Obituary of Robert C. Rose

Robert C. Rose (77) of Concord, NH (formerly of Greenville, NY) passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born on Sept. 30, 1935. in Mt. Vernon, NY. He and his family moved to Greenville in 1941. He graduated from Greenville Central School in 1953. He was active in many sports, and still holds the school record for the shotput. Bob started his work career as a teenager, working at Bryant’s Country Store in South Westerlo and forming a lifelong dear friendship with Alexander “Zan” Bryant. He completed one year at Cornell University majoring in Veterinary Medicine and had to leave college due to a family emergency. Bob was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy and after four years, was honorably discharged. He was a radio operator on several destroyer escorts. He was then employed at Hannay Hose Reels. Bob and Jeannette were married on October 10, 1959. In 1966 Bob fulfilled his lifelong dream in being accepted to the New York State Police. Over the next few years Bob was stationed at Selkirk, Putnam Valley, Rhinebeck, Newburgh, Kingston and finally Leeds. He was chosen to go to the New York State Police Academy in 1978 as a counselor and was later appointed Quartermaster, and was responsible for equipping and outfitting thousands of Troopers until he retired in June 1992. Bob loved everything about the NYSP and was proud to be a member. Bob had a tremendous recall and took great interest in “his NYSP kids” and made it a point to know each of their names. Bob reached out and touched many lives with his special qualities. In 1992 Bob was asked by the Greenville Town Board to fill in as Acting Town Justice following the passing of Town Justice Joseph Valicenti. He was reelected several times to the position and was proud to work alongside Justice Richard P. Schreiber for 19 years. Bob had to resign this position that he loved in 2011 due to declining health and, subsequently, moved to Concord, NH to be closer to family. Bob had a wide array of interests that included collecting antique bottles, postage stamps, toy soldiers and was an avid reader of anything pertaining to the Civil War. He enjoyed duck hunting on the Hudson River with his dear friend, Nolan Pazin. Bob was a friend to many and a man of his word, and will be missed by all that knew him. Bob was a member of the NYS Magistrate’s Association, NYS Retired Troopers Association, PBA, Catskill Elks and the Antique Bottle Association. Bob is survived by his wife of 53 years, Jeannette Singer Rose of Concord (formerly of Greenville); daughter Denise (Abbott) Presby of Concord, NH; son John (Pauline) Rose of Schroon Lake, NY; grandchildren, Abbott Presby III, Meredith Presby, Katelyn Rose and Robert A. Rose; sisters, Linda (Murry) Berger of Boca Raton, FL and Wyckoff, NJ, and Carol (Jack) Boyd of Hannacroix, NY; nieces Jena (Chuck) Boomhower, Franklin Lakes, NJ and Lori Pfeifer of Wyckoff, NJ; great-nieces and nephew Erica Boomhower, Isabelle Boomhower, Carl Boomhower; many loving family members and long-time dear friends. In addition to his parents, Helen and Robert R. Rose Jr., he was predeceased by his grandmother Cecelia Gardner, his in-laws Isabelle and John Singer; nephew Carl J. Pfeifer and granddaughter Ashley L. Presby. Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial with honors in Greenville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 125 Humane Society Road, Hudson, NY 12534 or the CRVNA/Hospice House, 30 Pillsbury Street, Concord, NH 03301. Bob’s family would like to acknowledge and thank Eric Calley of Concord, NH, who took such great care and was instrumental in letting Bob remain at home for so long. We also want to thank the Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association & the Hospice House of Concord, and Dr. Nicole Antinerella for their many acts of compassion and kindness shown to Bob and his family. Light a candle at ajcunninghamfh.com.