Robert "Wimpy" John Whitford , VRHS Class of 1982
Robert J. "Wimpy" Whitford age 45 years Rensselaer passed away suddenly Thursday February 18, 2010. He was born in Albany and has been a life long resident of Rensselaer. Bob was employed as a correctional officer for 22 years at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility. He was a member of the Rensselaer Council #267 K of C, E.F. Hart Hose Fire Company, Fraternal Order of Eagles, The Leonardo Da Vinci Lodge and The NYSCOPBA. Wimpy was a loving husband and a wonderful father who lived life to the fullest and enjoyed people and they enjoyed him. Bobby had many interests which included four-wheeling, coaching many Rensselaer youths in the Pop Warner football program, Rensselaer Little League, bowling, softball, NY Yankees, the No. Carolina Tar Heels, Miami Dolphins and was active in the Rensselaer PTSA. Wimpy's greatest passion, however, was fishing. He was truly an avid fisherman who thoroughly enjoyed the pursuit of anything that had fins. Whether it was chasing bass and trout in Brant or Lake St. Catherine, salmon fishing in Ontario, smelt fishing in Champlain or striper fishing in the Hudson, Wimpy was at his happiest during those times; and it really didn't matter the location or what he was trying to catch or even if he caught anything - the fact that he was just 'wetting a line' was good enough for him. Husband of Suzanne Mitchell Whitford of Rensselaer. Father of Anthony and Nicholas Whitford. Son of David G. Whitford and the late Helen T. Carlotti Whitford. Step son of Patricia Whitford. Brother of James (Karen) Whitford, Terri (Douglas) Zobre, Judith Whitford, Deborah (Paul) Dwyer and the late Nancy Whitford. Son-in-law of Judy Mitchell and James (Nancy) Mitchell. Brother-in-law of Todd Mitchell (Joanne Moore), Brian Mitchell and Christopher Mitchell. Also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and his pet dog Sandy. Funeral services were at St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph's Church Herrick Street Rensselaer. Interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Contribution in Wimpy's memory may be made to an educational fund for Wimpy's children; The Whitford Children Fund c/o Key Bank 16 2nd Avenue Rensselaer NY 12144.