Bill Text: NY J00290 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Robert F. Flacke, distinguished United States Navy veteran, educator, environmentalist, and devoted member of his community

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-01-23 - ADOPTED [J00290 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00290-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 290

BY: Senator LITTLE

        MOURNING   the   death   of   Robert   F.  Flacke,
        distinguished United States Navy veteran,  educator,
        environmentalist,   and   devoted   member   of  his
        community

  WHEREAS, It is with profound  sorrow  that  this  Legislative  Body,
representing  the  people of the State of New York, is moved this day to
pay tribute to an eminent gentleman of indomitable faith and  dedication
whose public service and countless accomplishments will forever stand as
a paradigm and inspiration for others; and

  WHEREAS,  Robert  F.  Flacke  of  Lake  George,  New  York,  died on
Saturday, November 10, 2018, at the age of 85; and

  WHEREAS, Born on January 25, 1933, in Albany, New  York,  Robert  F.
Flacke was the son of Clara (Hohl) and Joseph L. Flacke; and

  WHEREAS,  After a storied football career at the College of the Holy
Cross, Robert F. Flacke was drafted to play professional football by the
Detroit Lions of the NFL, but instead became a submarine warfare  expert
on a Naval Destroyer Escort; and

  WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his active service, Robert F. Flacke
valiantly  served  in the Naval Reserve for 30 years, attaining the rank
of Captain; and

  WHEREAS, Robert F. Flacke spent his illustrious career in  education
as  a  teacher  and guidance counselor in the Queensbury School District
where, in the 1960s, he implemented one of the first learning-disability
programs in the state; he  also  created  the  basketball  and  football
teams; and

  WHEREAS,  In  addition  to  his  school  responsibilities, Robert F.
Flacke was named President of Fort William Henry  Corporation  in  1958,
after  the  death  of his father-in-law; over a 60-year period, he led a
major expansion of Fort William Henry's hotel,  conference,  retail  and
restaurant businesses; and

  WHEREAS,  Under  the  able  leadership of Robert F. Flacke, the Fort
William Henry Hotel is the oldest resort at Lake George and a preeminent
upstate New York tourism destination; and

  WHEREAS, A true  asset  to  his  community,  Robert  F.  Flacke  was
appointed  to  the Lake George Town Planning Board and was later elected
as  Supervisor  of  the  Town  of  Lake  George  (1970-1979);  he   also
represented  the  Town  on  the  Warren  County Board of Supervisors and
served as the county's finance and budget officer; and

  WHEREAS, Robert F. Flacke  was  appointed  to  the  Adirondack  Park
Agency  (APA)  in  1974,  during  which  time the newly created agency's
land-use policies had generated deep resentment  among  property  owners
and  local  officials across the Adirondacks; he served in this capacity

until 1983, and was credited with improving the APA's relationship  with
the local community; and

  WHEREAS,  Due  to  his  tremendous  success,  Robert  F.  Flacke was
appointed Commissioner of the Department of  Environmental  Conservation
(DEC)  in 1979; in this role, he signed the necessary regulatory permits
which allowed construction of the 1980 Winter Olympic facilities at Lake
Placid, and was widely credited with saving Lake Placid and the Olympics
from international humiliation when management  failures  threatened  to
disrupt the events; and

  WHEREAS,  Robert F. Flacke was the only person in the history of New
York State  to  serve  as  both  the  New  York  State  Commissioner  of
Environmental  Conservation  and  the  Chairman  of  the Adirondack Park
Agency; and

  WHEREAS, Active in many state and  local  organizations,  Robert  F.
Flacke  was  a  longtime member of the Board of Governors of Glens Falls
Hospital and Adirondack Health Services; a former Director of  Evergreen
Bank  and  BankNorth; and a longtime Director of Finch, Pruyn & Co. Inc.
of Glens Falls; and

  WHEREAS, Robert F. Flacke was also Director of the New York Business
Council, Vice President of  the  New  York  Blue  Line  Council,  and  a
founding board member of North Country Ministry; in 1995, he was honored
as  the  recipient  of  the  Liberty Bell Award by the Warren County Bar
Association; and

  WHEREAS, Robert F. Flacke is survived by his wife of 63  years,  the
former  Jean  McEnaney;  four children, Nancy (Mark), Robert Jr. (Jean),
Diane (Bob) and Kathryn; and  nine  grandchildren,  Caroline  (Michael),
Elizabeth, Amanda, Connor, Kelly, Cara, Maureen, Tess and Robert; and

  WHEREAS,  Armed  with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Robert F. Flacke leaves behind  a  legacy  which  will  long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Robert F. Flacke, distinguished  United  States  Navy
veteran,   educator,   environmentalist,   and  devoted  member  of  his
community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Robert F. Flacke.