Obituary of Robert Potter

Robert G. Potter Allegany, NY Robert G. Potter of 3123 W. Five Mile Rd. passed away Sunday (July 8, 2012) at The Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center in Machias after a lengthy illness. Born November 6, 1931 in Olean, New York he was the son of Robert R. and Zeruah Goodrich Potter. In 1955 he married Mary Frances Toms who survives. Mr. Potter was a 1949 graduate of Allegany Central School and later received an AAS degree from Paul Smith's College in 1952. He then enlisted in the US Army from 1952 until 1954. Upon completion of his military service he earned a BS degree from the University of Michigan in 1956. He first started working at Potter Lumber Co., Inc. after completing his education, became president in 1977 and continued until his retirement in 2011. As a tireless volunteer for the lumber industry he served as past president of Penn-York Lumbermen's Club; Keystone Kiln Drying Association; Northern Logger's Association; Northeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association; the Empire State Forest Products Association, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension. He was an active member of the Advisory Committee of the New York State Center for Forestry Research and Development at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse; the Advisory Board at the BOCES Olean Center; the State Advisory Board of Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the Allegany State Park Master Plan Committee. Mr. Potter served as a past trustee of the New York Lumbermen's Insurance Trust Fund and for Paul Smith's College. He also served as past chairman of the Allegany Community Federal Credit Union and of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency. He was an avid, lifelong skier until age seventy nine and served as the past president of the former Wing Ski Club. He was also past president of the Allegheny Valley Sports Car Association. He was a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Allegany and as a faithful, dedicated member he served many years as an Elder, served as clerk of session for many years and was a Sunday school teacher for thirty three years. As a testament to his tireless work for the community he received the YMCA Salute to Olean award in 1988 and the L.O.U.I.E. award in 1994. Bob enjoyed meeting people and loved getting to know them. He will be remembered by all who knew him for his wit and humor. Surviving besides his wife are six children Lucy (Don) Benson, David (Eva) Potter, Stephen (Kim) Potter, and Mary (Peter) Pendl, all of Allegany, Linda (Rev. Michael Catanzaro) Potter of Canton, New York and Bruce (Heidi) Potter of Ellicott City, MD; fifteen grandchildren, all of whom he liked to call by number rather than name; a brother Theodore D. Potter, Sr. of Allegany, New York and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Wednesday from 4pm until 9pm. A memorial service will be held Thursday (July 12, 2012) at 11:30am at the First Presbyterian Church, 44 North Third Street, Allegany. Rev. John Woodring, pastor, will officiate. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Allegany, P.O. Box 160, Allegany, New York, 14706 or The Paul Smith's College Endowed Alumni Scholarship, c/o The Office of College Advancement, Paul Smith's College, P.O. Box 265, Paul Smiths, New York, 12970.