In Memoriam

 Kevin O'Brien at the SKS Reunion 2015 when captains Chris Fagan '00 and Jemar Bryant '00 and the 2000 Basketball Team, were inducted into the SKS Sports Hall of Fame.

Kevin O’Brien of Highland Falls, NY  was born in Spring Valley, NY on March 27, 1963.  He passed away on September 11, 2021 after a long and valiant battle with Huntington’s Disease, never giving in or even acknowledging it.  No matter how great the challenge he continued to be positive.  Until the very end, whenever he was asked  how he was doing , his response was, “I’m doing great”.

Kevin truly loved sports and coaching.  In Highland Falls he coached youth teams in basketball, softball, baseball and soccer.  He also coached basketball at Storm King Prep from 1999-2007. He was a huge fan of Army athletics, the Mets, Knicks, Rangers, Giants and St. John’s.  Most of all Kevin loved Pearl River and his Pirates.  He would regularly be seen on the fields and in the gym rooting for his Pirates and meeting friends.  He was a long time and popular sports official, umpiring softball and refereeing basketball.  He was an outstanding athlete and enjoyed playing well into adulthood.  He loved sports, music, hiking, biking but most of all his children Angela and Joseph on whom the sun rose and set.

Although Kevin lived in Highland Falls, he truly never left Pearl River.  He loved the town and never missed a weekend or and event, meeting his many friends, having a beer and listening to music at the Gentle Giant.

Kevin is predeceased by his mother, Norma Rossano.  In addition to his children, he is survived by his father Tom, stepmother Sandy, brother Tom (Brenda), sisters Jean Talman and Christine O’Brien, Uncle Bill and Aunt Judy, Aunt Maria, his former wife and loving friend Ganeene, nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends.

The family takes solace from the wonderful support and kindness Kevin received from so many during his long battle.  In particular, they are grateful to Bill Madden who is the epitome of a true friend and Kevin Houston and Mike Bade for their thoughtfulness and countess acts of support of Kevin and family.  The family is also grateful to the staff at the Huntington’s Unit at The Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center, Mt. Sinai Hospital and The Joe Raso Hospice Residence.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to one of the following charities, Huntington’s Disease Society, 505 Eighth Ave, Suite 902,NY, NY 10018; Team KJ. (Fight HD) PO Box 1222, Pearl River, NY 10965,   or The Dan Sullivan Foundation, 12 Lombardi Road, Pearl River, NY 10965.

Travis Lee Smyczynski, Class of 2008, passed away on July 31, 2021.

"This handsome young man was our Nephew, Son, Brother, Grandson, Uncle & Cousin . On May 29th, Travis had a debilitating stroke that he never recovered from. On Saturday July 31st, he went to his Eternal home. Rest in Peace, Travis"

“Travis was the person who would listen to you with a full heart. He had an ever present smile and kindness that was given to anyone in need. A performer, he would sing, tell jokes, hug you tightly, or do whatever necessary to get you to smile or chuckle a little. Travis could also comfort you by showing you the perfect Buffy episode. He’d be the first to offer a hand and clean up the space he’d share with you. When he was in the room, he was pure sunshine with sass. He loved so hard and so purely. It’s a spectacular thing to know that he was beloved around the world. He would be happy and humbled to know that he made an impact on every soul he encountered. A son of the world. A friend to all. A performer. A sunbeam in human form. He will be a light that lit the world.”

Service: Saturday, August 14, 2021
Meet & Greet: 6:00pm
Memorial Service: 7:00pm
Sugar Land Mortuary
1818 Eldridge Road
Sugar Land, Texas

Join us via Live Streaming
6:00pm to 8:00pm

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1628124771128996

Edward Butler Blanc, Jr., 72, of Stevens Street in Charlestown, NH, died unexpectedly on Monday, September 22, 2014 at a family cottage in Biddeford, Maine.

At the Storm King School, Ed was the moving force in starting the six or eight man football team in the late 1950's-early 1960's, with coaches Huntington and Babcock.

Ed was born in Knoxville, TN, on March 15, 1942, the son of Edward Butler and Marjory Judith (Atkinson) Blanc.

Ed was a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, having served from 1962-1967. He was assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines as an M-60 machine gunner. In November, 1963, he deployed to Camp Schwab, Okinawa, and joined the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force G-2-3.  As part of the 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division he deployed to Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Okinawa for training. He fought in the Tonkin Gulf Crisis in August of 1964 and later fought in Danang, Vietnam, on August 5th, 1965, attached to the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. His second tour of active duty ended in 1966.

He retired after 40 years from Lovejoy Tool Company in Springfield, VT.

Ed was a 42-year active member of the Charlestown Fire Department, having served as a firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain and Fire Chief. He also served as the Fire Warden for the past 14 years.

In the 1970s-80s he was a member of the Charlestown Ambulance and had served as their director for many years. In the mid 80s, Ed served as a police officer for a few years. Ed dedicated his life to helping others and making his country and community a better place.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather with a big heart and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his family.

The family includes his wife, Alice Helen (Phillips) Blanc whom he married on March 2, 1968; two sons, Timothy Blanc and his wife, Anna of Walpole and Mathew Blanc and his wife Deborah of Charlestown; three grandchildren, Samantha Blanc, Jaxson Blanc and Pia Blanc. Alice Blanc retired in 2008 after teaching for many years in the Springfield, VT, school system.

George Leighton Tholken, Jr. 17 July 1939 - 5 July 2021 Sarasota, FL George L Tholken, Jr. passed peacefully from this life on earth to his eternal home in heaven on July 5, 2021 in Dunlap, TN at the home of his son, Gregory.

George was born in Cornwall-on Hudson, NY on July 17, 1939 to George L. Tholken, Sr. and Sarah “Sally” Elizabeth Lamont Tholken. He grew up in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY where he was a day student at The Storm King School, class of 1957, and played soccer, hockey and baseball.

Following graduation, George received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego where he met the love of his life, Martha Sue Letts. George enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1963, and went on to complete Officer Candidate School (OCS). George received the National Defense Service Medal, and was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander in 1967. He married M. Sue Letts on December 28, 1963, and they were married for 56 years. He owned Hillside Service Center in Danbury, CT for fifteen years. They moved to Sarasota, Florida where he worked as an Air Conditioner technician for 20 years before his retirement in 2002.  George and Sue traveled the country, visiting National Parks and other points of interest along the way, with their grandchildren during the summer months for about 20 years following their retirement.

Survivors include his son, Gregory (Rebecca) Tholken of Dunlap, TN; and daughter, Pamela Tholken of Sarasota, FL; his four grandchildren: William (Meghan) Tholken, Noelle (Brett) Steele, Garrett (Savana) Tholken, and Jenifer Tholken; his four great-grandchildren: Jaylin and Eli Steele; Edward and Ellery Tholken. George was predeceased by his parents, and his wife Martha Sue Letts Tholken. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements were made by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist in Chattanooga, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the church they dearly loved, First Congregational church of Otis, 46 N. Main Road, P.O. Box 392, Otis, MA 01253; or the Gideon’s International, Sequatchie Valley Camp, P.O. Box 1405, Dunlap, TN 37327-1405

SCOTT E. HUNT
January 30, 1946 – May 27, 2021
Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY

Scott Hunt taught at SKS from 2014 until 2021, serving as Chairman of the Math Department.

Born in Susanville, California in 1946, Scott Edwin Hunt was the younger of two children of Roy and Myra Hunt; sister Claudia. Scott spent his childhood in the Sierra Nevada mountains near his grandparents’ cattle ranch. Surrounded by majestic mountains and panoramic vistas, Scott fell in love with Mother Nature and all of her grandeur. His years on the ranch would be forever ingrained in his soul and he would often tell ranch tales and speak of its beauty.

Scott’s parents instilled in him a strong work ethic for academics, work, and sports.
He inherited his father’s love of baseball, which he played throughout college, and his mother’s love of family, which instilled in him the credo that he passed on throughout his days: “love of family is the essence of life.”

Scott’s family ended up in Arcata, California, where he would spend his teenage years and graduate from Arcata High School. He spent a year at the South Dakota School of Mines, transferred to Humboldt State, and the following year enrolled in the University of California Davis where he enlisted in ROTC and continued to play baseball. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Scott reported to Fort Lewis ready to serve his country, only to be honorably discharged due to an injury.

Fresh out of college, Scott was hired by General Electric as an Application Engineer. The company eventually sent him from Long Beach, California, to Phoenix, Arizona, to Schenectady, New York; the latter of which led him on an epic cross-country road trip that culminated in a Northeast blizzard.

Scott joined a rugby team once he settled in New York. It was at a rugby party in 1970 where he spotted Carole Clark from across the room. Scott and Carole began dating and, due to Scott’s love of history, their first date was at Saratoga Battlefield. They married on August 18th, 1973 in Lake George, New York, amid the natural beauty of the Adirondacks.

In 1978, Scott and Carole moved their family to Cornwall-on-Hudson where they would spend the next 43 years. Four children soon followed. Scott was the ultimate provider and family man. He was a beloved coach of youth teams that he coached for 20 years, becoming an inspirational mentor among the youth in his community.

Scott received his Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and continued his career in engineering for 30 years. From St. Regis Paper Company to Champion International, Scott held several engineering management positions in the Process Control Department. He was later promoted to Director of Manufacturing Control Systems at the corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT where he helped develop major process control projects and often traveled to industry-wide conferences presenting his findings.

After retirement, Scott was inspired to teach AP level math classes at Storm King School. He continued his love of sports there by coaching both the boys and girls soccer teams. Scott loved teaching and coaching so much, he remained there for 12 years.

As Scott’s children grew older, he enjoyed traveling around the country to visit them in Colorado, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Alaska, and Washington State. Five grandchildren arrived within three years’ time and Scott reveled in their playfulness. Many of Scott’s passions were often surrounded by nature and sport. He loved fly-fishing, hiking, being out in his rowing shell on Lake George, and attending professional baseball and hockey games with his kids.

Nothing was dearer to Scott than his family. He is survived by his wife Carole of almost 48 years and their children Kevin (wife Ann), Lanie (husband Russ), Kyle (wife Ashley), Darren, and five grandchildren: Tessa, Braydon, Molly, Hudson, and Caleb. As the patriarch, he enjoyed family gatherings and especially sharing laughs. His family will miss him dearly and will cherish his legacy always.

Visitation Hours will be held on Friday, June 4th from 4 pm-6 pm at the Quigley Sullivan Funeral Home, 337 Hudson Street, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 5th at 1 pm at the Cornwall United Methodist Church, 198 Main Street, Cornwall, NY.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Scott Hunt may be given to Gateway Mountain Center (sierraexperience.org), Lake George Association (lakegeorgeassociation.org) or Hudson Highlands Nature Museum (hhnm.org)

Howarth, B Roberts “Rob”, 77, passed away on February 21, 2021, after a battle with Alzheimer’s.  Rob was a loving husband, father and grandfather whose energy and passion were evident in every aspect of his life.  Rob grew up in Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Christchurch School and Randolph-Macon College.

Rob initially started teaching prep school and was an English teacher and basketball coach at Storm King, where his 1973 team won the prep league championship.  One of his basketball players said the following about Rob: “Coach had one of the most moving and memorable meetings before that championship game. In 1973 we had had a “so-so” season after a great 1972 team. Before that game, Rob called out the strengths of every player in the room and told us he loved us no matter what happened in that game. We went out a tore up the finals. He did a great job with us.”

After teaching, Rob returned to Virginia and began a career in sales that would continue through most of his life.  He was the manager of Wilson Jewelers and owner of B Roberts Jewelers in Harrisonburg and was an American Gem Society member and an active participant in the Rotary Club and Emmanuel Episcopal Church.  Rob had other sales jobs, but jewelry was always his passion.  He eventually retired to Myrtle Beach, SC and enjoyed photography and finding treasures on the beach.  He relocated to Texas to be closer to family a few years ago.

Rob is survived by his sister, Meade Williams, of Richmond, VA; his children, David, and his wife, Meredith, of Dallas, TX; Bobby, and his wife, Carrie, of Monument, CO; and Sara, and her husband, Jason Wade, of Kingston, TN; and his grandchildren Sydnee Kurfehs, Jayven, Braylen, Channing, Morgan, Bennet and Harrison Howarth, and Kendall and Dylan Wade.

Robert James Vanderbeck, Jr, SKS Class of 1970, 70 years old, of Nashua NH, lost his courageous but difficult battle with cancer on March 28th, surrounded by the love of his wife and children who were by his side.

Bob was born on February 6, 1951 to Robert and Helen Vanderbeck in Glen Ridge, NJ. After Bob graduated from Storm King School, where he earned the nickname “Weaver “, because of his athletic prowess, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at Nichols College.

After graduation, he spent a few years skiing and bartending in Stowe, Vermont. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Sue Haberman. Bob and Sue married in 1980 and were blessed with two amazing children, Quinn, and Kimberly.

The family settled in Nashua, NH and Bob established himself in the auto industry. He worked at several dealerships over the years, but ultimately Bob was passionate about Mini Coopers. He spent the last ten years of his career as a salesman at Mini of Bedford, where he will be missed.
Bob didn’t make it to retirement, but would have loved to have spent much of his time on the ocean, fishing.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Helen, in laws Robert and Sylvia Haberman, and brothers -in-law Frank Balotti and Michael Taylor. In addition to his wife Sue, and children Quinn and Kim, he is survived by his sisters Marcia Balotti, and Joan Taylor, his beloved Maine Coon cat, Nim, as well as his sister-in-law , Wendy Haberman, and nieces and nephews who he loves.
Services will be announced at a later date, when friends and family are able to gather safely and celebrate Bob’s life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to an organization of your choice, perhaps The Humane Society, or the American Cancer Society.

John Branning Sloan, Class of 1949 passed away on March 4, 2021. He was born to John E. and Madelyn Branning Sloan on July 4, 1931, in Gardiner, NY.

John's primary education was at a one-room schoolhouse in Tillson Lake, NY. He graduated from Wallkill Central School in 1948 and Storm King Preparatory School in 1949. John began his college education at Lafayette College where his failure to master the mandated French language requirement led him to East Stroudsburg State Teachers College where he played basketball and graduated with a bachelor's degree in health education in 1954.

John began his teaching career in Pine Bush, NY where he also coached basketball and baseball. John met Doris Stephan at the Orange Bowl in Walden, NY and they married on December 21, 1958. The young couple moved to the Town of Newburgh to start a family and John took night classes at the State University of New York at New Paltz where he graduated with a master's degree in education in 1960. He was then hired as the principal of Vails Gate School in 1962 where he served for ten years while simultaneously opening Temple Hill School as principal in 1970.

John was an avid bowler and enjoyed coaching Little League, boating, and camping trips with his family. In 1986, John retired after 32 years as an educator and administrator and moved with Doris to SC where he served his community as president of the homeowner's association, golfed, fished on his boat, and relaxed on the porch with a beautiful view of the Intracoastal Waterway. "Papa" became doter-in-chief to his six grandchildren actively following their sports and academic pursuits while cheering for his beloved NY Yankees.

John is survived by his wife, Doris; son, Christopher of Gaithersburg, MD and daughter, Susan (James) Ronai of Orange, CT; grandchildren: Julia, Ryan, and Justin Sloan; Matthew, Brian, and Lauren Ronai. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Laura Lee, and son, John Frederic.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Reformed Church of Shawangunk in Wallkill, NY when the pandemic allows. Interment will be at the Brunswick Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers or a donation, the family requests that you call on a friend or do a favor for a neighbor or someone in need.