Lee W. Quackenbush

Lee W. Quackenbush, 80, of Dolgeville, New York (Town of Oppenheim), passed away peacefully on Thursday evening, February 6, 2025 at Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, New York.

He was born on June 10, 1944 in Gloversville, New York and was the son of the late, Everett and Alice (LaGrange) Quackenbush, Sr. Lee was raised on his family’s dairy farm on North Road in Oppenheim, New York.

On August 8, 1992, Lee was united in marriage to the former, Catherine M. Rogers at Gould Reformed Church in Roxbury, New York by Rev. Richard Dykstra. The couple have shared a loving union of 32 years together.

He was educated at Oppenheim-Ephratah Central School and graduated with the Class of 1961. Lee furthered his education graduating with an associate’s degree from Fulton-Montgomery Community College in 1966, a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State in 1969, his master’s degree from SUNY Cortland in 1985 and received his Certificate of Advanced Studies in School Administration from Cortland in 1986.

Throughout the years, Lee’s career focused on education where he excelled within the school systems. He began his teaching career as a physical education teacher and coach at Stratford Central School. When Stratford and Dolgeville merged, he became the administrative assistant and principal and Dolgeville Central School. Lee then took a position as superintendent at Roxbury Central School and then Roscoe Central School. After moving back to the area, Lee worked as the Director of Student Services for the Little Falls School district and finished his career as the elementary principal for Herkimer Elementary School where he retired in 2001 with over 31 years of service to the New York school system.

Lee was a former member of the Rotary Club in Roxbury, New York and a member of the Oppenheim United Methodist Church. He enjoyed hunting, gardening and especially loved traveling with his wife, Cathy all over the United States in their RV. Throughout the years, Lee was known for his dedication to coaching all types of sports where he guided many teams in all the schools he worked in. His last coaching position was as the Girls Varsity Basketball coach from 2002 to 2012 at Dolgeville Central School.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Catherine M. Quackenbush at home; his children, Beth Robinson, Sarah Quackenbush, and Will Quackenbush; step-son, Jeffrey Harrington and his wife, Jessica; foster daughter, Rebecca Hoffman; several grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Patricia and Domenick Martino, Diane and Ed Russell, Ed and Deb Rogers and John and Kristine Rogers; several nieces, nephews and cousins; Gayle Walrath and Robert Quackenbush and his wife, Doris.

Lee was predeceased by his parents, Everett and Alice Quackenbush and his brother, Everett C. Quackenbush, Jr.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the locally owned and family operated, Miller-Plonka Funeral Home, 30 Wolf Street, Dolgeville, New York 13329. A funeral service will take place immediately following calling hours at 5 p.m. also at the funeral home with Rev. Richard Dykstra. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) at Brown Cemetery, in the Town of Oppenheim, New York. All are welcome to attend.

The Quackenbush Family would like to thank the dedicated members of the Oppenheim Volunteer Fire Department for all of their care and assistance for Lee through the years.

Please consider memorial contributions for the Oppenheim United Methodist Church, c/o Linda Duesler, 6582 State Highway 29, St. Johnsville, New York 13452.

To leave a message of sympathy for the Quackenbush family, please visit www.millerplonkafuneralhome.com and sign the tribute wall or leave a photo or memory for his online memory book.

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