Egelhofer, Arthur J.
Arthur J. Egelhofer, of Lenox, MA, and formerly of Old Saybrook, CT passed away on January 30, 2023 after a long illness. He was born on May 22, 1929 in Brooklyn NY to August and Sophie Egelhofer. He recalled his early years in Brooklyn fondly, especially playing stickball and other street games with his cousin Bobby, and attending baseball games at Ebbets Field and Yankee Stadium with Bobby and his Uncle Harry. Art graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1946 and answered an ad for the position of mail clerk at Prentice Hall in Englewood, NJ. He was instead offered a position in Accounts Receivable; he spent almost fifty years with the company, finishing his career as Vice President of their division in Waterford, CT. He was very proud of the fact that he obtained his college degree from NYU, working full time and taking evening courses for eight years.
Art was married to Gloria Anderson Egelhofer in September of 1951, one week before deploying to Korea for military service. Returning in 1952, they began their family, moving several times as Art was promoted at work—first to Tappan, NY, then to Old Saybrook, CT where they lived for more than fifty years.
Art and Gloria were founding members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1961, and Art served the church in numerous capacities over many decades. He also served on several town committees and boards in Old Saybrook, and was instrumental in raising funds for the period lighting on that town’s Main Street. Art was a member of the board of the Waterford Country School, which serves at-risk children and families, for 26 years. Art was an accomplished guitarist and singer, performing with several dance bands over the years, and he would often volunteer to perform for hospitalized veterans. He was very proud to have passed his passion for music on to his children and grandchildren.
Art and Gloria celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary before Gloria’s passing in December of 2021. Art leaves three children: John (Janet) of Lenox, MA, David (Diane) of Vienna, VA, and Nancy of Warwick, Ri—as well as four grandchildren (James Egelhofer, Kathryn Medow, David Egelhofer, and Jonathan Egelhofer) and three great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to express its profound gratitude to his caregivers at Kimball Farms Life Enrichment Program, who showed him great kindness and provided superb care in his final months, and to Hospice Care in the Berkshires for their compassionate attention in his final days. Memorial donations may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 56 Great Hammock Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475, or to Hospice Care in the Berkshires, 877 South Street Suite 1W, Pittsfield, MA 01201.