Robert Clifford Schanck

Robert Clifford Schanck (71) passed on the evening of October 28, 2016 in Clermont Florida after being surrounded by his close family and loved ones. Bob was born to Harbeck Vanderbilt Schanck and Georgette Marie Vandenbosh in Brooklyn, New York. He created a beautiful family in the Hudson Valley of Upstate New York with a loving wife of 46 years, Nancy Ann Notarnicola, daughter Dawn Marie Palmer and his son Robert Anthony Schanck. Bob was blessed with five grandchildren who he loved dearly and spent much of his time with; Ciarra and Hailey Palmer, and Madison, Carolyn, and Robert John Schanck. His family was held dearest to him, not his possessions nor the pride of his significant lifelong accomplishments. In addition to his deep love for his family he had a calling to the Hudson Valley, an area he fell in love with in his early years that is filled with rich history, picturesque mountains, and the great Hudson River. He had a fascination and love for his Dutch ancestry with a direct lineage dating back to the sons and daughters of the revolution and to the early 600's. His ancestors originally settled in Brooklyn where he grew up. Bob spent many years boating along the nearby waters of the long island sound and traveled to upstate New York to visit close family friends Charlie and Annie Mielke where he learned to fish and hunt and enjoy the mountains and outdoors. He went on to achieving Eagle Scout in the Order of the Arrow of the Boy Scouts of America, graduated from Erasmus high School in 1963 and then went to work for Cocoa Cola Bottling Company. After which, he joined the Army in 1964 and then the New York State police in 1968 where he spent 21 years of loyal and dedicated service, ultimately retiring in 1989. His short early years as a uniform trooper in the State Police lead to rapid advancement as an accomplished fire arms instructor, training and helping to establish the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) - similar to SWAT, opening the New York State Police Satellite office in Shokan New York, and becoming a decorated Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) investigator and later a renowned polygraphist sought after by the FBI and CIA. In the early part of these same years, Bob had met his wife Nancy and they settled into a rural piece of property with rolling hills and an old farm house in Olive Bridge in the Town of Olive. He developed the land into a beautiful landscape creating a running brook with ponds stocked with fish and ducks and geese. Using his skills as a carpenter, master electrician, and plumber, he built a home for his mother and father and converted the old farm house into a beautiful home for his family. Bob spent over 30 years in the Town of Olive where he remained active in the community and involved in creating the Town of Olive Police Department from a Constabulary Police and served many years as a Police Commissioner. He later continued his career as an entrepreneurial businessman in the wholesale gasoline business and never did actually retire for he had a passion to stay active and engaged.


Bob lived a full and accomplished life with family and friends and will be dearly missed. He enjoyed many different activities from cooking (especially for his beloved wife) to boating, fishing, and golfing with his son and many of his friends including his closest and dearest Al Davis and Geri Green. He loved to discuss history, his ancestry, politics, and enjoyed photography. He enjoyed spending time at his second home in Venice Florida with his family next to the beaches and sounds and smells of the Florida Gulf Coast.


Entrusted to the care of Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston NY, where friends and family may visit on Wednesday November 9th from 4 to 6:30pm with a Remembrance Service at 6:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Robert Clifford Schanck's name at https://web.cshospice.org/foundation/giving/.