Obituary of Robert T. Dietz

WESTERLO – Robert Theodore “Bob” Dietz, 86, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Northwest Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, while at his winter residence. Born in Berne on June 11, 1927, he was son of the late Herbert and Loie Furman Dietz. Bob was raised in South Berne and graduated from Berne-Knox High School, class of 1945. He played semi-pro baseball in the Albany Twilight League as “Bill Dietz”. He entered the U.S. Army following graduation and was discharged as a technician, fourth grade in November of 1946. Bob was employed as general manager at Clifford B. Hannay & Son, now known as Hannay Reels, Inc. in Westerlo, retiring in June of 1989. While at Hannay’s, not only did he caw like a crow before entering the office, his nickname was “The Candy Man” because he always had dishes of candy on his desk. This was popular enough that, at trade shows, Hannay’s set up a candy booth for part of their advertising campaign. Bob also was a past president of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturing Association, a life member of the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company, and a member of the Old Men of the Mountain. He served as Westerlo Town Clerk at one time, as well as operating Bob’s Sports Shop from his home. He was a Little League coach for years, coaching a team that was UHAI champions. Bob bowled at Lake Onderdonk and was a member of a snowmobile club. He was an avid fan of the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Chiefs, and NASCAR driver Bill Elliott. Bob was a winter resident of Tucson, Arizona for many years, where he was an integral part of the South Forty RV Ranch, and was instrumental in the ROMEO (retired old men eating out) group. Bob is the father of Barbara (Joseph) Purcell and Bradley (Joanne) Dietz; grandfather of Jason (Tabitha) Purcell, Riannon (Shane) Smi, and Ryan Dietz; great-grandfather of Lauren Zimmer, Trista and Tucker Smi; brother of the late Herbert Dietz, whose wife Fran survives; brother-in-law of Phyllis and Alden Crawford; uncle of Alliene Applebee and several other nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by his wife, Janice Alliene Ingalls Dietz on December 23, 2000. Calling hours will be Friday, April 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. at A.J. Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 State Route 81, Greenville. The funeral will be Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by burial with military honors in Westerlo Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 87, Westerlo, NY 12193 will be appreciated. Write a condolence message at ajcunninghamfh.com.