Obituary of William E. Busacker, Sr.

LITTLE FALLS - William (Bill) Edward Busacker, Sr. passed on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Eddy Village Green at Beverwyck, Slingerlands, NY. His light shown on thousands of students, hundreds of colleagues, friends, and family. Bill taught the value of hard work, shared a love of nature, showed an interest in both the visual arts and music, participated lifelong in sports and developed a deep curiosity for the world through travel and reading. Born in Utica in 1918, he graduated high school in Westford, NY, got his BA and MA at the State College for Teachers in Albany, and took doctoral level coursework Syracuse University. A meteorologist for the Army Air Corps during World War II, Bill was a lifelong educator. He taught science in Andes and Washingtonville; he was a guidance counselor and director at the Vocational Education Extension Board in Stamford, South Kortright, Dolgeville, Van Hornesville, and West Canada; and then assistant superintendent and then superintendent of schools for the Herkimer County BOCES. He was a great advocate for rural students and had a strong belief that vocational education was an appropriate path for many students. Also, he started an honors seminar for gifted students. An avid volunteer, he supported the American Heart Association, the Boy Scouts, was past Master of the Dolgeville Masonic Lodge # 796 F&AM, the Herkimer County Youth Board and Area Development, the Little Falls and Herkimer County Historical Associations and Folts Home. An avid player of sports in high school and college, Bill refereed numerous games in the Mohawk Valley. After heart surgery at age 80, Bill was a volunteer for the Mended Hearts Association at St. Elizabeth's Hospital until the age of 94. Bill was predeceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Ruth Haffner Busacker, his parents, Agatha and Norman, his brother, Jack, and his sister, Shirley He is survived by his loving family: sister Janet Mathews, Westford, NY and brother Richard Busacker, San Antonio, TX son Bill Busacker, Jr. (Colleen Kelly), Schenectady, daughters, Carol (Joe) Palowich, Vero Beach, FL, Lee (Richard) Greaves, Indianapolis, IN, Aosta (Seth) Edelman, Castleton, NY, grandchildren, Wayne Grenning (Tracy), Christopher Greaves, Jason Greaves (Bridget), Allegra Edelman (Peter), Bill Busacker III, Naomi Edelman, Jennifer (Matthew) Crave, and Jack, Sena, and Paige Busacker; ten great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was always proud of all of his relatives. Memorial services will be held on Monday, November 14, 2016 at 5:00 pm from the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls, NY with the Rev. Dr. Steven a. Scarcia, Rector of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Little Falls officiating. Interment will be at the Westford Cemetery, Westford, NY at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the funeral home on Monday, November 14, 2016 from 3-5 pm and to attend the services to follow. It is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mr. Busacker be considered to the Herkimer Region College and Career Scholarship Foundation for The William Busacker Scholarship, c/o Shawn Maxson, 352 Gros Blvd., Herkimer, NY 13350. Envelopes are also available at the funeral home for this purpose.