Robert E. Deitrick, a longtime resident of Poughkeepsie and recently of Rhinebeck, entered into eternal rest October 15, 2025. He was 96. 

Son of the late Marcus and Ida Deitrick, he was born December 25, 1928, in Williamsport, PA. He graduated from Southside HS in Elmira, NY and received his BA in Economics from Syracuse University. 

Bob proudly served for 4 years in the US Navy. He then studied for 1 year at St. Francis Seminary, San Diego, CA, and remained a deeply faithful Catholic throughout his life. He enjoyed an active career in banking and financial services for over 60 years. He was president of Beacon S&L and Hudson Valley Federal S&L. He retired as an agent and consultant for Mass Mutual Life Insurance Company.  

Bob had a passion for community service, devoting his time to many different local organizations, including the Kingston Kiwanis Club (53 years), and his roles as president of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce and as Lieutenant Governor, NY District, of Kiwanis International.  

Bob will be remembered for his positive energy, great sense of humor, love of classical music and love of fishing. Highlights of his travel adventures were visiting the pyramids and tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt and his yearly family vacation to Martha’s Vineyard. He had a passion for languages, learning Latin, German, Greek and Spanish. Family and friends will greatly miss his self-created ‘one-liners’, all to make everyone smile. 

Survivors include the love of his life, his wife of 70 years, Cynthia Smith Deitrick; his children, Kathleen (Richard) Bell, Scott (Valerie) Deitrick and Laurian (Jeffrey) Harrison; his granddaughters, Rhiannon, Renee and Rebecca; and his great-granddaughters, Alexandra and Lennon. He was predeceased by his great-grandson, Anthony. 

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of The Meadows at Brookmeade in Rhinebeck, for the compassionate care they’ve provided over the past 3 years. Services were privately held in Rhinebeck. Interment was in Wappingers Rural Cemetery.   

Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to Kingston Kiwanis Club, PO Box 3161, Kingston, NY 12402 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 801 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105