Obituary of Robert J. Olcott

Robert Olcott of Wurtsboro passed away on September 20th, 2017 at Middletown Park Manor after a long illness. The son of the late Robert John Olcott and Rose Muller Olcott, he was born in Cornwall on February 16, 1934. He was married to the late Frances Olcott, who predeceased him on July 10, 2006. He is survived by four children, Dawn Vitiello and her husband Perry of Westbrookville, Laura Froehlich of Wurtsboro, Robert Olcott and his wife Theresa of Monroe Township NJ and George Olcott Sr. of Wurtsboro; eight grandchildren Ellen Collado and her husband Chris of Westbrookville, Eagle Scout Peter Vitiello and his betrothed Colby Walters of Westbrookville, Jamie Babcock and Jennifer Froehlich of Wurtsboro, Gabrielle, Samantha and Alyssa Olcott of Monroe Township NJ and George Olcott Jr. of Wurtsboro; three great grandchildren, Jesse Babcock, Nadaline and Ariella Wilder, all of Wurtsboro; brother-in-law Harold Thompson and nephew James Thompson of Wurtsboro, his niece Kathleen Pilecki and her husband Larry and their two sons Kyle and Scott of West Seneca, NY, plus several cousins. He served his country in the US Army's 82nd division as a paratrooper and rigger specializing in parachute pack, maintenance and heavy drop. He was the retired Postmaster of Wurtsboro. He was an original lector of St. Joseph's Church in Wurtsboro, past treasurer of St. Joseph's Holy Name Society and a Knights of Columbus Advocate. He was an honorary chief of the Wurtsboro Fire Company, chaplain, past secretary and engineer. He was the 1974 Wurtsboro Fireman of the Year, an active life member of the department, and chaplain of the Middletown Veterans Firemens Association. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. A 30-year veteran boy scouter for Pack/Troop 92 in Wurtsboro, former Webelo den leader, asst. cub master, cub master, asst. scout master, scout master, committee chairman and unit commissioner. He was also a past president and secretary of the Sullivan County Assoc. of Postmasters, Past NYS vice president and editor of the National League of Postmasters. In 1985, he was the NYS Branch Postmaster of the Year. Bob was a past director of the Mamakating youth winter program, past councilman for the Town of Mamakating and past treasurer of the Mamakating Historical Society. He was a life member of the Walter Hughes Tri-States Mid-Hudson chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division, the 1994 recipient of the Michael Diamond Memorial Foundation award for community and volunteer service, a past exalted ruler of the Ellenville Lodge #1971 Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, a member of the American Legion Post 1266 and a life member, past president and past secretary for the Mamakating Conservation Club. Bob was a lifetime resident of Wurtsboro and wintered in Bayonet Point FL until Fran passed away in 2006 after 47 years of marriage. After retirement, they toured all of the US and Canada and visited all of the National Parks in their truck and travel trailer, with short jaunts to Mexico, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean area. He returned to Florida in 2014. Bob is an 11th generation American with the original settler, Thomas Olcott coming to Massachusetts in the early 1630's. Bob enjoyed fishing and his biggest catch, a 282.5 pound halibut came in Valdez, Alaska aboard the Dawn Treader. His sons and grandsons have yet to beat that! Family & friends are invited to gather on Friday, September 29 from 5-8pm at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro. His memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 30 at 11am at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 180 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro with Fr. Peter Madori officiating. Interment of his ashes will be held at a later date at the Sylvan Cemetery in Wurtsboro. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Wurtsboro. For additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com