William C. Koch, Jr. (1946 – 2018)
HUDSON—William Charles Koch, Jr., 71, of Hudson passed away May 21, 2018 at his home.
He is survived by: his wife, Mary; his sister, Linda Marino; his five children, Robert, Jennifer Andrews, David, Kenneth and Theodore and his first grandchild, David Aksel Andrews.
He was born September 7, 1946 in Amityville, to Gertrude Johnson Koch and William C. Koch, Sr.
He graduated from Wellington C. Mepham High School in North Bellmore. Mr. Koch joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a pharmacy medic. After completing his service, he enrolled at Albany College of Pharmacy, where he graduated in 1975. He married Mary Evelyn Koch, June 21, 1975 and they made their home in Ithaca and later Hudson.
As a pharmacist, Mr. Koch served his community well. He was known by many as a good source of advice and engaging conversation. He worked for many years as a pharmacist at Fay’s Drugs, first in Ithaca and later in Hudson. In 1992, he joined the U.S. Public Health Service, where he held a variety of positions for the remainder of his career. Mr. Koch worked in a community health clinic in Tsaile, AZ, as part of the Indian Health Service. He later became part of the National Disaster Preparedness Team and part of the response to Hurricane Katrina. He also worked for the VA and FDA Bureau of Prisons and Immigration. He retired in 2009 with the rank of captain.
After his retirement, Mr. Koch went from pharmacist to farmer, creating a raw milk dairy and caring for a small herd of Dutch Belted cows. He was up every day before dawn to milk cows, tend to chickens and pigs and take care of a myriad small tasks. He was always accompanied by his terrier, Cree on fence mending rounds and trips to pick up hay. When the farm tasks let up he would pop into the bed and breakfast to regale guests with stories while he made coffee.
He loved sailing, canoeing, hiking and biking. He organized countless family outings to nearby lakes and trails. When he wasn’t outdoors he could be found with a spackle knife at the top of a ladder or under the family car with a wrench. He patiently restored several family homes over the years and it seemed there was no task he couldn’t do.
He was a loving father with a zeal for family adventure. He was at his best guiding his family on far-flung road-trips and possessed a superhuman ability to drive through the night while his passengers slept.
Friends and family will be gathering at Thyme in the Country, Hudson to acknowledge Mr. Koch’s life and share memories of him, May 30, 2018 at 5 p.m. There will be a time of sharing beginning at 6 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, P.O. Box 790, Averill Park 12018.
Arrangements were with the Millspaugh Camerato Funeral Home, 139 Jefferson Heights, Catskill. Messages of condolence may be made to MillspaughCamerato.com.
Anita B. Leggett (1926 – 2018)
Donald K. Leggett (1924 – 2018)
SEBRING, FL—Anita B. Leggett, 91, died Sunday, April 1, 2018 and her husband of 62 years, Donald “Jim” Leggett, 93, died Wednesday, April 4, 2018. They lived in Sebring, FL, and were formerly of the Chatham area.
Graveside services for Mr. and Mrs. Leggett will be held Saturday, June 2, 11 a.m. at the West Ghent Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham.
Complete obituaries appeared in the April 12, 2018 issue.
Archibald Henderson (1933 – 2018)
GHENT—Archibald “Archie” Henderson, 85, of Clermont died May 24, 2018 at the Whittier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center.
Born March 7, 1933 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, he was the son of the late John and Maggie Bella (Shepherd) Henderson.
Before his retirement, he and his late wife, Iris, were the caretakers for the Midwood Estate on Woods Road in Clermont for many years.
Survivors include: a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Donna Henderson of Vermont; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dawn and Jeffrey Shufelt of Hudson and Susan and John VanVliet of Ghent; daughter-in-law, Elaine Henderson of Hudson; two sisters, Isabell and Margaret, both of Scotland; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife, Iris, who died October 7, 2006; a son, Craig and grandson, Bradley.
Calling hours will be held Tuesday, May 29, 10 a.m. to noon with a noon funeral service at the Yadack-Fox Funeral Home, 209 Main Street, Germantown. Condolences may be expressed at yadackfox.com
Joseph Arsenault (1940 – 2018)
MILAN—Joseph Arsenault, 77, of Milan passed away Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at his home.
Born October 2, 1940 in Milan, he was the son of the late Philip and Gladys (Ackert) Arsenault.
He married Margaret Young, November 14, 1959 at Good Shepherd Church in Rhinebeck. She survives at home.
For more than 20 years, Mr. Arsenault served as the highway superintendent for the Town of Milan.
He was an avid collector and restorer of vintage farm tractors.
In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by: his children, Rosemary Fazzina and her companion Mark Churton of Milan, Teresa (William) VanTassell of Livingston, Annette (Rick) Coon of Milan, Joseph C. Arsenault of Milan and Karen (Michael) Stanhope of Tivoli; his siblings, Philip “Butch” (Gloria) Arsenault of Livingston, William (Louise) Arsenault of Red Hook, Nancy Young of Elizaville and Barbara Borneman of Rhinebeck; 15 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
A brother, Robert Arsenault, and two sisters, Ada Barry and Linda Russell, predeceased him.
Friends may call at the Burnett & White Funeral Homes, 7461 South Broadway, Red Hook, Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 5 to 8 p.m. A celebration of Mr. Arsenault’s life begins at 7:45 p.m. Interment will be private.
Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Arsenault’s memory to the Milan Rescue Squad, 250 Williams Road, Milan 12571.
For directions or to sign the online guest book visit www.Burnett-White.com.
Lynne Haydn (1933 -2018)
CHATHAM—Lynne Haydn passed away peacefully May 23, 2018.
She was born Gail Schaps to Dr. Theodor and Louise Schaps August 6, 1933 in Chicago, IL. Her father died in 1936, leaving her mother a widow with two young children in the midst of the depression.
Ms. Haydn attended Chicago public schools through grade 8, then went on scholarship to Francis W. Parker private high school. She was a pre-med student at Oberlin College until she became involved in theatrical activities there and fell in love with the theater. She moved to New York City to pursue a career as a singer, changing her name to Lynne Haydn which she used for the rest of her life.
She lived in Spencertown and then Chatham since co-founding The Mac-Haydn Theatre in 1969. Co-founder and dearest friend, Linda MacNish, predeceased her in 2002. The two women met in New York City and turned their mutual love of musical theater into their dream, which will continue to flourish in their memory. The hundreds of people who furthered their careers and the thousands of people who enjoyed the shows there are the warmest tribute to their hard work and devotion. A line from the show “Crazy For You,” could have been written for them: “Look at all you’ve done for us. Look at all you’ve done!”
In addition to being co-founder, artistic director and producer, Ms. Haydn was a performer and director in the Theatre’s early years and said that her most thrilling moment on stage was as Anna in “The King and I,” “swirling around the stage in that beautiful dress in the dance scene.”
Predeceased by her parents, Ms. MacNish and her parents Florence and Preston MacNish, Ms. Haydn is survived by her brother, Ronald Schaps and his wife Ruth of Mercer
Island, WA; five nieces and nephews, Karen Schaps and Kevin Schaps of Mercer Island, WA, Kayana Hoagland of Olympia, WA, Steve Schaps of Boise, ID, and Andrew Schaps of Conshohocken, PA; eight grand-nieces and -nephews, Riana Hoagland and Polly, Christopher, Cole, Ella, Ethan, Elin and Nicholas Schaps, all of whom she loved dearly and who will all miss her.
A memorial service will be held at a later date to be announced. In lieu of floral arrangements, live perennial plants for the Theatre gardens or donations to The Mac-Haydn Theatre, P.O. Box 204, Chatham 12037 are welcome. For online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com.
Phyllis J.S. DeCrosta (1928 – 2018)
LIVINGSTON—Phyllis Jean Smith DeCrosta, 89 years old, of Livingston passed away peacefully at her home May 22, 2018, her family was with her.
She was born December 28, 1928 in Hudson, the third child and only daughter of Andrew Paul Smith and Blanche E. Crane Smith. She grew up at the Smith farm on Bells Pond Road, Livingston, where she had a retirement cottage built in the late 1980s. She loved all outdoor activities including swimming in the Taghkanic Creek or the ocean off Wellfleet.
Birdwatching and gardening were her passions. As a loving mother, she maintained a reputation as an excellent cook and baker of some renown having learned to bake the best pies from her father who had owned Smith’s Restaurant on Seventh Street Park in Hudson. She was an accomplished piano player from childhood and occasionally played the organ for services at the St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Churchtown.
Mrs. DeCrosta worked as an executive assistant at the Chesapeake Bay Institute, legal secretary for Samuel Ferris, and the Law Office of Connor, Curran and Schram. She finished her career as secretary for the Athletic Department at Columbia-Greene Community College.
In retirement she spent quality time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She raised chickens, maintained her bird feeders, kept flower and vegetable gardens and enjoyed playing the piano daily.
Mrs. DeCrosta was predeceased by her husband, Louis A. DeCrosta; her daughter, Phyllis Ann and two brothers, Donald Smith of Rotterdam Junction and Norman Smith of Livingston.
She is survived by: her loving children, Andrea M. Tranchita (Paul), L. Paul DeCrosta, Ellen Rose Morrison (Gary), Sheryl Ann DeCrosta, Edward F. DeCrosta, III; six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a loving extended family.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the French, Gifford, Preiter and Blasl Funeral Home and are private. The family requests that memorials be made to Community
Hospice of Columbia-Greene, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill12414.
Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com.