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Eldred Carhart - Class of 1957

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 10/Oct/2021
71.223.232.34

      Eldred Perry Carhart, Jr., a life-long resident of Newburgh and New Windsor, died on Friday, October 8, 2021 as the result of pancreatic cancer. He was 81 years old. He was the loving husband of Kathleen J. (Clark) Carhart, who survives him at home; and six children; Kris Tina McGrath and her husband John McAndrews; Molly Ann Carhart and Keith Sumner; Kevin C. Clark and his wife Lyn; Jenny Rebecca French and her husband Christopher; Ada Susan Carhart; Karen Jean Clark and John Greak. He had ten grandchildren: Tarryn Valverde and her husband Ron; Devyn McGrath and Nick Bedetti; Jeffrey T. Whritner; Aedan and Nolan Clark; Matthew Hogan, Casey and Rebecca French; Katherine Aulogia; Ella Pessoni; and two great grandchildren: Lincoln and Maverick Valverde. He held a special place in his heart for his nephew Ralph P. Stuart; his niece Francis K. Gallup and his cousin Nancy Hoyt. Eldred loved his family and was extremely proud of each of his children and their families. He was the son of the late Eldred Perry and Katherine Mashnouk Carhart, also of Newburgh. He had one sister, Ann Leanetta Lloyd of East Lyme, CT.

A family statement reads:  As the patriarch of our big, beautiful, blended family, El was larger than life to us. The diagnosis of cancer was such a shock that we barely had time to process it before he slipped peacefully from our embrace. Each of us will recognize his indelible imprint as we look into the beauty of nature, sing along to a John Denver song, or find ourselves quoting one of his many aphorisms. For everyone who knew and loved him, the depth of our collective grief is a testament to what he meant to all of us.

We hope you remember him as the friend, mentor, and colleague that lit up every room he entered with his infectious smile, easy laugh, and his ability to tell a story. And while he would have preferred to partake in one more hunting season, he lived a life that was full of love, with nothing left unsaid. Certain friends and family will take comfort in knowing that the biggest buck is still out there, and that, believe it or not, for him it was not about the prize, but the journey that would become the tale, made legend by the sharing.

Eldred attended Newburgh schools and graduated from NFA with the Class of 1957; then went on to OCCC for two years. He proudly served in the US Army in California during the Viet Nam era, and later with the US Army Reserves in Bullville, NY.

He was active in real estate throughout his adult life – first as a real estate broker and later as a commercial real estate appraiser. During his career as a broker, he was a member of the Newburgh MLS, the Orange County Multi-List, the Orange County MLS, the Orange County Board of Realtors, the Orange County Women's Council of Realtors and the NY State Council or Real Estate Brokers – serving each organization as its president. He was a director of the NY State Association of Realtors and a member of the National Association of Realtors, where he held a Diamond Membership and was a member of the Executive Officers Council. He was honored in 1972 as the Orange County "Realtor of the Year".

As an appraiser he was a member and director of the NY State Association of Real Estate Appraisers; and he was named in "Who's Who in the East", and "Who's Who of Business Leaders".

He was also a real estate instructor for the Orange County Community College, the Orange County Board of Realtors and the former Harriman College. He wrote all of the real estate courses for the real estate degree program at OCCC. He was a guest lecturer at seminars throughout NY State.

Always a hunter and firearms enthusiast, Eldred was a 35 year active member (now an Honorary Life Member) of the Cherokee Preserve Club of Bethel, NY; and was a director for 34 years, including 12 years as its president. He was a former Federal and State Firearms Licensee and was active in several collectors associations. He also held an Endowment Life Membership in the National Rifle Association.

Eldred was a Life and Diamond Key member of the Newburgh Lions Clubs for over 60 years, and twice served as its president. He was the recipient of numerous awards including the Robert J. Uplinger Award for Service, the Distinguished Service Award from Lions International, and a Melvin Jones Fellowship. He attended two International Lions Conventions, one in Mexico City and the other in San Francisco, California. To his credit as a fundraiser, he originated the Mid-Hudson Valley Gun Show - which became known as the "Lions Gun Show"; the Lions Charity Sporting Clay Shoots; the Blind Seals Campaign; and the Lucky Lions Lotto Calendar. His wife Kathleen and daughter Molly are both past-presidents of the Newburgh Lions Club.

His interest in Revolutionary and Civil War history led him to join the Stony Point Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), where he served as Treasurer and webmaster for many years. As fundraising chairman, he originated the Lotto Calendar; which provided the funds to enable the SAR to have the monument installed in the pocket park in Stony Point, NY. He also served as a member of the Board of Managers of the Empire State Society, SAR.

Eldred will be remembered for his honesty, fair play, ethics, patriotism and honor.

Among his many long-time friends are: Todd H. Leutholt, William E. Hollenbeck, Lewis Volpe, Alfred Bockemuhl, Brian K. Ellis; Cherokee Brothers: Andy Wagner, Brian & Richard Boll, Glenn Horton and Tim Manzolillo; and fellow Lions: David Maksomski, Thomas F. Kavanagh, and Richard Campora.

Visitation will be from 4 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, NY. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 14, 2021. Entombment at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Middlehope will follow. In lieu of flowers, kindly donate in Eldred's memory to the Newburgh Lions Foundation, 610 Broadway #156, Newburgh, NY 12550; or to the Cherokee Preserve Club, c/o K.T. McGrath, 37 Westbrook Road, Newburgh, NY 12550.