Obituary of Willard H. Mcnary

Willard Haydn McNary Willard Haydn McNary, a 56 year resident of the Town of Wappinger, entered into rest Sunday, November 26, 2006 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was 73. Born in Troy, New York on January 28, 1933, he was the son of the late James D. McNary and Dorothy Haydn McNary. He was the beloved husband of the former Dorothy B. Hawkes whom he married 51 years ago, on April 2, 1955 in St. Paul's Church, Augusta, Georgia. A lifelong conductor, pianist and teacher of music, Mr. McNary retired in 1991 from the Poughkeepsie City School District where he served as Director of Fine and Performing Arts for 32 years. He received his education from the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, earning his Bachelor's Degree in 1954, and his Master's Degree in 1957 from SUNY Albany. He then went on to serve his country in the United States Army Signal Corps. Active in many musical activities in the community and state, Mr. McNary was a 50 year member of the New York State School Music Association and Music Educator's National Conference. He was a former conductor of the Community Mixed Chorus, Euterpe Men's Glee Club, adjunct teacher of music at Marist College, a former member of Local #238 Musicians Union and, in recent years, director of the Golden Age Singers, a men's chorus. He was also a member of Zion Episcopal Church in Wappingers Falls. In addition to his wife, Mr. McNary is survived by his loving children, Mark McNary of Wappingers Falls, Drew McNary and his wife, Christine of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and Melissa Richardson and her husband, Jeffrey of Brookfield, Connecticut; his grandchildren, Jennifer McNary, Drew McNary, Liam Richardson and Mariel Richardson; and one cousin, Donn W. Haydn of Troy, New York. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 9 at 2 p.m. at Zion Episcopal Church, 12 Satterlee Place in Wappingers Falls, with Rev. Horace Choate presiding. Memorial donations may be made in Mr. McNary's name to Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676 To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.straubfuneralhome.com.