Kenneth R. Briggs

Kenneth R. Briggs GuilderlandKenneth R. Briggs passed away on Friday, July 12, 2013 after a brief illness. Ken, a native of Dutchess County, was an educator and humanitarian. Born on May 21, 1933, he was the only child of Kenneth and Olive Rugman Briggs of Poughkeepsie. Ken and Olive operated an automotive sales and service business on Main Street in the town of Poughkeepsie for many years and were active in Christ Church and many community service groups. A graduate of Union College (Schenectady, NY) with a degree in psychology, Mr. Briggs later earned a master's degree and professional diploma in psychological counseling from Columbia University (New York, NY). He worked for more than 25 years as a team leader and psychological chief of Services with Family Counseling service, the New York State Education Department, Hudson River Psychiatric Center, and Wassaic Developmental Center. Ken was a past president of the Dutchess County Mental Health Society, the Mid Hudson Rehabilitation Assembly and the Dutchess County Social Workers Club. He was active in many Poughkeepsie-area clubs and organizations and served on the Board of Directors of Vassar Brothers' Institute for more than 30 years. Ken was predeceased by his wife of 48 years, Gertrude (Trudy) Hankinson Briggs, (July 3, 1935 to June 10, 2005) and his son, Jeffery Hankinson Briggs (April 27, 1962 to February 21, 2011) both of Poughkeepsie, NY. Ken and Trudy, as a husband-wife team, taught and led the Teen Youth Group of the non-sectarian Unitarian Fellowship for several years. This dynamic duo were wonderful, loving parents to their two sons and were truly the perfect complement to one another. They both devoted countless hours of their lives to the students they taught and to the mentally challenged individuals they guided and served. In late 2012, Ken moved to Atria in Guilderland, NY to be closer to family. He made many new friends there and was joined by many old friends as well. Survivors are a son and daugher-in-law, Kenneth R. Briggs III and Marla Emrich Briggs of Knox, NY and their two daughters, Amy Elizabeth and Lily Hope. Two memorial services will be held in memory of Kenneth R. Briggs. Albany Area: Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie, NY 12205. Pastor Daniel Carlson of First Reformed Church of Schenectady will preside over a memorial service beginning at 5:30 p.m. Poughkeepsie/Hyde Park Area: Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at St. James' Episcopal Church, 4526 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538. Reverend Deacon Gail Ganter-Toback will preside over a memorial service beginning at 5:30 p.m. To send the family an online condolence please visit: www.newcomeralbany.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 800 Wyman Park Drive Suite 110, Baltimore, MD 21211 in memory of Kenneth R. Briggs or visit donations.diabetes.org.



This obituary was originally published in The Daily Gazette Co.