Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page C09

THE HARTFORD COURANT TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2009 C9 LIVING OBITUARIES TREADWAY, Lucy Jean WORD WATCH The Wild Story Behind 'Smart Aleck' Safety I By ROB KYFF Special to The Courant One of Hoag's schemes was recorded in the 1844 diary of New York newspaper editor George Wilkes, who had interviewed Hoag in prison. Melinda would tell a male customer to disrobe and, during a moment when the man was, shall we say, preoccupied, Hoag would slip into the room through a secret panel, steal every valuable in the man's pockets and then sneak out through the panel. Then Hoag would pound angrily on the bedroom door, pretending to be Melinda's returning husband (which, in a way, he was). The victim, of course, grabbed his clothes quickly as he fled, not noticing the absence of his billfold, coins and pocket watch. Hoag, it turns out, sometimes used such schemes to avoid paying off his police protectors, who were supposed to be getting a cut of his take.

Supposedly, when these corrupt cops discovered Hoag had been working "off the books," so to speak, they arrested him and dubbed him a "smart Alex." While evidence for this theory isn't conclusive, it does square with the fact that "smart Aleck" first appeared in print in 1865; presumably the term would have been used in spoken English for several years before being written down. You might call Melinda's customer a "patsy," meaning "someone who is easily victimized or manipulated," though a "patsy" is usually someone who has been set up to take the blame for someone else. Some experts trace "patsy," which first appeared during the late 1800s, to the Italian "pazzo," meaning "crazy" Others say it's based on the nickname for "Patrick" or "Patricia. But Evan Thomas, at www.worddetective.com, suggests it may derive from Patsy Bolivar, a hapless character in a 19th-century minstrel show who always ended up being blamed for everything. Rob Kyff is a teacher and writer in West Hartford.

Write to him in care of The Courant, Features Department, 285 Broad Hartford, CT 06115, or by email at wordguyaol.com Who was the first "smart And do we call someone who's easily duped a For many decades word historians assumed "smart aleck" (or "smart was simply a generic term for a wise guy, similar to "average Joe" or "Johnny-come-lately" Then along came the smart-aleck professor Gerald Cohn. In his 1985 book "Studies in Slang: Part 1," Cohn contended that the original smart aleck was one Alex Hoag, a notorious con-man and thief who, working with his prostitute wife, Melinda, fleeced many people in New York City during the 1840s. Lucy Jean Treadway, 62, of Bristol, died on Sunday, (March 1, 2009) at Newing-ton Care Center. Lucy was born June 14, 1946, in Hartford and was a daughter of the late Morton C. Treadway Jr.

and Anna (Fox) Treadway. A Bristol resident all of her life, she graduated from The Bement School and The Newport School for Girls. She was also a participant in The Academic Year Abroad Program. Lucy was employed as a travel consultant with Treadway Travel, and later Globe Travel and she was also a sales associate at Talbots. She is survived by a sister, Candee Ann Treadway and her husband Cameron Warwick of Marstons Mills, MA; as well as an aunt, an uncle and numerous cousins in the United States and France.

Relatives and friends may call at the Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Bristol, on Friday March 6, between 5-7 p.m. A private burial service will be held at West Cemetery, Bristol. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund, Attn: Gift Management Services, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244 or The Salvation Army, 19 Stearns Bristol, CT 06010.

On-Line guestbook and condolences available at: www.FunkFuneralHome.com Tips For Fighting Seasonal Affective Disorder By MARGIT DETWEILER Associated Press UCCELLO, Giuseppe JLt lUit ttwm Giuseppe Uccello, 96, of Hartford, loving husband of the late Carmela (Lombardo) Uccello, died Sunday, (March 1, 2009) at Hartford Hospital. He was born December 2, 1912 in Canicattini Bagni, province of Siracusa, Sicily and was the son of the late Paolo and Carmela (Gian-grave)Uccello. He was a World War II, Italian Army veteran. He worked for the former Whitney Chain Co. for over 20 years, retiring many years ago.

He enjoyed working in his garden, but most of all he loved being with his family. He will be sadly missed. He is survived by his daughter, Tina Valvo and her husband, Anthony of We- DAVID ROYAL Associated Press SARAH BROWNE stands in the sun outside her home in Carmel Valley, Calif. Browne said she moved to California from the Midwest for the sun to combat seasonal affective disorder. For years, Sarah Browne couldn't figure out why, when winter started, she'd "turn into a slug." Living in Wisconsin at the time, Browne said the cold temperatures, heavy snow and fewer hours of sunlight would prevent her from leaving the house.

"I couldn't get out of bed, I wouldn't want to talk to anyone, I'd have crying spells. It was like my brain was wrapped in cotton batting," says Browne. But then when the sun returned for a few days, or in the spring, Browne says she returned to her cheerful self. At first Browne attributed her malaise to the hassles of being a working mom and living amidst lots of snow, but her therapist started seeing a pattern. "She remembered an uncharacteristically spring-like day a few days before and asked how I'd felt on that day It had been an awesome day for me," Browne says.

"She kept running through days that were sunny; it was really a process of elimination." The 40-something media consultant was diagnosed by her doctor with seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression that goes well beyond just the "winter blues." The symptoms and effects are similar to depression but only reveal themselves in the fall and winter months. "You'll start slowing down, have difficulty waking up, difficulty concentrating, you'll start craving sweets and starches," says psychiatrist and SAD expert Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, author of "Winter Blues," one of the first books to describe seasonal affective disorder. "You'll notice I didn't mention depression," adds Rosenthal.

"The mood thing is quite a late development in the sequence, so it's important for people to keep an eye out for these early signs so it doesn't develop into depression." The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that as many as half a million people in the United States suffer from winter-onset depression and that another 10-20 percent may experience mild SAD. According to Mental Health America, women suffer from SAD three times more often then men, as do those in colder climates and people who work for extended periods without sunlight or work the night shift. Sometimes just a change of scenery Paul wife, Hill; thersfield; and his son J. Uccello and his Stephanie of Rocky rays, you can purchase full-spectrum light bulbs at your hardware store (a minimum of is required for treatment). Your Daily Dose of Another way to simulate the sun's benefits is to take a regular dose of Vitamin D.

Mary Sahs, a 62-year-old Michigan-based naturopath, says she has suffered SAD for 30 years. "This is my first winter to try a vitamin supplement and it made a significant difference in my mood," says Sahs.Our bodies produce Vitamin when the sun's rays hit our skin; it's also found in many dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. Dr. Hyman recommends 2000 IUs of Vitamin a day He also recommends taking one to three milligrams of Melatonin at night, but with both Vitamin and Melatonin check with your doctor first about timing, dosage and whether it's right for you. Work It Out: "To me exercise is the salvation," says Browne, "But I need to exercise to the point of sweating." A study by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that just 20 minutes of sustained, vigorous exercise a week can help reduce depression.

Walking around the block, scrubbing the kitchen, dancing to your favorite songs as long as it induces breathlessness can elevate can work wonders. Browne, who has since moved to the much sunnier Carmel Valley, recalls a work flight she used to regularly take from Chicago to Phoenix. "When I'd get off the plane I would transfer into a different human being to the point that people would actually notice and comment." Treating SAD often combines a routine of light therapy exercise and Vitamin more severe sufferers may be prescribed an anti-depressant like Wellbutrin. But there are many natural remedies that can help alleviate SAD, whether you suffer from the condition or are experiencing general winter blues. Let There Be Light: The No.

1 therapy most doctors recommend for SAD is exposure to sunlight or full-spectrum light (which simulates bright sunlight). "Ideally, even in the cold, you should try to find a way to get outside, even if it's snowshoeing," says Dr. Mark Hyman, author of "The Ultramind Solution," who has treated patients for SAD in his New York practice. Visiting a brightly lit garden store or a public atrium filed with light and live greenery can help as well. But if you don't live in a place where you can easily soak up the your endorphins and up your mood.

Watch the Carbs: Some doctors say that their SAD patients have a particular taste for carbohydrates. "If it's a rainy day like last weekend I find myself wanting to make major casseroles," says Browne. In the colder weather, our brain sends a "survival" signal to our body to eat and gain weight, insulating us from the chill. Carbs are an easy way to load up and feel satisfied. "But I try to make nutritious comfort food.

I've learned to switch to English muffins rather than loaves of sourdough." Opt for healthier carbs like vegetables, whole grains, and fruits which will help keep you energized. Mix Mingle: Dr. Janet Taylor, a mental health community expert on BeWell.com, notes the importance of social interaction. "You might be inclined to be socially isolated, but interacting with people, friends and family can really help create a support network," she says. If you can't get out and about try reconnecting with old friends on a social network like Facebook or joining online communities like Be Well or Daily Strength.org where people gather around particular health topics.

grandchildren, Sebastian Valvo and his wife, Magella of Bristol, Tina-Marie Bartone and her husband, Erik of Glastonbury, Nicholas Uccello and his wife, Stacey and Jessica Asadourian and her husband, Peter all of Rocky Hill; great grandchildren, Matthew and Marissa Bartone, Zachary and Rebekah Valvo and Benjamin Uccello. He was predeceased by a brother, Sebas-tiano Uccello and a sister, Concetta Ficara. Funeral Service will be Thursday, at 9 a.m. from the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Wethers-field followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St.

Luke Church, Hartford. The burial will be in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill. Calling hours are Wednesday, 5-8 p.m. at the D'Esopo Funeral Chapel. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com CLOVIS "ROY" SALMON Money Solicitations Do Not Require 'Courtesy Response5 5 EAR MISS MANNERS My husband and I serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit YMCA 331930 1222002 To Dad, We miss you and as another birthday rolls by, our fondest memories of you linger on.

Happy Birthday from your family with Love. In Loving Memory of RONALD P. HARRIS SR. whom we have often done personal favors. A few were friends who have solicited us for donations to their favorite charities, and we have responded with gifts each time, sometimes generously MISS MANNERS discomfited by my importunity, what then? This is really disturbing to me.

Two of these people are very good friends, and I feel awkward even seeing them at this point. GENTLE READER It is not surprising that you feel awkward. You are harboring an improper expectation that puts you on the verge of embarrassing your friends, possibly to the extent of terminating your friendships. It is one thing to solicit charity funds from your friends, although Miss Manners does not care for your selection that suggests a payback for your hospitality It is quite another to demand that those who do not donate provide you with an excuse. Solicitations do not require "the courtesy of a response." Courtesy, in this case, consists of not prying into how people budget their money DEAR MISS MANNERS We have invited a couple to a game evening and dinner party that requires a certain number of role-playing participants.

At the time of the invitation, we asked for a prompt response so that we could invite another couple if they couldn't make it. Despite several requests, and reminders that we need a prompt response, it is now two days before the party and they have still not given a straight answer as to whether they will come. We would normally never dream of rescinding an invitation, but how can a situation like this be properly handled without ruining the party for everyone else? GENTLE READER By inviting politer guests. You are not rescinding an invitation, Miss Manners assures you; you are politely assuming that if they had wanted to attend, they would have let you know. Readers may write to Miss Manners at MissMannersunitedmedia.com, or via postal mail at United Media, 200 Madison 4th Floor, New York, NY 10016.

Camp, which was founded decades ago by my husband's father and bears his name. It is dear to our family and does wonderful things for children, including providing "camperships" for children not able to afford camp tuition on their own. This year, our board sent out personalized letters to friends and family members soliciting donations to the camp's annual fund campaign. My letter made it abundantly clear that no amount was too small to make a difference to this camp, which is struggling to survive in a difficult economic time. I chose the recipients of my letters carefully and sent them only to long-established friends who I felt could easily afford to give something; who have been guests at our home for lavish dinners and parties many times, at least once in 2008; and for Most responded with donations.

Some wrote that they were not able to give at this time but wanted to be kept on a list for next year's campaign. Some said they already had charities to whom they donated to the limit of their abilities. What do I do or say to the few who failed to respond in any way, not even the courtesy of a reply? One friend advised that it is incumbent on me to call to assure that they received the letter. If it didn't reach them, then my disappointment in them is unfounded. On the other hand, if I call or write and they either don't respond at all or are It's been five years today, it seems like yesterday.

We love you and we miss you. Your Loving Family In Loving Memory of NICOLA GIANNANTONIO Happy 82nd Birthday in Heaven. You are missed dearly. Your wife Lina, sons Livio and Lidio, Marylou, Alisha and Nicole.