Eugene Drohosky, 93, of Red Hook, NY, died of natural causes on March 6th at Noble Horizons nursing home in Salisbury, CT where he resided this past year. He passed peacefully with his daughter Paula by his side. He was born on March 26, 1929, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of John and Mary (Gewetchka) Drohosky.
Gene served in the US Navy in 1946, after WWII. He married his wife Mary Joy Hendricks on February 8, 1953, at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Brooklyn. Gene and May were married for over 60 years and enjoyed raising their two children in Brooklyn until they moved to Dutchess County in 1971, settling in Poughquag, and then moving to Fishkill and finally retiring in Red Hook. Gene was very proud to have served 20 years as a New York City firefighter, first on the firefighting boats and transferring to Engine Company 62 in the Bronx, when his family moved north to Dutchess County. After retiring from the fire department, he worked for the US Postal for several years. Gene loved fishing, kayaking, wood carving, bird watching, and hanging out at the coffee shop with the guys. He was a devoted Yankee fan and rarely missed a game. He also loved being a wonderful papa to his only grandchild, Amelia.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife Mary Joy, a sister Theresa, and a brother John.
He is survived by his daughter Paula J. Smith of Millerton, NY and her husband James A Smith III and daughter Amelia, a son Chris Drohosky of Arvada, CO and his wife Jennifer, brother Theodore of Hampton Bays, NY, sister-in-law Ann of Poughquag, NY and nephews, Michael Drohosky (PA), Stephen Drohosky (MA), and Mark George and nieces, Celine Maddox and Dawn Beitz (Western NYS).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 8th at 12:00pm at St. Anthony’s Church in Pine Plains, NY, followed by a burial service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Red Hook, NY.
Those who wish to remember Gene in a special way may make gifts in his memory to:
• Alzheimer’s Association: act.alz.org
• Noble Horizons: www.noblehorizons.org/giving/
Arrangements are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes 7461 S. Broadway, Red Hook, NY.
