Obituary of Richard Elmer

Richard G. Elmer Eagle Bay, NY Richard Gary Elmer, 74, died Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at his home in Eagle Bay, NY after a lengthy illness. His cherished wife Deborah and other beloved family members were by his side. Born on April 24, 1936 in Syracuse, NY to Richard H. and Grace M. Elmer, Richard spent his early years in Canton, NY, where he lived on the family farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse. Later in his childhood, his family moved to Pulaski, NY. After high school graduation, Richard attended Oswego State University, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and the Humanities. He then served an enlistment in the United States Army and was honorably discharged after six years of active and reserve duty, achieving the rank of sergeant. In 1963, he earned a Master of Science degree in Elementary School Administration. Richard began his career in education teaching in the Wayne Central School District in Ontario, NY from 1958 – 1964 and then accepted a position with the Rochester City School District, NY, where he taught special education from 1964 – 1968. He subsequently became a well-respected administrator with the school district, serving as a special education supervisor, principal of Francis Parker (# 23) and John Walton Spencer (# 16) Schools, supervising director of elementary education, and supervising director of early childhood education prior to his retirement from the Rochester City School District in 1991. One of his most notable achievements during this time was the establishment of Family Learning Centers. Throughout the years of his professional life in New York, Richard also served as President of the Teachers Union in the Wayne Central School District and as a member of the Ontario, NY Board of Education, American Red Cross Board of Directors, Monroe County Public Health Association Board of Directors, Rochester, NY Mayor’s Committee for Early Childhood Education and Family Issues, and the University of Rochester Committee on Graduate Education. In 1994, Richard returned to the field of education as the Director of Elementary Education in Calvert County, MD. In 1998, he accepted a position as the Deputy Commissioner of Education for the State of Colorado and served in that capacity until his final retirement in 2002. Renowned for his commitment to improving education for children, Richard was recognized as a gifted leader and valued mentor. He was passionate about the outdoors, but his greatest love was time spent on the water. He was a licensed pilot upon various inland waterways, including the Erie Canal. After leaving Colorado, he and Deborah established a home in Eagle Bay, NY in the Adirondack Mountains, for which he developed an abiding love as a youth. They enjoyed hiking, swimming, fishing, and boating, especially when the children and grandchildren he adored came to visit. Richard’s interest in art, history, politics, baseball, literature, and poetry was reflected in his enviable library of books. An ardent student of the American Civil War, he enjoyed visiting the battlefields and delving into the archives, music, and personal accounts of that conflict. A loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox, he loved the game and its history. His pioneering spirit, belief in self-sufficiency, and devotion to the founding principles of this nation guided his daily life. His brilliant mind, inquisitive nature, and quick-witted sense of humor will be missed. He is survived by his wife Deborah, his children Kimberly Elmer (Sheryl), Diane Trentini (John), Stephany Scott (Jeffrey) and Mark Elmer (Sarah), their mother Mary Elmer, his grandchildren Grace, Onnaleah, and Katherine Trentini, Zachary, Matthew and Anne Scott, and Garrett Elmer, as well as a great-nephew and great-niece, Finn and Astrid Maslin. Richard is also survived by his brothers George Elmer (Linda), Jeffrey Elmer (Sharon) and Jonathan Elmer (Nancy), his sisters Millicent Baxter (Norman), Dawn Town (Paul), and Merrily Kohler, a sister-in-law Sandra Brown, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. A son, Richard James Elmer, who died in 1971 and is buried in Furnaceville Cemetery in Ontario, NY, predeceased him. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday, November 18, from 5:00 to 9:00 pm at the Fuller Funeral Home, 190 Buffalo Street, Canandaigua, NY. A funeral service will be held Friday, November 19 at 4:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, South Pearl Street, Canandaigua, NY, with burial on Saturday, November 20, at Evergreen Cemetery, US Route 11, Canton, NY 13617. A memorial stone for Richard will be placed at Furnaceville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Richard’s memory be sent to Camp Good Days & Special Times, 1332 Pittsford-Mendon Rd. P.O. Box 665, Mendon, NY 14506, www.campgooddays.org.