In Memory of Richard Strangeway

Richard L. Strangeway, formerly of Grahamsville, passed away in his sleep, Sunday, May 17, 2015 at his home in Cary, North Carolina. He was 92.

Richard is survived by his wife of 68 years, Audrey (Mackey) Strangeway, three children, Linda (Gary) Parrow, Richard (Vonnie) Strangeway, and Pamela (Bill) Lake, along with seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and his sister, Ginny Mennerich of Newburgh, NY.

Richard was born to Lloyd and Helen Strangeway in Andes, NY on April 6, 1923.  He grew up on the family dairy farm in Treadwell, NY and graduated at the top of his class from the Kellogg Academy where he played football and baseball.  He served our country overseas in the Army Air Corp during World War II and, after his discharge, earned a degree in Agricultural Education from Cornell University.  He later earned his Masters Degree from Cornell.

In 1950, Richard moved his family to Grahamsville and established an Agriculture program and FFA chapter in a small building that would soon become a part of the newly created Tri-Valley Central School.  He was considered a progressive and a visionary as, over the years, he adjusted the focus of his instruction to meet the changing agricultural climate of the area.  His true professional love was the FFA.  It is his FFA alumni who will remember him most fondly.

During his 29 years at Tri-Valley, Richard served on the Lower Hudson Valley FFA Foundation Board, The New York State FFA Foundation Board, and the New York Sate FFA Governing Board.  He also served in several offices, including President of the Association of Teachers of Agriculture in New York and President of the National Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association.  He was recently honored with a Region VI Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Agricultural Educators. 

After retiring from Tri-Valley in 1979, Richard worked for nearly 15 years for the NY State Department of Education as Executive Secretary to the FFA.  In that capacity, he served for many years as the leadership skills trainer for FFA State Officer teams.

Richard was also active in his community, serving for many years as a board member and officer of the Neversink Agricultural Society and the Grahamsville Methodist Church.

A service celebrating Richard's life will be held on Saturday, July 18, at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Grahamsville United Methodist Church in Grahamsville, NY.

Those wishing to offer a memorial are encouraged to make a donation to the New York State FFA Leadership Training Foundation, through the link below or can send a check to:  9340 Long Pond Rd., Croghan NY 13327; designate Strangeway Memorial in memo.