Thomas J. Dobert

Dobert, Thomas J. Delmar - Thomas J. Dobert, age 77, passed peacefully away on November 10, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Delmar, NY. Tom was a life long resident of Bethlehem, born in Selkirk, NY to Lawrence Dobert and Lillian (Witbeck) Dobert (both deceased). He attended the Cedar Hill School and graduated in 1957 from Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School. Shortly after graduating he enlisted in the US Coast Guard where he was stationed with the US Coast Guard’s First District in Boston, MA. While in the Coast Guard, he served in various capacities throughout the northeastern coasts of the US and Canada, including Greenland and the USCG Station Wood Hole, Woods Hole, MA. While in the Coast Guard he spent over a year in the Mekong River delta of Vietnam, evacuating French troops during 1958-59. Following his discharge from the Coast Guard Tom moved to Delmar and started work as a heavy equipment diesel mechanic with LB Smith Construction Equipment in Albany, NY. Tom left LB Smith in the early 70’s to go to work for Detroit Diesel as Service Manager and was then subsequently Sales Manager. In 1978 he then started his own business, Northeast Fire Equipment in Delmar, NY. He finished his long career in the Fire Service Industry as the Northeastern Quality Service Manager for HME Fire Equipment of Wyoming, MI, working out of his home and traveling throughout the US to service fire equipment. Tom had many passions and at the top of that list was traveling. It was his life long goal to visit every state in the continental US. In 1971 he started his trek, packing up his family, and their camper, using his two week vacation to drive out to and back from Yellowstone National Park. That first trip opened his and his families eyes to the beauty of the US. In 1974, Tom and Mary talked their dear friends, Jim and Kitty Cooke, into join them on their annual summer vacation adventure. For the next eleven years these two families spent two weeks vacations touring the country checking off as many states as possible on Tom’s list. In 2007 Tom, along with his wife Mary, checked off the last four remaining states on Tom’s list during their three month trek across southeastern US. Sports were another of Tom’s passions. He played football and baseball in high school. His love for these two sports did not end when he finished his high school career. As soon as his children were old enough, Tom made sure they were signed up for Tomboys Softball, Tri-Village Little League, and Pop Warner Football. Besides serving as a coach in all three of these organizations Tom served on all three boards, finishing up his tenure as President of both the Bethlehem Tomboys and Tri-Village Little League. In 1982 Tom and Mary became members of the Bethlehem Central Athletic Association. As Association members they were responsible for running the concession stand during the high school basketball games. It was during one of these home basketball games when the first conversation about putting lights on the high school’s football field took place. In 1983 Tom was elected President of the Bethlehem Central Athletic Association. Tom, the Athletic Association, the Football Booster Club, as well as so many members of the Bethlehem community spent the next couple of years working tirelessly to raise the necessary funds to put lights on the high school football field, an accomplishment Tom was extremely proud of. Following his wife’s death in 2007, Tom became a very engaged volunteer at the Bethlehem Area YMCA. Tom took a lot of pride in manning the Active Older Adult table in the Y’s lobby. He loved chatting with the members, hearing their stories and always making sure to sharing one of his own. It helped fill the large void left after losing his wife. And when he was not volunteering at the Y, Tom would be out on his motorcycle, touring the Northeast. Tom was also a long time member of the Delmar Fire Department and the Volunteer Ambulance Squad. During his time as a volunteer fireman. Tom developed many lifelong friendships that his was always thankful for. He was married to the love of his life, Mary G. (Gifford) Dobert, for 43 years. She passed away in 2007. He is survived by two devoted children, Shawn (Dobert) St. James and her husband Brian, of Delmar and Timothy J. Dobert and his wife, Betsy Heartfield of Crested Butte, Colorado. He had three wonderful grandchildren, Nieve (17), Ainsley (15) and Brennan (8) St. James who loved their Papa. Tom is also survived by 9 nieces and nephews. Relatives and Friends are invited to call at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar on Friday, November 18th between 4:00 and 7:00pm. A graveside service will take place on Saturday, November 19th, 10:00am at the Calvary Cemetery, 481 Route 9W, Glenmont. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bethlehem Area YMCA’s Annual Campaign, 900 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054.