William H. Pitcher Jr., 70, of Bloomington

MARCH 2, 1947 - SEPT. 18, 2017

BLOOMINGTON, N.Y. » William H. Pitcher Jr., of Bloomington, N.Y., passed away at home in the comforting care of his family and caregivers on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017. He was born March 2, 1947, in Cobleskill, N.Y., to the late William and Doris (Cloutier) Pitcher Sr.

Bill was a graduate of SUNY Oneonta, where he met his wife of 46 years, Denise (Kivlin) Pitcher. He taught mathematics at Wallkill High School for 35 years and briefly coached the varsity basketball team. Bill was an outstanding educator and lifelong youth advocate; he has been an adult leader, Assistant Scoutmaster or Committee Member of Boy Scouts of America, Troop 20 in Hurley for 29 years. Bill has also served as the Rip Van Winkle Council’s Eagle Scout Coordinator for the Algonquin District for 25 years. In this capacity, Bill mentored and encouraged 290 young men on their trail to the rank of Eagle Scout, an award achieved by just a fraction of boys in the Scouting program. An Eagle Scout himself, Bill was an inaugural inductee into the Rip Van Winkle Council’s Eagle Scout Hall of Fame in 2016, a recognition that made him very proud.

After retiring from teaching, Bill went back to work at Mohonk Mountain House, where for many summers he had worked at the Mohonk Barn Museum, demonstrating chair caning and antique furniture restoration. Bill loved being on the staff at Mohonk and amassed many happy memories with his family and friends spent hiking and cross-country skiing at the Mohonk Preserve.

An avid fan of local history, Bill also served as the Preservation Chairman of the D&H Canal Society and later on the D&H Canal Corridor Committee. Bill was involved in escorted group travel with his wife for many years and traveled extensively in the U.S. and Europe.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by two sons, Eric R. Pitcher and Mark I. Pitcher, both of Flagstaff, Ariz.; a granddaughter, Shaye Fordring, also of Flagstaff; his sister-in-law, Bernadette Langenstein and her husband William of South Salem, N.Y.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Entrusted to the care of Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, where family and friends may visit on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017, from 4 to 8 p.m. The funeral service will take place on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rip Van Winkle Council BSA, the Mohonk Preserve, or Hospice of the Hudson Valley.

To leave an expression of sympathy, please visit www.KeyserFuneralService.com.