Senate Resolution No. 293

BY: Senator LITTLE

MOURNING the death of Robert D. Vanderminden Sr.,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his
community

WHEREAS, It is with feelings of deepest regret that this Legislative
Body records the passing of Robert D. Vanderminden Sr., an extraordinary
man of indomitable faith and dedication whose purposeful life will long
serve as a standard to which others might aspire; and

WHEREAS, Robert "Bob" D. Vanderminden Sr. of Granville, New York,
died on Thursday, December 27, 2018, at the age of 91; and

WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1927, Robert D. Vanderminden
Sr. was the son of Henry J.W. and Cecile L. (Huelsman) Vanderminden
Jr.; and

WHEREAS, By the time of his birth, the manufacturing operation of
the cot and camp stool company his grandfather founded in 1903 had moved
upstate to Granville; in 1932, the company's administrative offices, as
well as the Vanderminden family also relocated to the area; and

WHEREAS, The Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty Company, named for the
telescoping legs on the cots and camp stools it manufactured, provided
steady employment throughout his teenage years; at 14, Robert D.
Vanderminden Sr. worked in the sawmill yard; at 15, he added
responsibilities for repairing sewing machines, and at 16, he moved to
the machine shop where he welded and made storage racks; and

WHEREAS, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. ventured outside the family
business long enough to spend a year at the Coast Guard Academy where he
developed a love of sailing, and to earn a degree in mechanical
engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; and

WHEREAS, During this time, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. began driving
home on weekends to redesign his family business' line of wood
furniture; this began more than 60 years of innovative product,
machinery, process and plant design which transformed both the company,
and eventually, the entire casual furniture industry; and

WHEREAS, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. and the former Lois Clarkson
were united in marriage in 1954, and together raised five children; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary man was named to Telescope's Board of
Directors in 1967, and became the Executive Vice President of the
company in 1971; he went on to serve as CEO from 1989 until 2001, when
he was named Chairman of the Board; and

WHEREAS, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. was instrumental in the
company's designation as recipient of countless awards and accolades,
including the 2008 Design Excellence Award for his popular Leeward Sling
Collection design; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, he was the recipient of the prestigious
Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Casual Furnishing
Association, which is reserved for individuals who have made exemplary
contributions to the casual furniture industry as well as to their
individual communities; and

WHEREAS, A true asset to his community, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr.
combined his personal passion for baseball with more than six decades of
Telescope corporate support to create a Granville Little League
organization, involving more than 500 youngsters from local and
surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. will forever be remembered for
the investment he made in a lifetime nurturing three treasures: his
family, the business his family created, and the community where both
reside; and

WHEREAS, Predeceased by his parents, Henry and Cecile; his brother,
Henry J. W. Vanderminden III; and his wife, Lois, Robert D. Vanderminden
Sr. is survived by his five children, Robert Jr. (Mary), Katherine
(David), Nancy, Carol and William (Meredith); 18 grandchildren, Robert
III, Jennifer, Adam (Kate), Jared, Hannah, Kaela (Bruce), Sarah (Jacob),
Greta (Matthew), Kaitlynn (Edwin), Maxx, Ciara, Christopher, Lyndsey
(Jacob), Timothy (Ashley), Jessica (Gregory), Robert (Tarah), Luke and
Grace; 16 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Robert D. Vanderminden Sr. leaves behind a legacy which will
long endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory
to all he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Robert D. Vanderminden Sr., distinguished citizen and
devoted member of his community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Robert D. Vanderminden Sr.