Obituary of DeLong Robert E.

Robert “Bob” E. DeLong passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 7, 2016 in Boca Raton, Fl. He was 94 years of age. Born on May 29, 1922, in Monticello, NY, he was the first child of George E. DeLong and Florence Dewitt DeLong. A true renaissance man, his interests and expertise were broad and varied. Throughout the years, he was a tournament level chess player winning many trophies, a square dance band leader and an award winning public speaker. After graduating from Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) in 1938, he went on to study at the agricultural program of SUNY College at Farmingdale, Long Island graduating in 1941. He was an early proponent of organic farming and natural living; a way of life he advocated his entire life. He found success in the early years of television both as a skilled technician and in sales. As a distributor of Motorola televisions, he was awarded several Caribbean Cruises for being the top leader in territorial sales. Outspoken and firm in his political beliefs, he served 12 years as Town of Newburgh Councilman and in 1969 was elected to the inaugural class of the Orange County Legislature where he served for 8 years. Later he acted as the chairman of the Town of Newburgh Republican Committee and continued as a Republican committeeman. Always a farmer at heart, in 1985, he purchased the abandoned 70 acre Revior Farm on Lake Osiris Road. He refurbished the existing farm house and barns, reclaimed the land and built a modern log home where he resided until 2015. He is survived by his children from his marriage to Rosamond Reese DeLong (who predeceased him in 1969): Barbara Pignataro (John) of Punta Gorda, FL, William D. Delong (Deborah) of Royal Palm Beach, FL, Beatrice DeLong Dane (Darryl) of Glenelg, MD and Winston DeLong (Patricia) of Liverpool, NY; a step-daughter from his marriage to Pauline Reed DeLong (who predeceased him in 1971): Jeanine Waterson of Hannawa Falls, NY and step-children from his marriage to Kay Swart DeLong (who predeceased him in 2012): Philip Koopman of Pittsburgh, PA and Maya Koopman Bechtel (Ron) of Holland, MI. He is also survived by his brother Donald DeLong (Sally Jo) of Indianapolis, IN, twelve grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Lucy DeLong Minott and Edith DeLong. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 29th at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Route 208, Walden, NY. Burial will be in the Wallkill Valley Cemetery, Walden. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation JDRF. www.jdrd.org. d