James G. Croghan (1942 – 2019)
WEST INDIES—James Gerald “Jerry” Croghan of New York City and Spencertown passed away suddenly Monday, March 4, 2019, while on holiday in the West Indies.
He was born June 24, 1942 at the Bellevue Maternity Hospital in Schenectady to Eva Rose Chartrand Croghan and James Gerald Croghan.
A fan of movies, theater and music, during his high school summers Mr. Croghan was fortunate to work at the Colonie Tent Theater in Latham, cementing his life-long love of musical theater. After finishing high school a semester early, he moved directly to New York City, not to work in the theater but to attend Fordham University, from which he graduated in 1964. A short stint in graduate school at NYU was followed by several years of work in the advertising business, including at Foote Cone & Belding, before earning his MA degree in psychology at City College in 1978.
The opportunity to begin his clinical training at New Hope Guild Center in Brooklyn was the foundation of Mr. Croghan’s private psychotherapy practice, started in his apartment in 1978 and then continuously maintained in his Mercer Street office with a full roster of patients until his death. In a moment of great pride and accomplishment, he was awarded his PhD in clinical psychology by the Pacifica Graduate Institute in 1993. Mr. Croghan was an incisive, patient, supportive, focused and caring therapist for all his clients, always believing in the possibility of, and working toward, genuine and long-lasting positive change in his clients’ lives. He was an evangelist for commitment, and frequently celebrated a marriage or birth of a child among his clients. After discovering the Universal Life Church, he performed more than 30 wedding ceremonies.
Having grown up in a time and culture almost universally disapproving of same-sex orientation, he was especially thrilled by the opportunity to have his own wedding and married Louis R. Hedgecock June 7, 2014, after having been together for 35 years. They jokingly described their life as “39 years of unalloyed bliss”; in fact, it was 39 years of constant love and delirious happiness.
Mr. Croghan shared his expansive personality, tremendous intellect and artistic and cultural passions with friends from every era of his life, including his many friends in Spencertown. He was a great collector of friends, a tremendous conversationalist, and a fabulous host. In all ways, his generosity was unceasing. While he could be relentless in his honesty and an occasional playful provocateur, he knew and loved his friends deeply, and was a tireless advocate for their success and happiness. While those friends ignored his advice at their own peril, that advice, so often, was impeccable.
Predeceased by his parents, he is survived by: his husband, Louis Hedgecock of New York City and Spencertown; many cousins (and their many children), and countless friends around the world. A celebration of his life will be held at the Crandell Theatre in Chatham, Saturday, April 13 at 10:30 a.m. Contributions in Mr. Croghan’s memory may be made to The Spencertown Academy Building Fund, 790 Route 203, PO Box 80, Spencertown 12165 or, recognizing his tireless encouragement of young adults and his interest in theater, to the Dramatists Guild Foundation, https://dgf.org.donate/, list gifts in honor of Mr. Croghan.
Arrangements are with the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
Roger H. Gallup (1932 – 2019)
HILLSDALE – Roger Harold Gallup, 86, of Hillsdale passed away at home surrounded by his family March 22, 2019.
He was born in Albany in 1932, the son of Harold and Leonie Gallup.
He was a veteran who married Bette Baird (deceased) in 1957 and moved to Hillsdale in 1959. Mr. Gallup held various jobs in the area prior to purchasing the GMC dealership in Copake in 1973. He was an avid outdoorsman, traveling extensively to pursue his passions of hunting and fishing.
Mr. Gallup was often seen behind the grill at golf events and at the Hillsdale Firehouse. He also enjoyed camping and cooking with family and friends. His sense of humor, generosity and work ethic will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched.
Mr. Gallup is survived by: his son, Scott and his wife Clair of Jonesville; daughter, Lauri Kent and her husband Kevin of Niskayuana; daughter, Linda Handrinos and her husband Nikos of Corfu, Greece and son, Keith and his wife Linda of Spokane, WA. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Chris, Jesse, Lindsay, Jameson, Kevin, Caroline, Spyros and Petros and his great-grandchildren Anastaisya, Aaron, Avery, Ellie, Margot, Adeline and Peter. He is also survived by his sister, Adrienne Malley of Ann Arbor, MI.
The family will host a Celebration of Life gathering at the Hillsdale Firehouse Saturday, March 30 from 2 to 5 p.m. The community is invited to bring pictures and stories to help celebrate the life of one of Hillsdale’s long-time residents. Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 8063 Route 22, Copake. Express condolences at www.peckandpeck.net.
Nelson T. Reed (1928 – 2019)
VALATIE—Nelson T. Reed, 91, of Maple Lane, Valatie passed away Friday, March 22, 2019 at his home.
Born February 10, 1928 in Stuyvesant, he was the son of the late Myrton and Lillian (Van Olinda) Reed and the husband of the late May C. (Brandley) Reed.
Mr. Reed was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Schodack Landing at Muitzeskill. Before retiring, he worked for many years for Agway.
He is survived by: many nieces and nephews; grandnieces and nephews and great-grandnieces and nephews. He is also survived by a dear friend, Marion Rose. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 27, 11 a.m. at the Dutch Reformed Church of Schodack Landing at Muitzeskill. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valatie Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 242, Valatie 12184 or the Dutch Reformed Church of Schodack Landing at Muitzeskill, 978 Schodack Landing Road, Schodack Landing 12156. Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street (Route 9), Valatie.
Frank L. DeJoy (1933 – 2019)
ALBANY—Frank L. DeJoy 86, of Hudson passed away peacefully at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn, Sunday, March 24, 2019. Born in Hudson January 30, 1933 to Joseph and Mary (Martin) DeJoy, he was also known by many of his friends as “Meat Balls.”
Mr. DeJoy attended Hudson High School and left to join the U.S. Air Force. He returned to Hudson a veteran of the Korean War and was employed with Lorbrook Textile Corp. until retirement. He enjoyed walking around stores and OTB to see old friends. His greatest joy was his grandchildren.
Mr. DeJoy is survived by: his wife, Shirley (Rouse) DeJoy; his daughters, Pearl Talarico and Carol (Michael) Lewicki; grandchildren, David Weed, Sr. (Stephanie Beck), Nicole Weed, Noah and Adam Delaney; great-grandchildren, David Weed, Jr., Aiden Weed and Tauren Valenti; many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by: brothers, Carmine, Joseph, Andrew, Jacob, Michael; sisters, Carrie DeRose, Theresa Rogers, Jennie Eppler; daughter, Debbie Ramos. His family thanks all their friends at Columbia-Greene Community Hospice and St. Peter’s Hospice Inn for their wonderful support and care they provided for Mr. DeJoy.
A calling hour will be held Thursday March 28, 2019, 11 a.m. to noon at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. Services will follow at noon at the funeral home with Pastor Stanley Webster officiating. Burial will be in Linlithgo Cemetery. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers donations may be sent to The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 South Manning Boulevard, Albany 12208.
Donald R. Hoke, Jr. (1942 – 2019)
ALBANY—Donald R. Hoke, Jr., 77, departed this life March 19, 2019 at the Albany VA Hospital.
Born April 24, 1942 in Schodack Landing, he was the son of the late Donald R., Sr., and Stella Hoke.
He is survived by: his wife, Demetra Haizlip-Hoke; sons, Jeremy, Timothy and Darren Hoke; brother, Richard Hoke; grandson, Anthony Hoke; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at the Payne AME Church, 6 High Street, Chatham, Saturday, March, 30, 2019 with viewing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and services at 1 p.m.
Arrangements are with the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home, 25 Railroad Avenue, Chatham. Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.
