Obituary of Robert Leonard Horn

DELMAR Robert Leonard Horn, 88, of Delmar, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on April 29, 2016. He will be remembered by family and friends as a kind, friendly, and creative man who's love for the community shone through in all of his volunteer efforts. Bob enjoyed keeping busy with his many passions, including: gardening, making wreaths, building birdhouses and reading. His true joy was spending quality time with his friends and family, especially his eight grandchildren. Bob was born in Adams, Mass., on July 27, 1927, the son of the late Mabel (Alderman) Horn and Robert H. Horn, husband to the late Anna Adams Horn. He graduated from Adams Sr. High School in 1945 and served as President of his class until 2005. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945-47 attaining the rank of Sgt. He received a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture in 1953 from N.C. State University where he was editor-in-chief of the college newspaper, The Technician, and was made an honorary lifetime member of the N.C. State College Union. In 1951, Bob received an ROTC 2nd Lt. Commission during the Korean Conflict. In 1954, he received a master's degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University and was awarded the Bosworth Fellowship. He was employed as a landscape architect in Charlotte, N.C. from 1954-55, and by the consulting firm of Harland Bartholomew Assoc. in St. Louis, from 1955-61. Bob was assistant project planner for a Master Plan for the Subic Bay Naval complex in the Philippines in 1956. He served as the resident project planner for a Master Plan for Balboa Park in San Diego in 1959, and for urban renewal projects in Kansas City, Kan.; Columbia, Mo.; Battle Creek, Mich.; Corpus Christie and Waco, Texas and Richmond, Va. He also served as project planner for the Trail of Tears State Park in Cape Girardeau and Lake Springfield Park, Mo. Bob also designed industrial parks, residential subdivisions and landscaping plans for public housing projects in St. Louis. From 1961-67 Bob served as Executive Director of the Richmond, Regional Planning Commission and produced the first regional master plan. In 1967, he became the Chief of Comprehensive Planning for the former New York State Office of Planning Coordination. In 1971, Bob became an environmental analyst for the high voltage electric transmission facilities with the former Office of Environmental Planning, New York State Department, Public Service. He represented the interdepartmental planning committee for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. From 1986-94, Bob was a distributions system safety, reliability analyst in the Power Division of the New York State Department of Public Service and co-authored the first national standards for measuring the reliability of electric distribution systems. Bob retired in April 1994. Bob was a former member of the American Institute of Planners, and served as chairman of the VA chapter in 1966, and also a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects and served as chairman of the VA chapter of ASLA in 1965. He was also a member of the VA Society of Regional Planning Directors. Bob served as a deacon of the Second Presbyterian Church in Richmond and as an elder of Delmar Presbyterian Church in Delmar. In 1996, he became chairman of the Bethlehem First Task Force's Community Appearance Committee. In 1999 he received the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year Award for his work with the Community Appearance Committee that was responsible for many tree plantings along Delaware Avenue in Delmar, Bethlehem's Veteran Park, and Millenium Daffodil Project. He was a long-time board member of the Kenholm Pool. Bob became a master gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension in 1986 and was awarded emeritus status. Bob was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Anna Marie Adams Horn. He is survived by four children, Lisa Hollander (Carey) of Pawling, N.Y., Todd Horn of Dover, N.H., Rebecca Fleahman (Bruce) of Glastonbury, Conn., and Leslie Trosset of Delmar; eight grandchildren, Lauren and Jared Hollander; Ashley Fleahman Orfitelli, Hannah Fleahman; Robert, Victoria, Thomas and John Trosset. He was predeceased by two sisters, June Lamb and Jean Boynton; survived by two sisters, Joyce Fletcher and Janet Bleil (Bill); a brother, Walter Horn; and many nieces and nephews. The family appreciates the loving care provided by his doctors, nurses and aides, especially, Dr. Ted Chang, Dr. David Shaffer, Jody, Cathy, Jennifer, Alice, Toni, Michelle, Chrissy, and Sally. Many thanks for the outpouring of cards, prayers and visits from everyone, especially Bob's beloved Master Gardener family. A memorial service will be held at the Delmar Presbyterian Church on May 21, 2016, at 3:30 p.m. A private burial will be at the Maple St. Cemetery in Adams, at the convenience of the family. Donations may be made to Master Gardener Program / Gazebo Fund, Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24 Martin Rd. Voorheesville, NY 12186. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timesunion-albany/obituary.aspx?n=robert-leonard-horn&pid=179920196&fhid=31108#sthash.kGGmBjiC.dpuf