Andy Trinkaus, the man behind the holiday lights of Trinkaus Manor, dies at 99

H. Rose Schneider, Observer-Dispatch
·2 min read

Andrew "Andy" Trinkaus, whose restaurant Trinkaus Manor once dazzled visitors with its holiday lights display, died Thursday, his family wrote in an obituary. He was 99.

The Trinkaus family owned and operated the Oriskany restaurant from the mid-1950s until the early 1990s, historian Joseph Bottini previously told the Observer-Dispatch. It was Andy Trinkaus who was inspired to decorate the restaurant's lawn with holiday lights, Bottini said.

"You could see the lights from a distance," he said. "It was just so huge and so bright."

Some well-known decorations included a "Merry Christmas" sign bearing 186 lights and a "Noel" sign with three large candles. By 1991, over 750,000 lights were used for the displays, with tourists arriving in busloads to take it all in, Bottini said.

A homemade holiday decoration was one of many on display at Trinkaus Manor in Oriskany between 1956 and 1992 and drew locals and tourists alike. The "Merry Christmas" sign alone had over 180 lights.
A homemade holiday decoration was one of many on display at Trinkaus Manor in Oriskany between 1956 and 1992 and drew locals and tourists alike. The "Merry Christmas" sign alone had over 180 lights.

The restaurant was sold in 1989, and in April 1992 a fast-moving fire destroyed the building. But the decorations remained in residents memories, with some being put up on display in other locations. Trinkaus' family wrote in his obituary that he continued designing and creating displays for the city of Rome and Trinkaus Park in Oriskany.

Obituary:Andrew (Andy) F. Trinkaus

Trinkaus Manor:Former Oriskany holiday decorations get the spotlight

Column:The lights, glamour and excitement that was Trinkaus Manor

"All of the decorations were a product of Andy’s imagination and creativity," his family wrote, going on to describe him as "a man of many talents," with an aptitude for music and an interest in everything from football to cannon-collecting.

Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, at the Dimbleby Funeral Homes in Whitesboro; services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 20, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Whitesboro. Trinkaus' family asked that donations be made to either the church or Oriskany Fire Department in his memory.

H. Rose Schneider is the public safety reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. Email Rose at hschneider@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Man behind the holiday lights of Trinkaus Manor dies at 99