Robert L. Harpp Jr.

PINE PLAINS — Robert L. Harpp Jr., 57, passed away unexpectedly on March 1, 2025 in Great Barrington. He was born on Feb. 10, 1968, in Sharon, Connecticut, the son of the late Robert L. Harpp Sr. and Judy (Shook) Harpp.

Bobby graduated from Pine Plains Central School in 1986, where he excelled at baseball. After graduation he went to Columbia Greene Community College, where he studied criminal justice.

He loved all sports, but his passion was baseball. He was instrumental in sharing his love for the sport by coaching baseball in Pine Plains since he was a teenager. He was also an avid New York Yankees fan.

In 1992, he joined the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department where he would become a detective, arson investigator, and hostage negotiator. After his time in law enforcement, he served as Pine Plains Court Clerk. Most recently he worked as the Director of Security for Calyx in Great Barrington, a job that he enjoyed and made many friends and connections throughout the community.

He was truly a people person with a unique ability to build friendships wherever he went, often leaving a lasting impression by giving everyone a special nickname.

Above all else, Bobby was most proud of his children and their accomplishments. He played an essential role in their success, instilling in them the same determination, creativity, and dedication that defined his own life.

Bobby is survived by his devoted children; Abigail J. Harpp and Nolan Thomas Harpp; and his loving mother Judy Harpp. He is also survived by his sister Lenora Carr, her husband Jeff, and nephew Austin. He was predeceased by his father Robert L. Harpp Sr. and his brother Thomas J. Harpp.

A celebration of Bobby’s life will be held on March 15 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pine Plains Lions Club Pavilion.

For directions or to leave a message of condolence for the Harpp family, please visit www.peckandpeck.net.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made in Bobby’s memory. Please make donations payable to Judy Harpp, PO Box 149, Pine Plains, NY 12567, with the understanding that the funds will be directed to the Pine Plains Recreation Department.

Latest News

Out of the mouths of Ukrainian babes

To escape the cruelties of war, Katya finds solace in her imagination in “Sunflower Field”.

Krista A. Briggs

‘I can sum up the last year in three words: fear, love, hope,” said Oleksandr Hranyk, a Ukrainian school director in Kharkiv, in a February 2023 interview with the Associated Press. Fast forward to 2025, and not much has changed in his homeland. Even young children in Ukraine are echoing these same sentiments, as illustrated in two short films screened at The Moviehouse in Millerton on April 5, “Once Upon a Time in Ukraine” and “Sunflower Field.”

“Sunflower Field,” an animated short from Ukrainian filmmaker Polina Buchak, begins with a young girl, Katya, who embroiders as her world becomes unstitched with the progression of the war. To cope, Katya retreats into a vivid fantasy world, shielding herself from the brutal realities surrounding her life, all while desperately wanting her family to remain intact as she awaits a phone call from her father, one that may never come.

Keep ReadingShow less
William F. Buckley Jr.: a legacy rooted in Sharon
Provided

Sam Tanenhaus, when speaking about William F. Buckley, Jr., said he was drawn to the man by the size of his personality, generosity and great temperament. That observation was among the reasons that led Tanenhaus to spend nearly 20 years working on his book, “Buckley: The Life and Revolution That Changed America,” which is due out in June. Buckley and his family had deep roots in Sharon, living in the house called Great Elm on South Main Street, which was built in 1812 and bought by Buckley’s father in 1923.

The author will give a talk on “The Buckleys of Sharon” at the Sharon Historical Society on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m. following the group’s annual meeting. The book has details on the family’s life in Sharon, which will, no doubt, be of interest to local residents.

Keep ReadingShow less
Janet Marlow’s pet sounds

Janet Marlow recording Pet Acoustics.

Alan Brennan

Does your pet suffer from anxiety and stress? Musician, pet owner, and animal lover Janet Marlow may have sound solutions. With a background in classical music and a profound interest in the auditory world of animals, Marlow has dedicated her career to understanding how sound impacts emotional and physiological states in pets.

“I’ve always been deeply connected to music. It’s in my DNA as a fifth-generation musician. But it wasn’t until 1994, after moving from New York City to Connecticut, that I discovered how music could impact animals.” Marlow said, “I decided to live in Litchfield County because of the extraordinary beauty of nature that inspired so many compositions.” It was when Marlow adopted a black-and-white cat named Osborn that something remarkable happened. “Every time I played the guitar, Osborn would come to my side and relax. It was clear that the music was affecting him, and this sparked my curiosity,” she said. This sparked Marlow to start investigating how animals perceive sound and whether music could be used to improve their well-being.

Keep ReadingShow less