Robert D. McElroy

Robert D. McElroy, 94, passed away at his home peacefully Wednesday morning January 8, 2025 in the presence of loved ones. Born in Tarrytown, NY on June 12, 1930, he was the son of the late George and Mary (Bresnahan) McElroy. He married Katherine Dittmar at the Mount Carmel Church in Elmsford on October 14, 1956. Kat his loving wife of 48 years preceded him in death in 2004 creating a void in his life that never fully healed.

He graduated from Forestry College at Syracuse, New York in 1952. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served from 1952 to 1954 where he first learned both leadership skills and computer programming. He went on to work as an engineer for AT&T and later as a senior programmer for IBM in Kingston. Bob became a resident of Rhinebeck after a series of job transfers for IBM when in 1972 he purchased a house that he believed would be yet another temporary residence. This house turned into his home of more than 50 years for him, his wife and five sons.

For him no job was ever too big but each job needed to be done right the first time. No task was beneath him or beyond his capability whether building a house, developing an operating system or wrangling his 5 sons. In retirement he enjoyed helping his sons with renovations and even into his 80s would happily reroof a home just for the joy of it. Not one to sit idle, he loved constantly repairing his own house even perhaps when the fault was not apparent to others. He was an avid reader and loved challenges.  

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and brothers George, William and Thomas. He is survived by his five sons, Sean and his wife Edith of Newport, RI, Robert Jr. and his wife Laura of Knoxville, TN, Dennis and his wife Deanne of Allen, Tx, George of Buffalo, NY, and Michael and his fiancé Lenore Van Demark of Rhinebeck, NY; his grandchildren, Robert, Heather, Ryan, Meaghan, and Bailey; his great grandchild, Charlotte, as well as several nieces and nephews.  

Calling Hours will be held at the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 W. Market St., Rhinebeck, NY 12572 on Wednesday January 15 from 5pm to 7pm.  

Funeral Services will be held at the Funeral Home on January 16 at 11:30am.

 Burial will follow in the Rhinebeck Cemetery where Mr. McElroy will be laid to rest next to his wife Katherine.

 Memorial Donations in honor of Robert McElroy can be made to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306, https://t2t.org/

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