Dr. Robert A. Olsen

Olsen, Dr. Robert A. TROY Dr. Robert A. Olsen , 91, of Lansingburgh, died peacefully on July, 19, 2012 at the Van Rensselaer Manor in Troy. Born in Troy, he was the son of the late Louis and Kristine Nielsen Olsen and the devoted husband of the late Anne Kucskar Olsen. Dr. Olsen was a graduate of Lansingburgh High School, class of 1938, and became a machinist apprentice in 1943. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1944 and served until 1946 serving aboard the USS John R. Pierce DD 753. During the War, he saw action in Okinawa, Hiroshima and Nagasaki and traveled to the China Coast from Shanghai north to the Great Wall. After returning from the service he worked as a machinist for W&LE Gurley Toolmaker until 1947. He then attended R.P.I., Russell Sage, University of Buffalo pre dental and graduated from the dental program in 1953. While in dental school he worked for Bell Aircraft in Niagara Falls as a toolmaker from 1948 to 1953. In 1953 he worked in Saratoga Springs for Dr. Lee Roohan and then opened his practice in Lansingburgh in 1955 which continued until November of 2012. Dr. Olsen was a certified scuba diver instructor and was the former treasurer of the Trojan Tridents. He served as president for 20 years for the Troy Industrial Club, a member of the Immanuel Danish Lutheran Church Council for 50 years, 16 as treasurer, the 3rd District Dental Society Executive Committee for 25 years, 19 years as treasurer, and was the 2nd recipient of the Dr. David E. Hunn Award for Dedication to Perfection of Dentistry. He was a member of the American Dental Association and the NYS Dental Association and was selected by his peers for election to the American College of Dentists. He was also a member of the International Society of Dentists, the American Legion, the Veterans of Lansingburgh, the Danish Brotherhood Society of America and received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Friends of 112th Street. Survivors include his brother, Arthur Olsen of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; nephew, Peter Olsen of Johnsonville; niece, Sandra Olsen Becker of Ponte Vedra, Fla.; and longtime friends and caregiver, Marty and Ed Manny of Troy. Also survived by nieces and nephews of the Kucskar and Bodnar families, especially Jesse and Carole. The family would like to thank the staff at the Van Rensselaer Manor, especially, Feleena, Margaret, Trish and Sue for the outstanding care that they gave to Dr. Olsen during his stay there. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the Frank P. McDonald & Son Funeral Home, 870 Second Ave. (124th & 125th Streets) in Lansingburgh. Friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. The interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Danish Brotherhood or to the Veterans of Lansingburgh.