Gary Etter

Gary Etter died Monday, October 17, 2005 at Vassar Bros. Medical Center in Poughkeepsie following a long illness. He was 69. He was born June 25, 1937 in Brooklyn, a son of the late Ben and Evelyn Lefkowitz Etter. A 1954 graduate of Ellenville High School, he studied engineering at Hartwick College and Marist College. He retired from IBM after 34 years, where he earned two patents and many awards. He was a member of Temple Emanuel in Kingston for over 30 years ahd he and his wife Marlene were NYFTY advisors. Mr. Etter enjoyed golf, sailing and was a talented cartoonist and woodcraftsman. On July 14, 1957, he married Marlene Dittenheimer. Survivors include his wife and high school sweetheart, whom he married on July 14, 1957, Marlene Dittenheimer, two sons, Joel and wife Marjorie Etter of Brockton, MA and Dr. Gregg Etter and wife Sheryl Rachmil-Etter of Barrington, RI; his grandchildren, Justin and Jennifer Etter and Ben and Sam Rachmil-Etter; his brother Jay and wife Debbie Etter of New York, NY; his sister-in-law Elaine Rothman of Ellenville, NY. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Gary will be dearly missed by many whom he had touched. All who knew him admired and respected his creativity, but more so his devotion to his wife, family and his ideals. Funeral services will be conducted 10:00 am on Thursday at Temple Emanuel, 243 Albany Ave., Kingston by Rabbi Yael Romer. Graveside services will follow in Ezrath Israel Cemetery, Wawarsing by Rabbi Moshe Frank. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 222, Hawthorne, NY 10532.