Rie Holcomb

Cobleskill- Rie Husted Lamont Holcomb died peacefully at Robinson Terrace Nursing Home on April 8, 2009.

Born in North Bergen, New Jersey, on August 22, 1917, Rie was the daughter of Dr. Milton Edison Husted and Mary Agnes Littleton Husted. When Rie was less than a year old, her mother died during the influenza epidemic of 1918. Rie's Aunt Ada Littleton Williams assisted Rie's father and maternal grandmother during Rie's early childhood and remained devoted to Rie for her lifetime.

In 1922, Dr. Husted married Marian Eliza Lamont, and a year later Rie's sister Harriet was born. Rie attended the North Bergen Public Schools, and spent her summers at her step-mother's childhood home on the Lamont Farm in Cobleskill. It was then that Rie fell in love with the country living and the beauty of Schoharie County.

Rie graduated from Wells College in Aurora, New York in 1938 with a B.S. in Biology. In September of 1938 she married Robert Lamont- who had been a law student at nearby Cornell University Law School. They moved to the Lamont homestead, and became involved in Cobleskill community affairs, and developed lifelong friendships. Rie devoted herself to creating a home for her family, which she did with love and skill. In addition to her family responsibilities, she tended to a large vegetable garden and several flower beds. Rie developed a wonderful talent for flower arranging. The Lamonts restored the family home many times over the years under Rie's guidance.

After Robert Lamont's sudden death in 1962, Rie was responsible for managing both the farm and the family. She continued to reside at the Lamont Farm until all four of her children had graduated from high school.

In 1969, Rie married Dr. Fred Holcomb, a physician for the IBM plant in Kingston, and she moved into his home in Kingston. She enjoyed restoring their old Federalist period home in Kingston, and enjoyed an active social life. Shan and Dr. Holcomb attended medical meetings all over the country.

Rie moved back to Cobleskill in 1983. Old friendships were renewed, and Rie resumed her volunteer work. She was active at the Community Hospital, the New Century Club, the Cobleskill Historical Society, the Iroquois Museum, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cobleskill Community Library. During these years she continued to enjoy gardening and flower arranging, and enjoyed frequent contact with her children and grandchildren - including trips to visit Mary Ann in Cleveland, Jane in California, and her sister and family in North Carolina. She was able to travel extensively with family to explore the USA, and she also visited Germany, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and the Fiji Islands. She continued to garden and cross-county ski until she was well into her seventies, and she drove to her 60th college reunion in 1998.

Rie was confined to her Early Woodlands home during the last several years of her life. She was able to remain in her own home thanks to the loving care provided by her devoted caregivers. In March 2009, Rie moved to Robinson Terrace in Stamford, New York for her final days.

Rie Husted Lamont is survived by her four children: Judge Dan Lamont (Beth) of Cobleskill; Mary Ann Lamont Krall (Joe) of Cleveland, Ohio; Henry Lamont (Carol Lennon) of Cobleskill; and Jane Lamont (Martin Schwager) of Oakland, California; eight grandchildren: James E. Pickett (Lisa) of Huntington Beach, California; Wendy Lamont Flagstad (Poul) of New York City; Kathryn Lamont Teal (Darryl) of Albany; Seth Robert Lamont (Jennifer) of Albany; Sarah Lamont Taylor (Gavin) of Edinburgh, Scotland; Alexander Lamont Schwager of Oakland, California; Elspeth Lamont and Robert Lamont of Cobleskill; six great-grandchildren: Connor Lamont Flagstad, New York City; Ansley and Graeme Teal; and Hannah, John, and Elsa Lamont - all of whom reside in Albany. She is also survived by her sister, Dr. Harriet Husted Wooten, and David Wooten of Greenville, North Carolina; nephews, John Wooten, Lamont Wooten, and David Wooten; and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Her beloved husband, Robert Lamont, predeceased her in 1962.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm Street, Cobleskill, on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 5 PM to 8 PM.

At the deceased's request, graveside funeral services will be private including the interment of Rie Lamont's ashes nest to Robert Lamont's grave in the Cobleskill Rural Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Cobleskill Community Library, 110 Union Street, P.O. Box 219, Cobleskill, NY 12043 would be very much appreciated by Rie's family.