Collin Eric Haight

DELHI _ Collin Eric Haight, 23, of Delhi, was killed in a tragic farming accident Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, in York. Born Aug. 12, 1984, in Cooperstown, son of John and Lois (Hebbard) Haight, Collin was employed as herdsman for Donnan Farms Inc. of York.
Collin was known for his ability to connect with people and his relentless pursuit of his goals. He graduated with honors as salutatorian from Delaware Academy with the class of 2003. While at Delaware Academy, Collin was a member of the National Honor Society and served as its vice president for 2002-2003; was senior class president and member of the German-American Club of the Northern Catskills. He was also a member of the track team and the Class C state champion football team of 2001.
Always a determined scholar, Collin graduated with honors from Cornell University in May of 2007 with a bachelor's degree in science. While attending Cornell, Collin was a rare triple major of applied economics and management, animal sciences, and crop and soil sciences. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho, the Cornell Dairy Fellows and the Cornell Republicans Association. He greatly enjoyed his interactions with his housemates and friends in Ithaca at 202 Eddy Street and his fraternity brothers at AGR.
Collin was known for his passion and depth of knowledge across a variety of subjects, including family history, agriculture, geography, U.S. presidents and history of Delaware County. He frequently made spontaneous visits to local friends and family, engaging them in lively conversations about politics, history, economics and his master plan. He was a firm believer that agriculture has a future in the region, and he was committed to playing a role in realizing that vision. A lifelong researcher of countless subjects, Collin also enjoyed photography and the study of maps.
Family was of utmost importance to Collin. He was the author of a complete history of the Haight family entitled, "The Haight Family, 1628 - 2002" and was in the process of composing a similar work for the Hebbard family, which Collin had planned to distribute to his family members at a reunion in the summer of 2008.
During his summers and college breaks, Collin enjoyed his employment at various local businesses, including the Catskill Watershed Corporation, Northern Eagle Beverages as well as several local farms, including Ce-Car Farm, Clark Farms, Sco-Gail Farm, Rocky Crest Holsteins, Headwater Holsteins, Elmdale Farm and Ridgecrest Farm (of Genoa).
Collin was also a member of the United Ministry of Delhi and the Sons of the American Legion (Donald W. Gleason Post 190, Delhi). In June of 2002, he attended the American Legion Boys State as the representative from Delaware Academy. He was a firm believer in conservatism and often recalled favorite quotes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime" and, "A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both" _Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Collin is survived by his parents, John and Lois Haight, of Delhi; a brother, Seth, and his wife, Erin, and their children, Alexander, Owen and Charles Haight, all of Oneonta; grandparents, Donald and Kathleen Haight and Pauline Hebbard, all of Davenport; several aunts, uncles and cousins, Aunt Eleanor Gardner, Uncle Eric Haight and wife, Claudia, and their children, Chelsea, Lucas and Sarah Haight of Davenport; Aunt Donna Valentine and her children, Amy and Mark (Jennifer) Valentine of Pennsylvania; Aunt Melanie and Doug Wolk and son, Austin, of Spencerport, Aunt Phyllis O'Connell and her children, David (Linda) Adair, Marc (Lori) Adair and Susan (Richard) Spagnuolo, all of New Jersey; Uncle Joseph Cody and sons, Michael and Christopher, all of Brewster.
He is predeceased by his grandfather, the late Herbert D. Hebbard and Aunt Margaret Hebbard Cody.
Calling hours will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, and from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Dec. 30, at the MacArthur Funeral Home, Delhi, where Collin's fami1y will be in attendance. Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, at the United Ministry, Delhi, with the Rev. Lisa Heckman officiating. A reception for friends and family will be held at the Delhi American Legion immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a memorial scholarship fund being established in honor of Collin at Delaware Academy & Central School, Attention Nancy Hein, 2 Sheldon Drive, Delhi, NY, 13753.
Arrangements are by the MacArthur Funeral Home of Delhi.