Obituary of Robert George Englebach

Robert George Englebach died peacefully at home in Burnt Hills, NY on Thursday, May 14, 2015 from pancreatic cancer. Son of the late Irene and George Englebach, he was born and raised in Lebanon, PA. He graduated from Lebanon Catholic High School in 1957 and from Villanova University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Electric Engineering degree. He began his 34-year engineering career with GE in Syracuse, NY, and subsequently in Oklahoma City, OK, Philadelphia/Radnor/King of Prussia, PA, and Schenectady, NY. Besides taking courses at Syracuse University and Union College, he obtained an MBA at Oklahoma University in 1966. His favorite positions were Reliability Engineer on the Manned Orbit Laboratory Program and Quality Systems Engineer for the Navy’s nuclear submarine program. His traits of perfection and creativity earned him many awards during his career. Robert is survived by his husband, Dr. Donald Thurston, Professor Emeritus of Union College, his partner for 37 years whom he married in 2008; his sister Jean Englebach of Castro Valley, CA; his many cousins; life-long friends; members of the Thurston family; and Tuffy, his beloved miniature schnauzer. Among Robert’s favorite pastimes were early morning walks with Annie and Tuffy, his miniature schnauzers; enjoying cleverly crafted English mystery novels; reading non-fiction about the political and cultural life in the United States of the 1930 – 40s; listening to choral, chamber, and orchestral music; creating beautiful gardens; taking travel pictures and making albums; seeing live theater and dance performances; visiting Presidential museums; and attending exhibitions of classical sculpture and Impressionist paintings. But most of all he liked to spend quiet times with Don, Jean and close friends. He also loved traveling. In 1995 he retired early in order to see more of the world with Don. He enjoyed experiencing the diverse cultures of countries in Africa, Asia - particularly Japan where he made five trips - Europe and Central America, He always said that his favorite trips were: driving around Sicily for three weeks, photographing wild game on a safari in Kenya and Tanzania, cruising down the Nile viewing Egypt’s villages and monumental temples and tombs, and in 2013 taking a fun and fact-filled small-boat cruise around Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula chasing the homes of Greek gods. He was also drawn to ancient ruins and classical architecture. To escape winter cold each year after he retired, he and Don enjoyed several weeks on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta and Aruba. No sooner was one trip over when he was planning another. The total experience of learning about a place, being there, creating a photographic journal, and sharing the event with others, was what traveling was all about for him. This included treating friends to slide and lecture presentations at home followed by feasts of home-made ethic food of the country visited. Above all, Robert cherished his “other life” – a much slower-paced three months each summer in a small cottage by the water on Maine’s Penobscot Bay. There he was happiest sailing with Don on Don’s 100-year-old wooden gaff-rigged sloop, often followed by an evening of exquisite music played by the faculty and students of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival. As at work and in his relationships, Robert gave 100% of himself to his faith and his community. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Ballston Lake, NY. He participated in church services, raised funds for the ill and poor, and annually made contributions to over 50 charities. A lifelong Democrat, Robert was passionate in support of progressive causes from the civil rights movement of the 1060’s to today’s income and marriage equality issues. To celebrate his life, family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Celebration of Life at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 73 Midline Road, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 23rd. For family and friends in the Lebanon area, a Mass of Celebration of Life will be held at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 2 North Eight St., Lebanon, PA 17046 at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29.th Following the mass, Robert will be interred beside his family in the Holy Cross Cemetery, 1810 Jay St., Lebanon, PA 17046. After the interment all are invited to a luncheon at the INN 422, 1800 W. Cumberland St. in Lebanon. For all he gave of himself for others he is loved and will be remembered. Memorial contributions may be made to Kneisel Hall, 54 Main St., Blue Hill, ME 04614, or to the Ann Steffens Memorial Scleroderma Research Fund, Albany College of Pharmacy Health Sciences, 106 New Scotland Ave. Albany, NY 12298, or to Capital Pride, 332 Hudson Ave. Albany, NY 12210.