HILLSDALE–Frederick J. Laverack Jr., age 80, the “Travelin’ Man”, passed away on Friday December 11, 2009 at his residence.
He was born April 30, 1929 in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County, a son of the late Frederick J. and Rose (Warren) Laverack Sr.
Mr. Laverack moved to Green River (Austerlitz) in 1932, attended school locally and graduated from Roeliff Jansen Central School in Hillsdale in 1948.
He served his community since 1971 as a member and past chief of the Hillsdale Fire Company.
Mr. Laverack was a longtime truck driver, starting his career in 1948 driving a GMC Four Banger for Western Express from Boston to Cleveland, Ohio. He went to Mid States Trucking in Chicago, in an AutoCar tractor and later worked for Spector of Chicago and Chicago Express traveling from New York to Boston to Rhode Island. In 1959 he went to work for Associated Milk Haulers of Hillsdale and traveled to all the dairies in Massachusetts and New York. In 1978 he became the owner-operator of F.J. Laverack Son & Daughters Trucking with his first cab-over, leased to Hawk Transportation of Maine. He later traded the cab-over for a conventional and was then employed by Brunswick Bulk Transportation traveling through Canada, New York, Maine, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire. He completed his career with Rouse Milk Haulers throughout New England and all of New York until 2002.
A truck driver for over 53 years, Mr. Laverack was a senior member of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association since 1979. He received many safe driving awards and his truck appeared in many publications including American Legion Magazine in 1986, the Mobil calendar in October of 1987, the cover of Trucker magazine in 1988 and in an article about hauling explosives in Veteran’s Magazine.
In 1949 he married Anna M. Jennings Laverack who died in 1972. On June 29, 1975 he married June (Schmeichel) McWhirt, who survives him at home in Hillsdale.
Also surviving are his children, Frederick Laverack III of Claverack, Roseann Laverack of Palm Coast, Fla., Mariann Laverack Bergh of Dover Plains, Dutchess County and Suzann Laverack Ward of Great Barrington. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Allen “Butch” McWhirt, Lucene McWhirt Wood and Patricia McWhirt Proper. He also leaves his siblings, Lenore (Laverack) Whitbeck of Athens, Greene County and Warren “Nick” Laverack of Clermont, Fla. He also leaves seven grandchildren, Jennifer Laverack Chase, Mathew Laverack, Bruce Bergh, Brian Bergh, Justin Ward, India Rose Ward, Sabrina McWhirt and his great grandson, Aidan Chase.
In addition to his first wife, a son, Gary Laverack, died in 1975. Three grandchildren, Nathan Laverack, Jessica Laverack and Fred Laverack IV, also died previously.
Friends are invited and may call Sunday, December 13, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Route 22 in Copake.
His funeral service will be held on Monday December 14, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Mr. Robert Burch officiating.
Burial will follow in the Hillsdale Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be extended to the Community Rescue Squad, PO Box 327, Copake NY 12516.
All life long, Mr. Laverack did what he wanted to do, “Drive Truck”. Luckily he had two of the best wives in the world.
To send an online condolence please visit peckandpeck.net.