Robert Olson

Robert Olson

Robert Edwin Olson, 87, died peacefully at home in the arms of his loving wife, Jean, on Thursday, March 4, 2026, after battling Parkinson's Dementia for seven years.

Bob was born to Harold and Gerda Olson in Richmond Hill, Queens, N.Y. He was deeply involved in Boy Scouts for many years. He loved baseball, especially the Yankees. He attended Stuyvesant High School, an all-boys high school in Manhattan. After graduation, he was a Supervisor at New York Telephone for 17 years. He also served in the Army National Guard as a Staff Sergeant.

Bob and Jean met at church at 12 and 14 years of age, and they never looked back. They married in 1961 in Syosset, Long Island, and lived in Richmond Hill until their son, Scott Robert, was born in 1964. They bought a house in Huntington, Long Island, and, 2-1/2 years later, their daughter, Robin Jean, was born. Bob built a vacation home in Brant Lake, N.Y., in 1970 and soon realized Brant Lake was where he wanted to raise his children. And in 1972, the family moved to Brant Lake.

Bob immediately got involved with his beloved Town. He started a Boy Scout Troop, served on the Horicon Planning Board for eight years (five as Chairman), and was a member of the Horicon Town Board for 26 years. While on the Planning Board, Bob facilitated the Town becoming the first town in the Adirondack Park to have a complete set of zoning regulations approved by the Adirondack Park Agency. Bob did many pro bono projects for the Town over the years. But his project that stands out is the construction of the Town of Horicon Landfill building using all volunteer labor, donated by local building contractors and the Town Highway Department.

Bob started Olson Contracting in 1976, building homes in the Adirondacks for over 35 years. During those years, he employed many local young men through his retirement in 2012. He was appointed by Governor Pataki to the local government seat of the New York State Fire and Building Code Council for six years. He was President of the New York State Builders Association and was the first small scale, rural builder to ascend to this position. In this role, he advocated at the state level for the special issues that small town builders faced. He also served as Chairman of the Research and Education Foundation, providing scholarships for construction related topics.

Bob was a member of the New York State Building Code Council and a director and executive committee member of the Builders and Remodelers of Northern New York, serving as its President for seven years.

Bob was preceded in death by his mom and dad; sister-in-law, Patricia, and her husband, Robert; his nephew, Christopher; and his beloved mother-in-law, Helen. He is leaving behind his wife, Jean, of 65 years; his son, Scott, and wife, Amy; his daughter, Robin, and husband, David; his grandchildren, Hunter, Jackson, Boden, Brittany, Ryan and Taylor; his great-granddaughter, Lily; his niece, Susan; his brother, Harold; and his sister, Karen.

Bob was always quick to laugh and loved a good story. His old friend, Frog, would shout "BOBBY-O!!!" as he drove by the house on his motorcycle with his old dog, Dawg. Bob will be remembered for his sense of humor, his love for his family, and his devotion to the Town of Horicon.

Memorials in Bob's name may be made to High Peaks Hospice, 1247 Dix Ave., Hudson Falls, NY 12839.

Arrangements are entrusted to Barton-McDermott Funeral Home, Inc., 9 Pine St., Chestertown, NY 12817.