MILLBROOK — Almost everyone in the Millbrook area knew Ed Olson, and to know him was to love him. His smile was contagious, his love of service to others was legendary. When he passed away on Thursday, Feb. 10, the shock and sadness was felt by about the entire community.
Olson was born on July 10, 1948, in nearby Salt Point, on his family farm, which he lived on for his entire life. The farm goes back two generations before him.
He graduated from Millbrook High School in 1966. Over the years he worked as a mechanic; he worked for the highway departments of both Town of Washington and the Town of Union Vale.
A farmer throughout his life, when he retired from his full-time jobs, he delivered milk for Hudson Valley Fresh.
What Olson will probably be remembered for by most is his volunteer work. He was a firefighter for 54 years with the East Clinton Volunteer Fire Department (ECVFD) where he served as president, vice-president and safety officer. In fact he was the president when he died.
“I have known Ed for my entire life, stretching back to our childhood as attendees in the Clinton Corners Community Friends Church, where his family was extremely active,” said ECVFD Fire Chief Don Estes. “Ed knew and was known well by our extended community. This in large was due to his dedication to service. This service included his total immersion in the Boy Scouts of America [BSA] and the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department. There were also other community activities of which he was involved, but the Boy Scouts and fire department were his community passion.”
His sense of altruism, even later in life, was often remarked upon by those who knew him.
“Ed exemplified what the concept of volunteer and community involvement represents,” continued Estes. “Though he was totally dedicated to his civic organizations, he always found time to help anyone in need. He was a compassionate person and an extremely loyal friend. The world would be a better place if more people followed his life creed, and is a much sadder place with his departure.”
Many young men remember Olson leading the Boy Scouts, calling him a great role model. Involved with the BSA for almost 40 years, Olson started with the Scouts back in the mid-1980s.
Millbrook Village Trustee and fellow Scout leader Mike Herzog fondly remembers their sons were around the same age when they joined the Cub Scouts. Long after their boys had grown, Olson and Herzog continued as leaders with Troop 31 and remained friends.
Herzog praised Olson’s tenacity, his leadership and his ability to encourage other adults to volunteer.
Noticeably sad, Herzog said, “It was a joy and a privilege to work with him, and it will leave a big hole.”
He fondly remembered a few years ago when they both attended a Millbrook Fireman’s Dinner. Their table included seven or so firemen, former Scouts. It was a moment filled with pride, said Herzog.
Millbrook Trustee Peter Doro, who serves with Herzog, is a former Eagle Scout from Troop 31.
Under Olson’s leadership, Troop 31 grew from fewer than 20 Scouts to more than 60. Olson was proud of his troop, his work with the Scouts and that more joined.
And many were proud of Olson, who was bestowed with many honors during his lifetime. Although he was always modest, others were happy to applaud him. He received the Betty White Community Service Award from the Millbrook Rotary Club; he was given the CVFD Firefighter of the Year; he was a recipient of the Poppa John Award. He was also a member of the Washington Hollow Cemetery Association and served as a Trustee of the Lyall Memorial Federated Church.
Olson leaves behind his wife, Laurie Metcalf Olson, four children, their spouses and his beloved grandchildren.
He will be missed by many, for his infectious smile, his humor and his love of helping anyone who needs it. He will be remembered for those things, along with his love of life, of work, of family, of volunteering and of making the world a better place for all of the 73 years he was on it.
NORTH CANAAN — Dr.f Donald Terance “Doc” Martin, 86, of North Canaan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at his home in North Canaan, which was his last wish. Dr. Martin was a dentist in Canaan, retiring in 2014. He served the community and their needs whether they could pay or not, and at all hours of the day and night. They do not make men like Don “Doc” Martin anymore.
Born on Aug. 27, 1938 in Walla Walla, Washington, he was the youngest of George T. and Anna Mae (McGrath) Martin’s eight children. Don proudly served in the US Navy with the Seabees during the Vietnam War. He adopted the Seabee’s “Can Do” attitude that served him for the rest of his life. Don married Lynne Horner in 1964.
Don was a 50-year friend of Bill W. He sponsored numerous others through his devotion to Alcoholics Anonymous. When people asked how he managed to stay sober for five decades, he said, “Don’t drink. Go to meetings. And don’t die.” And, “If you’re going to get old, you should do it in the program.”
Don fiercely loved his family, and he embraced his community. Wherever he went, people shouted, “Hi, Doc!” He enthusiastically supported local causes. In the early 1980s, he founded Friends of Football, a booster club for the Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s football team. He was a regular at Housy athletic events during his children’s years as students there, and continued to support the teams even after his youngest child graduated.
In addition to his loving wife of 60 years, Don is survived by a son, Rick Martin of Canaan, and two daughters, Kelley Marshall and her husband, Bill, of Hyde Park, New York, and Laura McCarthy and her husband, Neil, of Berlin, Connecticut. He is also survived by four grandchildren; William Marshall, V, Meagan Marshall and her fiancé, Cameron Jones, Maxim Martin and Meave McCarthy; a special friend, Jeff King, cousins Ann Kaufman, Jay Martin, Kathy Horner, Dan Horner, John Horner, Katherine Edlund, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, at the North Canaan Congregational Church, 172 Lower Rd, East Canaan, with Pastor Mark Brady officiating. The repass follows from 12 noon to 4 p.m. at the VFW Post #6851, 104 S. Canaan Rd., Canaan, CT. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Doc Martin should be made to the Fishes & Loaves Food Pantry, P.O. Box 306, North Canaan, CT 06018 or VFW Post #6851, P.O. Box 913, Canaan, CT 06018. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home, 118 Main Street, Canaan, CT.
Busy as he is these days, Santa took a bit of time to join in congratulating Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, following a presentation ceremony at the Wassaic Fire Department on Saturday, Dec. 14, all in conjunction with the 2024 Wassaic Parade of Lights.
WASSAIC — Wassaic residents turned out to celebrate the 2024 Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 14, enjoying the traditional parade and festivities with refreshments at the firehouse.
One of the highlights was the naming of Wassaic’s Citizen of the Year, Ana Hajduk, honoring her many contributions to the improvement of community life.
Presenting the award certificate was Amenia Town Supervisor Leo Blackman who spoke of Hajduk’s talents as garden designer and her work with designing and faithfully tending the small garden in front of the post office where a veterans’ memorial stands.
She also looks after the needs of the newly planted pine tree which has replaced the old Wassaic Christmas tree. She also lends her talents to tending the beds planted by the Amenia Garden Club. And, she has successfully conquered the mugwort infestation at the Borden plant.
Blackman praised Hajduk also for her work with the Fountain Square plantings, and her willingness to lug buckets of water to a variety of growing things.
Hajduk lived for a time in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where her mother had rehabilitated an abandoned rail line to create a six-block long public park over a period of 20 years.
“Ana has it in her blood to improve the places where she lives,” Blackman said.
Mary Albasi, resident of The Fountains at Millbrook, knitting for one of the community’s donations.
MILLBROOK — A long-established tradition of giving to deserving community organizations is continuing throughout the holiday season at The Fountains at Millbrook.
Three area charities were selected for this year’s charitable giving. The Center for Compassion in Dover Plains has received 26 bags of food and several boxes of clothing collected by Fountains residents since the Thanksgiving season and continuing through the holidays. The extensive history of giving was described on Wednesday, Dec. 11, by Lisa Rieckermann, community life director at The Fountains.
Infants housed at the Care Net Pregnancy Center in Poughkeepsie are being kept warm by hand-knit items produced by the Knit/Crochet Group at The Fountains. Resident Mary Albasi was praised by Rieckermann for her dedication, having created more than 100 pieces for the center.
“Mary’s passion is truly shown through the dedication she has for her work,” Rieckermann said.
Families at the Grace Smith House, a domestic violence support center in Poughkeepsie, are also being assisted by residents at The Fountains. This month, Rieckermann reported, Terri Smith, a staff member in The Fountains’ Café, is raising funds for gift cards to be provided to the Grace Smith House. Skilled at crafting, Smith is using her talents to create centerpieces for Café tables. Residents purchase the centerpieces, thereby raising the funds to purchase the gift cards.
“It makes my heart happy to give back,” Smith said.
Residents also maintain an ongoing interest in supporting the Holiday Toy Drive with the American Legion and the Hudson Valley Animal Rescue organization.
Dutchess County Legislator Chris Drago and Town of North East Councilwoman Meg Winkler help welcome Habitat for Humanity homeowners Anthony and Vanessa Macagnone (center) to their new home on Rudd Pond Road in Millerton, Wednesday, Dec. 18.
