica, New York.

Noble Williams was raised in Oriental Lodge #224 F &AM on April 27, 1971.  He is also a member of the Mohawk Valley Consistory, AASR and served as Sovereign ...(continue)

	Noble Wayne Edward Towne II was born on August 21, 1966 in Rome, New York.  He considers himself a life long Roman although throughout his childhood and teen years he migrated south to Florida along with his parents, Wayne and Marie Towne and his two sisters.

	While in Florida, he remained active in Scouting.  This continued practice eventually helped Wayne to receive the rank of Eagle Scout and was an essential part of his passage into adulthood were  his fraternal interests would continue and flourish.	

	After graduation in 1984 from Rome Free Academy, Wayne followed his father’s footsteps into the asphalt industry at Wayne Paving Co. Inc.  Working many arduous summers as a ...(continue)