Obituary of Robert A. McKinney

Warrensburg: Robert A. McKinney, 79, of Lake Ave., passed away Sunday, September 28, 2014 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. At last, some sixteen years later, he has been reunited with his daughter Lynn, who passed away on June 8, 1998, at the age of 39. Born December 20, 1934 in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Alvin and Elizabeth (Maileff) McKinney. Very early on, Bob became affectionately known as “Boomer”, a nickname which followed him, his entire life. Bob attended Glens Falls High School, graduating in 1952. A good friend, George Beaudin, who would later become his brother-in-law, introduced Bob to the woman who would become his wife and lifelong partner, Marie Beaudin; the couple wed on June 19, 1955 at the Church of the Messiah in Glens Falls, and celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary this year. Bob began his working years with the New York Telephone Company in 1955, retiring in 1992 after thirty-seven years of dedicated service. In 1959 Bob embarked on what would become a lifelong service to community when he joined the West Glens Falls Fire Company, where he served as a volunteer fireman until the family relocated in 1962 to Diamond Point; there the family made their home for the next fifty years. Bob joined the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department in 1965, serving actively for over forty years. During his fifty plus years in the volunteer fire service, Bob held the office of Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, Vice President, Secretary, Member of the Board of Directors, Fire Police, and most currently serving as the department chaplain. He was the recipient of the President’s Award for outstanding dedication and service, and in 1982, he was presented with the prestigious Phil Wood Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a member of the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department. He was recognized by the Village of Lake George as its Citizen of the Year in 1992, based on his outstanding commitment not only to the fire service, but to the Lake George community. On July 19, 2013, Bob was acknowledged as the inaugural honoree of the new Walk of Honor created in front of the Lake George Volunteer Fire Station, another testament to his outstanding community service. Throughout his adult life, Bob has volunteered and given back to this community, always putting others ahead of himself and willing to help someone in need. His legacy will forever be his genuine compassion and caring for others, family, friends and neighbors, a value he has instilled in each of his children and grandchildren. Bob was part of a local committee which included Lake George Mayor Robert Blais, Garry Grant, Ed Graff, Howard MacDonald and Robert Bruno, who began the Lake George Community Benefit Day, an annual event and clambake in September of every year to raise money for local families in need. This event sold out each and every year and provided thousands of dollars in support to local residents facing unforeseen circumstances. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Family Festival to benefit the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department, an event which continues some thirty years later. With the influence of his mentor and true friend, Wayde Earl, Bob joined the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association in 1964; encouraging him to join him as he traveled across the Hudson Valley to the organization’s meetings and events. Thus began a whole new chapter in Bob’s fire service career and he urged his fellow firemen to join this fine organization, bringing the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department membership in Hudson Valley from two members to 100%. He has served on numerous committees in the Hudson Valley organization, and was honored to serve as its President in 1989, when the 100th annual convention was hosted by the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department. Bob worked with Wayde to organize an annual boat ride in the Fall of each year on the Lac du St. Sacrament for the residents of the Firemen’s Home in Hudson; this event has continued for thirty-three years, and one that is near and dear to Bob. As his health was declining, Bob was determined to join the residents from the Home on their boat ride on September 10th of this year. In 2011, Bob was the first recipient of the Joseph K. Kelly Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Hudson Valley, in honor of his dear friend; his collection of plaques, clocks and service awards is quite impressive. Bob served two five-year terms as a FASNY (Firemen’s Association of the State of New York) Trustee of the Firemen’s Home in Hudson, where again, he worked diligently on numerous committees. He is a life member of the New York State Association of Fire Chaplains. In addition to his volunteer fire service, Bob was a charter member of the joint Village-Town of Lake George Youth Commission, he was also Assistant Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts, and served as Town Councilman for the Town of Lake George from 1994 to 2001. He and his wife are both active members of the St. James Episcopal Church in Lake George. Bob was also a charter member of the Spike Horn Hunting Club, and continued to enjoy spending time with his hunting buddies at their camp on Thirteenth Lake Road in North River. A very special event organized by Bob’s son, Tom, took place in April of this year, when a group of new and old alike club members gathered at the Spike Horn Club, where they tucked Bob safely into a dog sled and trekked four miles in the snow into the site of the original hunting camp. Bob is survived by his wife, Marie McKinney; four daughters, Joan (Steven) Sady of Lake George, Donna (Brian) Engle of Warrrensburg, Patty (George) Schuster of Lake George, Barbara (Chris) McGuirk of Charlotte, NC; one son Thomas of Lake George; his beloved grandchildren, Christopher (Penny) Kilmartin, Barry M. Johnson, Thomas (Rita) McKinney, Jr., Anna (Bill) Chapman, Bryana Engle, Jessica McKinney, Kyle and Kory Russell, and Jacob and Jonathan McGuirk; four great-grandchildren, Wills and R.J. Chapman, Joshua and Lynessa Kilmartin; his brothers David (Joan) McKinney of Glens Falls and Thomas (Sally) McKinney of Hudson Falls; and a brother-in-law George (Doris) Beaudin of Slidell, LA. He also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and cousins. After being diagnosed with cancer in early January of 2014, Bob continued to live every day to its fullest. In spite of his failing health, he attended his grandchildren’s school concerts, birthday parties, and social events, and celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish breakfast prepared by his son-in-law, Brian Engle, followed by a traditional corned beef and cabbage lunch at Sully’s Tavern. Another tradition Bob carried on is the placement of fire service memorial flags on the graves of deceased volunteer firemen throughout the County; just prior to Memorial Day, he placed flags on the graves of over one hundred deceased Lake George firemen, and thanks to his grandson, Chris, and his son-in-law, Chris, Bob was able to participate in the Memorial Day Parade in Lake George, as well as the Hudson Valley Firemen’s Association Convention Parades in June. Once a week, for the past several months, Bob looked forward to his weekly outing with his son-in-law Brian, they would join Bob’s good friend, Chet South, for coffee at McDonald’s. He never gave in to his illness, and if you asked how he felt the answer was always the same, “good, I feel pretty good”. The hardest thing for this man who had always put others ahead of himself was to let them return that kindness to him. Friends may call on Bob’s family from 1 to 3 and 6 to 9 pm, Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at the Alexander-Baker Funeral Home, 3809 Main St., Warrensburg. A firematic remembrance service will take place during the visitation, at 7:30 pm, at the funeral home. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 1 pm, Thursday, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mohican St., Lake George, with Rev. Julie McPartlin officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Lake George, where Bob will be laid to rest alongside his beloved daughter, Lynn. Pall bearers will be Robert Blais, James Burns, William Manion, Thomas Tracy, Fred Austin, Fred Pelletier, James Farrell and Harry Spahn, and honorary pall bearers will be members of the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department. Bob’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Beth Hughes and High Peaks Hospice for the care and compassion provided throughout his final days. In lieu of flowers, it was Bob’s request that donations in his memory be made to the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department, 179 Ottawa Street, Lake George, NY 12845, the FASNY Museum of Firefighting, 117 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson, NY, 12534 or to High Peaks Hospice, 79 Glenwood Avenue, Queensbury, NY 12804. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book, condolences, and directions.