John L. Carey

John L. Carey of Amsterdam passed away from complications following surgery on Thursday, October 24, 2024.
John was born at Coney Island Hospital on July 30, 1959. A proud Brooklyn native, he moved to Galway at age 11, graduating from Galway High School in 1977. He attended Eisenhower College, where he and his wife Chris fell in love in 1979. A trumpet player, he majored in Music, which he would often quip was "very instrumental" in preparing for his career in law enforcement.
John and Chris were married in Seneca Falls in 1982. They went on to raise four amazing children in their 45 years together.
He graduated from the New York State Police Academy in 1983, and went on to become a Senior Investigator with the Troop G Forensic Identification Unit, leading the division until his retirement in 2014. During his 32-year career, he was called to hundreds of scenes of homicide and mass fatalities, becoming a foremost expert on the Tri-State Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team (DMORT). Despite the weight of his daily duties, those who knew John knew him as a consistently positive presence, always there to offer a witty remark and a smile, and eager to help anyone who needed it.
In September 2001, John was sent to Ground Zero to identify victims of the World Trade Center attacks. He spent two weeks with his fellow experts, exposed to a variety of chemicals and fumes that eventually led to a diagnosis of esophageal cancer in 2023. As part of his treatment plan, an esophagectomy was performed in August, unfortunately he was never able to fully recover from the surgery.
John was known as a dedicated servant to his community, sitting on the boards of the St. Mary's Healthcare Foundation, Haven of Hope Women's Shelter, and the Amsterdam Rotary Club. During his time with Rotary, he performed a variety of memorable characters in the club's annual variety show over his 15 years of involvement. In 2024, John was awarded Rotarian of the Year for his long-standing dedication to the club, rarely missing a single meeting even in the face of rigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
John was also an adjunct professor of Criminal Justice at Russell Sage College and SUNY FMCC, eager and willing to share his experience and knowledge to help the next generation of public servants.
He was predeceased by his father, Thomas Carey.
John leaves behind his beloved wife Christine; children Andrew, Ashley, Adam (Danielle), and Jennifer (Stephen); and an adorable granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth; his mother and step- father, Patricia and Bill; brothers, Billy (Larry), Shawn and David; sisters, Stacy, Mary, Cathy, Amber and Echo; and many friends.
John touched so many lives, and will be ferociously missed by so many who knew him. His legacy has left an indelible impact on the community that was lucky enough to have him as a member.
Funeral Services will commence on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 10 o'clock at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 39 St. John Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010. Burial with full New York State Police Honors will follow in Hagaman Mills Cemetery, Hagaman, NY.
Relatives and friends are invited to call on Friday, November 1, 2024 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Members of the law enforcement community are invited to pay their respects at 4 p.m.
Donations can be made in John's memory to any of the organizations he enjoyed serving, Haven of Hope Farm and Residence, 19 Cemetery Street, Fonda, NY 12068, The Amsterdam Rotary Club Foundation, PO Box 21, Fort Johnston, NY 12072 or The Foundation of St. Mary's Healthcare, 427 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rose & Hughes Funeral Home. Please visit the online memorial at www.roseandhughesfh.com
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