John Leverett

Cobleskill- John Edgar Leverett, 84, of Canterbury Drive, died Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at his residence following a brief illness.

Born November 6, 1925 in Yonkers, NY, John was the son of John M. and Allie (Wilcox) Leverett. In his youth, he lived in Yonkers and Worcester, NY, graduating in 1943 from Gorton High School in Yonkers.

A 1946 graduate of the College of Applied Science, Syracuse University with a B.CH.E. degree, he was then employed as research chemist by Distillation Products, Inc. of Rochester. John received his master's degree in 1948 from Teachers College, Columbia University and began his teaching career of science and mathematics at Amenia High School, Amenia, NY from 1948 until 1952. He continued as an educator at Andrew S. Draper Central School in Schenevus, NY for five years and was a guidance counselor at B.O.C.E.S. Worcester/Schenevus from 1957 to 1958. John earned his Doctorate of Education degree from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1959 and taught mathematics at Dutchess Community College, Hyde Park, NY from 1959 to 1960. He continued teaching mathematics and science at Schalmont Central School in Rotterdam, NY from 1960 to 1961 and then at SUNY Cobleskill College of Agriculture and Technology from 1961 until retiring in 1982 after thirty-three years of teaching.

Following his retirement, he conducted agricultural livestock fencing business, Leverett's Drumlin Farm Modern Fence Systems from 1982 to 1993.
Since he was a young boy, John always had an interest in photography, as did his father and grandfather.

He worked with black and white photography, then colored slides and prints. He also taught photography mini course at SUNY Cobleskill during the fall semesters of 1989, '90, and '91. Since 1991 John was a semi-professional photographer and had attended numerous workshops in Palm Beach, FL, working with nationally recognized photographers, including George Lepp, William O'Neil, and Dewitt Jones to name a few.

Most recently he completed an assignment for the Schoharie County Historical Society to find buildings in the county which were rural schoolhouses and documenting these findings with photographs. The results can be found with the Society in Schoharie, NY.

An exhibit of photographs at the Schoharie County Office Buildings was present from 2002 to 2004, changing each month, also an exhibit was present at the Best Western in Cobleskill from 2002 to 2003 per request of the manager.

John was a member of the Cobleskill Rotary International Club for over 40 years, Cobleskill United Methodist Church, Schoharie County and Spring Hill, Fl. Photo Clubs, Cobleskill, Richmondville, Worcester, Esperance, Schoharie County, and New York State Historical Societies, Schoharie County Farm Bureau, Schoharie County Sheepman's Assoc., and the Beard's Hollow Society.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen (Moak) Leverett, whom he married in Worcester, NY in 1951; his two sons: David, married to Doris (Phillips) Leverett of Carlisle, NY and their children, Beth Leverett Haas, Timothy and Phillip Leverett; and Richard, married to Barbara (Scheibel) Leverett of St. Johnsville, NY and their children, Rachel and Sarah Leverett; one brother, Theodore W. (Irene) Leverett of Concord, NC; one nephew: Christie K. (Mary) Leverett of Eatontown, NJ, and their children, Theodore, Margaret (Michael) Hartman and Russell; cousins: Irene (William) Dormandy, Linda (David) Mier, Sandee (Kenneth) Collins, Suzanne Dormandy, John (Dawn) Wilcox, Cherie Pomeroy, and Mark(Sarah) Wilcox.

Family and friends are invited to a period of visitation to be held at the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, 109 Chapel St., Cobleskill from 4 to 6 PM on Sunday, March 28, 2010. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, March 29, 2010 at the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, with Rev. Pamela Mikel Hayes officiating. A reception will be held following the church service and the committal service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday at the Maple Grove Cemetery, Worcester, NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, 109 Chapel St., Cobleskill, NY 12043 or Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 795 E. Main St., Suite 11, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill and Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, 134 River St., Middleburgh, NY 12122.