Arthur F. Peck (1929 – 2013)
PHILMONT—Arthur F. Peck, 83, of Copake Lake passed away Friday, April 19, 2013 at the Pine Haven Home.
He was born August 13, 1929 in Millerton to the late George H. and Marion (Johnson) Peck.
Mr. Peck was employed for more than 37 years as a laboratory technician with K & E Manufacturing in Millerton.
He was a United States Army veteran, serving his country from 1946 to 1952 and was a member of the Millerton American Legion Post.
Survivors include: his sons, Brian Peck (Victoria Loring) of Copake and Darren Peck (Lorrie Hagadorn) of Stillwater; his grandson, Derek Peck of Craryville and his former wife, Jeanette Peck of Saratoga Springs.
He was predeceased by a sister and three brothers.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, April 27, 2013, 1 p.m. at the Church of St. John in the Wilderness Cemetery, Route 344, Copake Falls, with the Reverend John Thompson officiating.
There are no calling hours.
Arrangements are with the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, Route 22 in Copake. To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.
LeGrand Wynants, Jr. (1930 – 2013)
BERLIN—LeGrand Wynants, Jr., known as ‘Dutch’ to family, ‘Catfish’ to his boating friends and ‘Pop Pop’ to his grandchildren, died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones, April 21, 2013 in his 83rd year.
He was born December 14, 1930 to LeGrand and Elizabeth Krϋzler Wynants in Ossining.
Mr. Wynants graduated from Ossining High School with the class of 1948. He earned his Combat Infantry Badge in the Korean War. After his service ended, he married the love of his life, Maryann, with whom he shared almost 59 years of marriage. They raised five children together, who blessed them with 15 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
He was a volunteer firefighter in Ossining for 20 years until his move to Berlin in 1968. He was a lifetime member of the Berlin Rod & Gun Club. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman and recreational boater, as well as a skilled artisan-wood carver, and tooler of leather. He derived some of his greatest pleasure from musical evenings with his extensive family. He enjoyed roasting a pig with his friend Wally O’Neil, boating on the Mohawk with Maryann, and lifting a glass with friends. His working career included silk-screen printing, construction and heavy equipment operation. He retired from Taconic in Petersburg after 19 years of service.
He is survived by: his wife, Maryann; son, David LeGrand Wynants, Sr.; two daughters, Hilda-lee and Reneé; his sisters-in-law, Barbara Conklin of Poughkeepsie and Margaret Bach of Ft. Myer’s, FL; one niece; one nephew and many cousins. Mr. Wynants was predeceased by sons, Jess and Kurt; grandson, Adam; brothers, Luis and George, and son-in-law, Vincent.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 26 at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburg. At 4 p.m. the military honor guard will pay tribute to Mr. Wynant’s service to his country. Visitation will conclude with a brief memorial service. The family thanks the Palliative Care Team of the Stratton VA Hospital, and the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County. Donations can be made in Mr. Wynant’s name to any charity of one’s choice, or to the family, c/o the funeral home.
Peter Kane Dufault (1923-2013)
HILLSDALE—Peter Kane Dufault of Hillsdale died Sunday, April 21 at home.
He was born April 22, 1923 and grew up in Westchester County.
After serving three years as a bomber pilot in World War II, he graduated from Harvard College in 1947. He was variously employed as a tree surgeon, pollster, teacher and soccer coach at the Barlow School in Amenia and as editor of the Catskill Daily Mail. In 1968, he was a candidate for U.S Congress, running on the Liberal party’s anti-Vietnam War platform. In the last few Presidential elections, he served as a poll-watcher.
Acclaimed author and poet in several different modes, he wrote many pastoral verses on Columbia County scenery and wildlife from the perspective of one who contemplates the local in the context of the whole universe. The first of his books of verse was published in 1954. Poems have appeared in many magazines, including the New Yorker, London Magazine and Poetry, and anthologies, including the 1996 Norton Anthology. He is remembered for his live recitations and was twice the Visiting Poet at the Cheltenham Festival in England, toured Ireland as Visiting Poet with Poetry Ireland, and was a visiting critic in poetry at Williams College. He also peppered the political landscape with such phrases as “sawdust president” and “making vaudeville of the law”.
He was known locally as a fiddler, banjo-player and dance-caller with the Kitchen Kaylie Band. He was also the “Greenpeace Piper,” playing the bagpipes in full Scottish attire in exchange for donations to Greenpeace.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Tuoti Dufault; sister, Claire Wilson of Wellesley, MA; his three sons, Scott, Mark and Ethan; nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
His poem, More Snow Falling, which was published in the New Yorker in about 1997 follows:
One white hush the whole day.
No wind. Just endless in-
exorable cliché,
the same old stuff again
and again . . . . We need old stuff
sometimes. As in liturgy.
Or a declaration of love.
No frills, just infinity.