- Date Of Birth: 1938
- Date Of Death: 2020
- State: New York
Robert G. Miner, Born September 6, 1938 passed away December 8, 2020
Robert (Bobby) grew up in Beaverkill, NY, under the watchful eye of his mother Estella (Addie) Miner his Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles.
Bobby spent much of his life living at the Miner homestead on the corner of Beaverkill Road where you turn to go to the covered bridge. This is where he developed an appreciation for the great outdoors especially the wild animals and gardening. The gardening was a family affair with his Mom, Grandparents and Aunt Helen. He enjoyed his pets, cats and dogs and often spoke of them.
He loved music and at an early age he would spend hours playing the old piano at the Miner homestead and became quite accomplished. He also dabbled with the harmonica and occasionally would challenge a friend or relative to a dueling harmonica session and would respectfully laugh with his competitor upon completion of the competition.
Bobby was an avid bicyclist and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to ride. He rode year-round even in the frigid cold of winter. He especially enjoyed gliding down a nice gradual slope where he could catch his breath, rest his legs and feel the breeze in his face. He would jump at the chance to take a ride in a car as long as he could sit in the front seat and control the buttons on the radio. If the destination was to visit his cousin Lee and enjoy the company of his cousin’s family and be entertained by the children that was even better. He enjoyed watching youngsters carry on with laughter and antics. Additionally, his cousin had ice cold draft beer and Bobby loved to have a beer on occasion.
Martin’s Bar and Grill in Livingston Manor run by his good friend Frank, is where many people met Bobby as he would enjoy a beer with the local patrons, listening to them tell their tales as he waited patiently for an opportunity to tell his version of the day’s events and then share in laughter at who was able to spin a larger tale. Bobby was king of the juke box at Martin’s and patrons would give him quarters to choose selections of songs to play for them.
About twenty years ago as Bobby’s circle of friends and family was shrinking and with the death of his beloved Aunt Helen and the worsening health of his mother Addie, Bobby moved from Beaverkill to a group home in Liberty on Old Monticello Road. He had been involved with the daily programs that Sullivan County ARC offered, so it seemed like the timing was good.
He made the transition without missing a beat. Bobby dazzled his new housemates and staff with his musical talent and storying telling. The group home welcomed him with open arms. He had a great new home with new friends and a loving staff. Bobby thrived and they became his family. He developed new interests. He enjoyed vacationing with his housemates and staff. He never forgot his roots and continued to play an electronic keyboard and enjoyed an occasional session of dueling harmonics and was always ready to shuffle a deck of cards. Bobby was very grateful for all the opportunity provided by Sullivan County ARC. He loved all the staff and administrative personnel who worked continuously on his behalf. Bobby knew and loved all the staff and even new some of the administrators. Some of the existing administration was there twenty years ago to welcome Bobby upon his arrival. Bobby’s philosophy to life was I don’t need much as long as I have Friends and Family and fortunately he had both.
Bobby and Addie had decided long ago that in the end Bobby would come back home to Beaverkill.
He is survived by numerous cousins.
