Obituary of Robert Fogarty SR

Schenectady - Robert J. Fogarty, Sr. passed into eternal life Thursday, July 23, 2009 after fighting a great fight against diabetes. A lifelong resident of the Capital District, he was born to John J. Fogarty and Alice (Lyon) Fogarty on February 20, 1923 in Watervliet, NY as the sixth of their seven children. He graduated in the Class of 1940 from Watervliet HS and started working at Behr Manning and then General Electric in Schenectady. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1943, saw service in Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa, and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1945. After serving his country, he entered the GE apprentice program and spent the next 39 years as a draftsman and senior designer in the Large Steam Turbine-Generator department. He was a member of Local 147 of the American Federation of Technical Engineers and served a term as its vice-president. Over his career at GE, he was part of a team developing state of the art steam turbines, most of which remain in service today. Upon retiring in 1985, Bob quickly grew to dislike icy, cold northern winters, so he and Ruth spent winters in Florida and the rest of the year in Schenectady and the cottage he designed and had built in York Beach, Maine. He enjoyed their many children and grandchildren, the friends they made wherever they went, hot pastrami sandwiches from Gershon's, and an occasional hand of bridge. Bob leaves behind his sons Robert Fogarty, Jr. (Alex) of North Carolina, Richard Fogarty (Beth) of California, James Fogarty (Harriet), and a daughter, Eileen Bolognino (Joseph)of Albany, his son Michael Luft (Wendy), and his daughters Beverly Luft and Kate Staalesen (Jim). He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, a great-grandson and numerous nieces and nephews. He was quick to note that he was the last of his generation. He was predeceased by his first wife, Catherine C. Fogarty, in 1967, his second wife, Ruth L. Fogarty, in 2006, as well as his brothers, his sister, a daughter, Mary Alice, and his granddaughter, Robyn Fogarty. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 27 at 8:15 AM at Jones Funeral Home 1503 Union St., Schenectady followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, Union St., Schenectady. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their final respects at Jones Funeral Home on Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Interment will be next to Ruth in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Niskayuna. Our gratitude goes out to each of the home aides who provided companionship and assistance that allowed Bob to remain independent after the death of Ruth. He surely appreciated you. We also wish to thank the staff of Community Hospice of Schenectady for their assistance and guidance in Bob's final months. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the National Kidney Foundation, the American Heart Association, or Community Hospice Inc.