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Dave MacFarland - Class of 1961
Dave Retired in 2011 POUGHKEEPSIE —Retired in 2011 - It will be 48 years come July, and to Dave MacFarland, president and CEO of Riverside Bank, that’s enough. The dean of mid-Hudson banking is retiring effective July 1, 2011. “It’s been the greatest career I could ever hope for, and I’ve had a lot of fun, but I’m getting up there, and the economy’s had an effect on it,” he said. John Davies has been named as his successor. MacFarland will continue to serve on the bank’s board of directors following his retirement. MacFarland started his career at Highland National Bank of Newburgh (now part of Bank of America) in 1963. He spent six years as executive vice president of corporate banking for Premier National Bank (now part of M&T Bank). He then spent 31 years with Fleet Bank, where he became regional president for the bank’s Hudson Valley region, charged with leading the local business development program for 48 bank branches. He has been president and CEO of Riverside Bank since 2000. MacFarland plans to spend winters in San Marco, Fla., where he’s been vacationing for 20 years. “I’m looking forward to not having the winter weather, which I don’t like anymore,” he said. MacFarland has made many friends along the way and bestowed many nicknames, a sure sign that he likes you. Just ask Jim Smith, owner of Advance Testing, whom MacFarland christened “Crash” for his style of driving a golf cart. Besides his work at the bank, MacFarland also sits on 20 nonprofit boards. Jonathan Drapkin (nickname “Turtle,” for his extracurricular work saving sea turtles), president and CEO of Pattern for Progress, of which MacFarland is a board member, said “it is a retirement that should not be taken lightly.” “We always say life goes on, and we always say there’s someone else who will come along, but Dave ... he said. “There are many, many people who will never know that it was Dave MacFarland who made their lives better.”
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Dave MacFarland,
77, passed away peacefully at his home on July 4th in Newburgh N.Y. where he was
a proud and lifelong resident. The son of Frederick R. and Martha W. MacFarland,
he enjoyed a happy childhood with his parents and three brothers. He graduated
Newburgh Free Academy in 1961, attended Orange County Community College, and
went on to complete his professional education at the Rutgers University -
Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He served proudly in the US Army National
Guard from 1964 to 1970. One of his fondest memories was playing bass guitar for
the Storm Kings, a popular, local band, during which time he met his
bride-to-be, Bevalie Ann Standish. They married in October of 1966 and raised
two children, Sherri and Scott. Dave began his career in banking in 1963 with
Highland National Bank. He rose through the ranks holding various senior
positions including Regional President of Norstar Bank, Regional President of
Fleet Bank and President/CEO of Riverside Bank before retiring in July of 2011.
Banking was Dave’s lifelong joy and he went to work every morning with a smile
on his face. He was very proud of the work he did to help develop and improve
Newburgh and particularly enjoyed helping young entrepreneurs launch new
businesses. Dave made many friends over the years and was known to assign a
nickname for each of them. Over the course of his career, he served on the
boards of over 30 professional and charitable organizations. Most notably, he
was a director at the Orange County Chamber of Commerce for 26 years,
Chairman/Director of Stewart Airport Regional Alliance, Chairman Board of
Trustees for St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, airman/Director Mid-Hudson Patterns
for Progress, and Director of the Educational Foundation at Orange County
Community College (where he taught banking courses at the beginning of his
career). Dave was the recipient of multiple awards in recognition of his
leadership and community service including the Orange County Banker’s
Association Banker of the Year Award, the Hudson Valley Boy Scouts Distinguished
Citizens Award, Mt. St. Mary College Joseph A. Bonura Leadership Excellence
Award, Hudson Valley Patterns for Progress Henry Award, and the Dutchess County
Economic Development Corp. Business Excellence Award. David was predeceased by
his parents Martha and Fred; his brothers, Robert, Richard and Craig, and his
niece, Terry Lynn Macfarland. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years,
Bevalie Ann (Standish) MacFarland, his daughter, Sherri (Lawrence) Rose of
Saratoga Springs, NY, his son Scott MacFarland of Lake George, NY; his
grandchildren, Lauren (Andrew) Brown, Amanda Rose, Olivia Rose, Devin Belonga,
and Madison MacFarland; and great grandchildren Landon (little buddy) and
Rosabelle Brown; several, loving sisters and brothers in-law, nieces and
nephews; and so many dear friends. Services for David will be announced shortly.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the David S. MacFarland Scholarship
Fund through the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (30 Scotts Corners
Drive, Suite 203, Montgomery, NY 12549).
NFA Class Memorial Page