Clifford Benjamin Schoonmaker Sr., 91, of Stone Ridge

Clifford Benjamin Schoonmaker Sr., Cliff (Hebe), was born in Accord, May 31, 1926, to Gross and Elizabeth Decker Schoonmaker, and died on Saturday, June 10, 2017, at his home.

He was proud of the fact that he was the 10th generation Schoonmaker to be born at home in Accord. He graduated from Kerhonkson High School, served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 until 1944, and, in 1945, attended Dallas Aviation and Air College, from which he earned his commercial and instructor’s licenses. His first flying job was as an instructor at Wurtsboro Airport. In 1946, he established Cliff Haven Flying Service in Accord. In 1957, he joined Eastern Air Lines and retired as a captain in 1986.

In addition to being a pilot who loved flying, Cliff had a lifelong involvement in sports and community activities. He played basketball, baseball, softball, bowling, and golf. Cliff was the first president of the Indian Valley Little League, and he was elected to the Kingston Baseball Hall of Fame. Cliff was a loyal fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. He was a life member of the Accord Fire Company. His love of boating included his membership in the United States Power Squadron since 1960, in which he held many positions up to the National Board. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary from 1979 until his retirement in 2016. He enjoyed memberships in the Mid-Hudson Bassmasters and the Ulster County Bassmasters.

Cliff was a respected community leader. With his brother Donald he owned and operated Valley Gardens in Accord. With John Parete, he started the Rondout Pool, Golf and Tennis Association (now the Rondout Golf Club) in Accord, which was dedicated in October 1969. He was a partner in the development of Boice Mill Meadows Land Development. From 1974 to 2002, he served as councilman for the Town of Marbletown. He belonged to the Marbletown Senior Citizens, and he was always an active member of the Reformed Church having belonged to parishes in Accord, High Falls and Marbletown.

One of Cliff’s last comments on important things in life was that nothing mattered more to him than being proud of his family. On June 17, 1945, he married Grace Marek in the Gardiner Reformed Church. They had six children: Clifford Jr., Dr. Kathleen Grambling (John), Christopher (Kathy), Dr. Kristin Vergunst (deceased), Corey (Catherine) and Kyle (fiance Bob Gates); 14 grandchildren: Clifford III (Nikki), Kimberly Deck (Daniel), Collin and Connor Schoonmaker, Dr. Sara Radigan (Jeremy), Adria Newberry (Matt), Christopher (Nicolette) and Mark (Grace) Schoonmaker, Erica Bertolini (Pete), William Joyner, Landon and Logan Schoonmaker, Corey and Timothy Benziger; and eight great-grandchildren: Priya Schoonmaker, Daniel Deck, Kaylin and Clifford Schoonmaker IV, Bryn Radigan, Ophelia Newberry, Kendall Schoonmaker, Kaiden O’Neal and Lincoln Bertolini.

Visiting hours will be at George J. Moylan Funeral Home Inc., 2053 Route 32 in Rosendale on Thursday from 1 to 3 and 7 to 9 p.m. American Legion Post 1219 will conduct military honors at 7:30 p.m. The Rev. Charles Stickley will lead the funeral service, which will take place at the Marbletown Reformed Church on Friday at 11 a.m., with interment following at Fairview Cemetery, Pine Bush Road, Stone Ridge. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Marbletown Reformed Church, P.O. Box 63, Stone Ridge, N.Y. 12484, or a charity of your choice. (www.GJMoylanFuneralHome.com)