Bob Collins (1947-2019)
Robert Patrick Collins, 72, of Walnut Creek, California, and formerly of Beacon, died Nov. 4, 2019.
Bob was born Feb. 28, 1947, in Beacon, the son of Ralph and Mary (Romanelli) Collins. He graduated from St. John’s Elementary and Beacon High School and in 1971 earned an associate’s degree from Dutchess Community College.
Before attending DCC, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves for a six-year stint. He served for two years on active duty during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Lester, a destroyer escort.
After his military service ended, Bob moved West, using the G.I. Bill to earn a degree in business management and accounting from Sonoma State University and eventually became one of the few international forensic auditors/accountants for IBM, living and working on five continents over a 20-year period.
Besides his mother, who is 100, Bob is survived by a brother, Gary Collins (Cathy) of California. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s the Evangelist Church, 35 Willow St., in Beacon.
Marian Fowler (1933-2019)
Marian Elaine Fowler, 86, of Glenham, died Dec. 2, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh. She married Alphonse Crispo, who died before her.
Born in the Bronx on March 5, 1933, she was the daughter of Felice and Bella (Zisk) Spinapolice. Marian worked as an administrator for IBM at the World Trade Center before relocating with her family to Scotland for 25 years. After returning to Glenham, she worked at the Blodgett Library. Marian was a parishioner of St. John’s Church in Beacon.
Marian is survived by her sons, Allan Crispo (Kimberly) of Florida; Gary Crispo (Daisy DePuthod) of Wiccopee; and Phillip Crispo (Susan Walser) of Camden, Maine; along with nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her sisters, Felicia Pagones, Arlene Grudzina and Sylvia Hubecky.
A funeral service was held on Dec. 6 at the McHoul Funeral Home in Hopewell Junction, followed by interment at St. Joachim’s Cemetery in Beacon. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org).
Rick Van Buren (1954-2019)
Richard Van Buren, 65, of Wappinger Falls, died Dec. 6, 2019.
Rick was born Oct. 27, 1954, in Beacon, the son of Paul and Agnes (Pelicon) Van Buren. He worked for 30 years to the Texaco Research Facility in Beacon and retired as a senior engineering specialist. Rick had also owned and operated Van Buren Enterprises and RMV Carpentry and ran East Coast fleet testing for Chevron/Texaco.
He also coached Little League, Pop Warner football and John Jay High School football. Rick was a life member of Deer Search, a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, and was active in the Hudson Valley Ski Club and Trail Sweepers Ski and Sports Club.
Rick loved spending time with his grandchildren, fishing Sprout Creek and traveling. He especially enjoyed camping, hiking, skiing and biking and participated in competitive endure motocross.
He is survived by his partner, Kathy Aman; his sons Bradley Van Buren (Lauren); and Jason Van Buren (Lauren); his grandchildren, Jason and Liliana; and the mother of his children, Jo-Marie Van Buren. He also is survived by his siblings, Steven Van Buren (Diane Hedrick), Thomas Van Buren (Deborah), Eileen Scoppa, Kathleen Ward (Kenny), Maria Bai, Patricia Hartnett (Dennis), James Van Buren (Erin) and Paula Uzzle (Tad).
A funeral service will be held at McHoul Funeral Home, 895 Route 82, in Hopewell Junction, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 10 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (giving.mskcc.org).
