Obituary of Robert T. Osborne Jr.

Robert T. Osborne, Jr. of Johnstown, NY passed away Friday, August 30, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam from complications due to pneumonia. He was 80-years old.

“Bob” was born January 9, 1939 and raised in Speculator, NY. He was the youngest child of Robert T. Osborne Sr. and Iva Brooks Osborne, Proprietors of the Osborne Inn. He attended Lake Pleasant Central School, Wells High School, and graduated from Peekskill Military Academy in 1956. He was a 3-sport athlete at both Wells and Peekskill (soccer, basketball, baseball), known for his toughness and speed, he earned the nickname “Rapid Robert”; and particularly excelled in soccer and baseball. He was good enough to be offered a minor league baseball contract (which he turned down to attend Cornell University); and decades after graduating, Coach Frank Belmont stated that Bob Osborne was the best high school soccer player that he ever saw.

He married Joan Bramer (daughter of Charles and Virginia Bramer of Schoharie, NY) on November 15, 1958. They had two children: Robert T. Osborne III and Cathy Osborne. Bob ran the Lake Pleasant Golf Club, owned by his father, during the summer months; and worked as a Ski Instructor at Oak Mountain in the winter, while he completed his education at SUNY Albany, graduating with Honors in Accounting in 1966, and later earning his MBA in 1969 (Magna Cum Laude).

He attained a teaching position at Fulton-Montgomery Community College in 1967, and moved his family to Gloversville (and later relocated to Johnstown in 1970). He was promoted to Dean/Vice-President in 1976. He returned to teaching from 1987 until his retirement in 2001. He served in Academic leadership capacities on the Executive Board of the SUNY Deans’ Association and the FACE Executive Board. He earned many awards and distinctions such as, FMCC Trustees’ Award for Service to the College, SUNY Deans’ Association Award for Distinguished Service, SUNY Mohawk-Hudson Consortium Service Award, Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, Professor Emeritus, and Advisor Emeritus.

He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting, particularly with his childhood friend, Mike Casline, as they always put more than their share of venison and fish on the table for their young families; and in their later years the two of them spent many summer days fishing until Mike’s passing. He was also a big fan of NY Giants football and baseball, the New York Yankees, and Syracuse and Duke college basketball.

He was predeceased by his wife (Joan) on February 10, 2013, his mother (Iva), father (Robert Sr.), sister (Pam Warner), brother-in-laws (Don Warner and Edward Perkins), and niece (Donna Warner Lewis); and is survived by his sister (Midge Perkins), son (Robert), daughter (Cathy), daughter-in-law (Jennifer Osborne), grandchildren (Charlie and Grace Osborne), brother-in-law (Richard Bramer), as well as nieces (Carol Warner Dorr, Barbara Warner Schulman, and Sharon Perkins Cain), nephews (Eddie Perkins, Jay Bramer, and Joel Bramer), cousin William H. Osborne Jr., and several other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

At his request, there will be no funeral or calling hours.  Arrangements have been entrused to the care of Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont Street, Gloversville.  Please visit the online memorial at www.brbsfuneral.com