Obituary of Harold E. Veeder Jr.

HAROLD E. VEEDER, JR (Hal)

Hal left this earthly place for a place of peace on August 6, 2023, surrounded by his beloved family. After a long struggle, he can be reunited with missed family, friends, and his many wonderful felines.

Hal was born in Poughkeepsie on October 19, 1936, the son of Harold E. Veeder, Sr, and Mae Knapp Veeder, both deceased.

When he was physically able, Hal could be seen every morning and evening along the Poughkeepsie riverfront area carrying a backpack of food and gallons of water to feed the many homeless cats. He has rescued countless cats and kittens and found quality homes for them. He spayed, neutered, and vaccinated every cat in the feral colonies he cared for.

During the 1940s, Hal was the bugler at both YMCA Camp Segowea and Boy Scout Camp Nooteeming. He was a talented trumpeter and in the 1950’s he played trumpet with the local dance band, The Rhythmaires, as well as other local bands, and with the Roosevelt High School Band. His talent won him a few first-place medals in State competitions.

He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1954 and from the Albany College of Pharmacy in 1958 (and a member of Kappa Psi Fraternity). He became a Vice-President of Veeder Pharmacy, Inc. in Poughkeepsie and the Town of LaGrange. He left in 1985 to pursue other ventures in his profession. Hal has been employed at LaGrange Pharmacy, Rite-Aid in Red Oaks Mill, and Molloy Pharmacy in Hyde Park, retiring in 2002 after 45 years in the profession.

Hal was a member of the Triune-Obed Masonic Lodge, and Tri-Po-Bed Grotto, serving as Monarch in 1970 and as Secretary for 20 years. He also served as the General Chairman for three state conventions of the Empire State Grotto Association. He proudly received his 65-year certificate in June 2023.

Hal served a six-year term on the Board of Directors of Rehabilitation Programs, Inc (now Abilities First), on the Clinic Committee and Executive Committee.

Hal was a long-standing member of Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church, starting in Sunday school when it was the Washington Street Methodist Church where the Grand Hotel now stands.

He received an honorable discharge as a hospital corpsman in the USNR in 1961 and had served at St. Albans Naval Hospital and on the destroyer escorts USS Kyne and USS Snyder.

Hal earned his private pilot’s license in 1962. As a co-owner of a Cessna Skyhawk, he enjoyed flying to many places in a short period of time.

As an environmentalist and animal lover, he belonged to Clearwater, Riverkeeper,, Adirondack Council, Wilderness Society, DCSPCA, Mid-Hudson Animal Aid, Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Scenic Hudson, Native American Indian College, Poughkeepsie Library, USS Slater (Destroyer Escort Museum). He was also a member of the Bardavon, Dutchess Arts Council, Walkway over the Hudson, and a contributor to Dutchess Outreach and food banks.

Hal had a great bond with nature, animals of any species, and the beautiful Hudson River. He enjoyed photography, RV traveling, his many cats, maintaining his townhouse on the river, and being with family and friends whenever possible.

Hal loved his family and was very proud of each of them – and enjoyed the laughter that always ensued when all were together. Survivors include his former wife Margaret Grey, two daughters DeeAnn Veeder (Dave), and Cynthia Finley (Brian), two sons Donald Veeder

(Ann), Rick Veeder (Donna), brother Gary J. Veeder (Pamela), eleven grandchildren Darren, Stephanie, Bradley, Samuel, Zoe, Gabriel, Tonya, Carri, Matthew, Andrew, Tabatha, and thirteen great-grandchildren, one niece, one nephew, two grandnieces, two

grandnephews, (and that’s as of today!).

Hal wished to express his gratitude to: Dr. Marie Quattro and the entire staff at Arlington Animal Hospital for their many years of kindness granted to him in his quest to maintain a minimal feral cat population (“They were my incredible cat savers.”); Lori

Bass and Jeanette Eley-Campbell (“My faithful feline caregivers”); Dave Gartland (“Many thanks to my friend Dave, who traveled with me later in life in that old RV and for the taxi service to MD’s and shopping when I could no longer do it for myself.”);

Hudson Valley Hospice (“Many thanks to my wonderful Hospice caregivers. Kudos to the entire Hospice organization.”)

A memorial service will be arranged at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 80 Washington St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

or AnimalKind, 721 Warren St., Hudson NY 12534

Condolences for the family can be sent via Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home at www.doylefuneralhome.com