Obituary of Richard E. Backer

Richard E. Backer formerly of Mendham, NJ, Belfast, Ithaca & Glens Falls, passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014 in the Pines Health & Rehab in Olean. Dick was a graduate of Morristown High School NJ. He served in the US Navy from March 22, 1944 to July 10, 1946 where he received the WWII Victory Medal. He married Betty Lou Morris on September 22, 1946. He received a Bachelor degree from Ithaca College in 1951 and then his Master Degree in School Administration from Alfred State University. Dick taught in Belfast Central School and Glens Falls City Schools. They moved to Ithaca where he was Principal at Boynton Junior High School from 1963 to 1975 and then Superintendent of the Ithaca City Schools until his retirement in 1982. Dick and his wife retired back to Belfast in 1985. In 2007 he was inducted into the Glens Falls High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Dick enjoyed sports, woodworking but most of all his family, whom he loved dearly. Dick is survived by two sons, Joseph W. (Roxanna) Backer of Castile, and Jeffrey A. (Allison) Backer of Alapharetta, GA; two daughters, Karen L. (Ed Dellert) Backer of Ithaca, and Susan M. (Jeff) VanDeCar of Hinsdale; a daughter-in-law, Becky Backer of Belfast; eight grandchildren, Gretchen (Akil) Brewley, Joseph (Mae) Backer, Graig & Patrick Baker, Joseph (Denise) Backer, Jr., Jessica & Jacob Backer and Jeffrey VanDeCar II; three great grandchildren, Ezibelle Backer, Ellie Backer and Joseph Backer III; a sister, May Kuhmichael of Chicago, ILL; a brother, Fred Backer of Mendham, NJ; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, Dick was pre-deceased by a son, Richard E. Backer III; three grandchildren, Richard E. Backer IV, Jaclyn M. VanDeCar on July 4, 1997, and Susan M. "Shelley" Baker on Nov. 5, 2013; five siblings, Lyle Backer, Gladys Weiss, Joseph Backer, and two infants. Friends will be received on in the Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home #646 E. State Street, Olean, on Thursday, April 3, 2014 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm at which time Funeral & Committal Services will be held. Rev. Rev. Gerald F. leFeber will officiate. Burial will be in the Hinsdale Cemetery, with full Military Services accorded by the Allegany American Legion, Charles Harbel Post #892 Ritual Team. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Belfast Fire Department, Belfast New York, or to the Franziska Racker Center, #3226 Wilkins Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Online condolences may be made by clicking on the button above.