Obituary of Donald R. Brockwehl

SLINGERLANDS ~ Brockwehl, Donald R., 95, of Slingerlands, died peacefully on Thursday morning at Hospice Inn at St. Peter's Hospital with his loving daughter at his side. Don was born at home in East Rockaway, NY on October 30, 1920. He fondly remembered his boyhood in nearby Lynbrook and told tales of getting lost on Boy Scouts canoeing trips, unsuccessful afternoons fishing, and accidentally sailing out past Long Beach and nearly being swept to sea. Don attended Union College, graduating in 1942 with a degree in civil engineering. There he met John McManus and Fred Longe, who became lifelong friends and business partners. "Brock" remained involved with Union College throughout his life, and his grandson Alexander’s graduation from Union in 2011 brought him much joy. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 1943-1946. In 1947 Brock moved to Albany and became a partner in McManus, Longe, Brockwehl, Inc., General Contractors, a premiere construction company which ultimately served clients in NY, NC, and FL. He retired in 1992, and the company, now known as MLB Construction Services, LLC., continues on under new leadership and remains a business known for quality and integrity. A longtime resident of Loudonville, Brock was an avid skier and golfer for more than 60 years. He was a member of the Schuyler Meadows Club for 50 years, where he golfed with his family and many friends. For decades he volunteered his time to help run Hickory Hill, in Warrensburg, where his family skied every weekend in the 50s and 60s. Don was a private man who remained unabashedly himself -- a careful notetaker who could tell you exactly how many holes of golf he had played on a given vacation or what he had thought of a novel he'd read years ago, he also enjoyed tracing his and Adele's family ancestry, long before it was "cool". In recent years he enjoyed walking, monitoring the nesting of bluebirds, his daily Jack Daniels, and his closest buddies at Beverwyck. Don was devoted to his wife, Adele, of 58 years, who predeceased him in 2004. He was also predeceased by his eldest child, Bob, (whose inquiring of his father if the family could try skiing was Don's initiation into the sport he so loved), his siblings, William Brockwehl and Ruth Mueller, and his beloved parents, William and Margaret. He is survived by two children, Neil Brockwehl of Guilford, CT (Connie Frontis) and Ginger Brockwehl of Valparaiso, IN (Dennis Henson). Don adored his grandchildren, Kate and Alexander Brockwehl and Devin and Zac Henson. He also leaves his California nieces Peg Brockwehl, Barbara Culp, Mary Clark (Tim), Chris Sondrel, and Laura Brockwehl (Brett Woods) and the newest family members, Griffin and Maggie Woods. In lieu of flowers, Don's family asks that donations in his honor be made to Union College, 807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308. He would also love it if those so inclined would hit the ski slopes or golf course in his memory. Don’s family will be hosting a memorial gathering in the coming months.