Great Lakes Seaway Trail, NY and PA – Seaway Trail, Inc. has named Chuck Krupke as interim executive director following the death of President and CEO Teresa Mitchell.

Krupke, a respected Pulaski area businessman, has been associated with the byway since its inception in 1986 and has served as chairman of the board of Seaway Trail, Inc.

Seaway Trail, Inc. is the not-for-profit organization that promotes travel and tourism along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway shoreline of New York and Pennsylvania, including along the river between Morristown and Massena in St. Lawrence County.

The 518-mile route is a National Scenic Byway and a National Recreation Trail.

Krupke will serve in concert with John Hall of Cannon Design, Grand Island, the current board chair of Seaway Trail, Inc. and Alexander “Pope” Vickers of the Jefferson Community College Department of Hospitality and Tourism who is chair of the Seaway Trail Foundation, Sackets Harbor. #

Obituary Notice for Teresa H. Mitchell

CLAYTON – Teresa Hall Mitchell, 59, passed away Tuesday morning, January 24, at her home in Clayton, New York, with family at her side.

Teresa was born October 3, 1952, the daughter of Roy and Regina White Hall. She graduated from Clayton High School, earned an associate’s degree from Jefferson Community College in 1972, and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Empire State College.

She married Joel N. Mitchell on October 24, 1973, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Clayton, with Msgr. Dennis Lynch officiating.

Teresa was a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC). From 1972 to1986, Teresa marketed the 1000 Islands international tourism destination for the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. She helped her mentor Dr. Vincent J. Dee, Sr. develop the concept for the Seaway Trail scenic byway and became the first Executive Director of the Seaway Trail Corporation in 1986.

The route was named a National Recreation Trail in 1990-91 and a first-round National Scenic Byway in 1996. Teresa was influential in the development of New York State Scenic Byway legislation in 1991.

For her service to New York State tourism, she was awarded the I Love New York Individual Achievement Award by the New York State Economic Development agency.

Teresa was the developer and managing editor of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Travel Magazine and a series of travel guidebooks voted “Best of the Byways” by the American Recreation Coalition. She led the $1.9 million renovation of the historic Union Hotel in Sackets Harbor into the Seaway Trail Discovery Center and Gift Shop that opened in July 2000.

Teresa championed theme-based byway tourism and the development of quilting as cultural heritage tourism travel theme and created the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show held each March in Sackets Harbor. She had recently completed her War of 1812-style quilt for the March 17-18 show.

Teresa helped form the National Scenic Byway Foundation and served as chairperson from 2005 to 2011 on behalf of all of America’s Byways nationwide. She conducted a series of national byway leader roundtables to develop a teaching resource on financial sustainability for byways.

Teresa served as a member of the New York State Scenic Byway Advisory Board, New York State Travel & Vacation Association, St. Lawrence International Passport, Sackets Harbor Area Cultural Preservation Foundation, Inc., Clayton Chapter of Rotary International, North Country Quilting Guild, and Stone Building Appreciation Society.

The Clayton Rotary recently presented Teresa with its Paul Harris Fellow Award for Service.

At her passing, Teresa served as president and CEO of the Seaway Trail Corporation and of the Seaway Trail Foundation, Sackets Harbor.

Teresa was loved and respected by people throughout the New York and U.S. tourism and byway communities.

Teresa is survived by her husband Joel Mitchell; a son Michael, Clayton; a daughter and son-in-law Marcy and Patrick McGuire, and three grandchildren, Elizabeth, Lauren, and Aidan, Turin; a sister, Sylvia Hall, Redwood; and a brother Dennis Hall, Redwood.

Her parents Roy and Regina Hall, her beloved Bill and Loretta Aubertine, and a sister, Marcia Hall Warneck, predeceased her.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11am. Saturday, January 28 at St. Mary’s Church, Clayton. Calling hours will be 2-4pm and 7-9pm, Friday, January 27 at Cummings Funeral Service, Clayton.

Contributions may be made in Teresa’s honor to the Seaway Trail Foundation, PO Box 660, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685; Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601; the Clayton Rotary Club, PO Box 295, Clayton, NY 13624, or to a charity of one’s choice.