John Robinson Roy

Roy, John Robinson
SLINGERLANDS - John Robinson Roy, 81, died Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at his residence. Born in Troy, he was son of the late John F. Roy and Alice Robinson Roy and husband for 41 ½ years of Raona Millikin Roy. He grew up in Saratoga and Troy and graduated from The Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass. He attended Middlebury College and graduated from Union College in Schenectady. He also earned two master's degrees in art history and political science from University at Albany.
Mr. Roy was Professor Emeritus of English at Hudson Valley Community College. He began teaching at the college in 1967, rose to full Professor before his retirement in 2000, and continued teaching until 2007. He led a wide range of courses, including art history, folklore, and composition. In addition to his work at HVCC, he also taught art history at Junior College of Albany and Russell Sage.
At HVCC, Mr. Roy was a founding member of the Academic Senate, a long-time officer for the Faculty Association, a member of the Faculty Council of Community Colleges, a member of the SUNY Writing Council, an executive board member and vice president of the Associated Community College Faculties, and an adviser for The Hudsonian.
In recognition of his work at HVCC, he received the President's Award in Excellence in Teaching in 1987, and he was the first recipient of the Marco J. Silvestri Award in 2006 for academic service.
Among his community service roles, Mr. Roy was a member, Treasurer and Vice President of the Sand Lake Center for the Arts, a member of the Oakwood Cemetery Association, and the Rensselaer County Historical Society.
In addition to his wife, Raona, survivors include his brother, Stephen Lansing Roy (Patty Carey) of Clearwater, Fla.; and his sister, Alice Roy Kolb (the late Dewey) of Branford, Conn.; his children, Ethan Roy (Elsie Alkurabi), Nathan Wilson (Wendy Yang), and Brian Wilson (Jesse Wennik); grandchildren, Christian Roy, Dylan Wilson, and Riley Wilson; and niece, Katharine Kolb Brennan (Thomas).
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Gardner Earl Memorial Chapel at Oakwood Cemetery, 186 Oakwood Avenue, Troy, N.Y., to be followed by a reception hosted by the family. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of John Robinson Roy to the Sand Lake Center for the Arts ( https://www.slca-ctp.org/ ) or the Troy Cemetery Association Inc.,
at Oakwood Cemetery Troy ( https://www.oakwoodcemetery.org/ ).
The Roy family wants to express its gratitude for the loving care provided for John by the staff of the 518 Caregivers, especially Evelyn Perez, Amalia Perez, and Asiya Coleman.
The brycefuneralhome.com website, may be used to share or send condolences, light a candle, view videos or for service directions. Arrangements by Bryce Funeral Home Inc., Troy.