Quay, Robert

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Obituary

Robert Quay ALTAMONT — A helpful and happy man, Robert Quay was a dedicated fan of Yankees baseball, racer Jeff Gordon, and actress Jennifer Aniston. He died unexpectedly in his Brandle Woods home on Sunday, June 3, 2012. He was 57. “He was very cheerful,” said his niece, Susan Petrosino. “And he always wanted to be helpful. That was really important to him. He was willing to lend a helping hand to anybody.” The son of the late Pauline Quay of Knox, a seamstress, Robert Quay was born on Aug. 1, 1954. He was involved in the Knox Reformed Church, and he attended the Berne-Knox Central Schools before going to work for Altamont Manor in the kitchen. Throughout his life, he held a number of food-service jobs. Mr. Quay lived in Knox where he was raised until moving to Guilderland Center and then to Brandle Woods with his mother. After the death of his sister, Mr. Quay was his mother’s faithful caregiver until her death. Mr. Quay liked to watch movies and television shows and had an extensive collection of DVDs and VHS tapes, said his niece. “It’s an odd mix of old-time classics like Laugh-In and The Dick Van Dyke Show, with military movies and comedies,” she said of his collection. “He liked shows that were on when he was a kid, like M*A*S*H and Hogan’s Heroes, and Gilligan’s Island.” When it came to movies, one star shone brightest for Mr. Quay. “He was in love with Jennifer Aniston,” said his niece. “He had her face and name tattooed on his arm. He loved watching her movies. He was a big fan.” Mr. Quay was also a devoted Yankees fan. “He would follow their games on TV and a really big trip for him was to go to Yankee Stadium in New York. He would travel there with his mom,” said Mrs. Petrosino. Mr. Quay also followed National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, and was a fan of Jeff Gordon. “He always wanted to drive a Chevy,” Mrs. Petrosino said of her uncle, “which he was able to afford in his later years. When my mom passed away, we got him a Chevy Cobalt in blue. He just loved driving that car.”

Robert Quay is survived by his niece, Susan Petrosino, and her husband, Joseph, and their children, Jonathan and Rachel — all of Guilderland; by his nephew, Jeffrey Seger, and his wife, Kristin, and their children, Jacob and Ashley — all of Broomfield, Colo.; and by several cousins. His mother, Pauline Quay, died before him as did his only sibling, his sister, Luella Kellerman. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 10, at 2:30 p.m., at the Altamont Reformed Church at 129 Lincoln Ave. with the Rev. Bob Luidens officiating. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont. Memorial contributions may be made to the Altamont Reformed Church, Post Office Box 671, Altamont, NY 12009. — Melissa Hale-Spencer

Altamont Enterprise – Thursday, June 7, 2012

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