Harry A. Sturges

Sturges, Harry A. RAVENA Harry A. Sturges, 94, a local historian and humanist whose boundless affinity for his community, passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022, with his beloved family by his side. Born to the late Chester and Helen (Fenner) Sturges in Frankfort, N.Y., he served in the U.S. Army for 18 months. After earning a B.S. at SUNY Oswego, Harry joined the Ravena community in 1950 as an industrial arts teacher in the RCS School District for 33 years, becoming chairperson of his department. The RCS 1960 Memoirs yearbook was dedicated to Harry "as a man whose guidance, friendship, and understanding have been available whenever or wherever it was needed." That statement captured the essence of how he spent his life. After his retirement from teaching, he entered the real estate business, opening Sturges Realty on Main Street in Ravena. During those years as an active community advocate, Harry developed a passion for local history, spending countless hours researching and collecting artifacts and ephemera. In 1998, he became one of the founders of the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society. Harry was later appointed town historian, a position he held until July 2022. He compiled a weekly column "News from the Past," for the News Herald and his Facebook page, wrote articles for the society's Hitching Post, spoke about various local topics, and was honored to have a section of the museum designated the Harry A. Sturges Archives and Research Center. As a respected community member, Harry also focused on the importance of public service. Elected to various offices in the Town of Coeymans, he was honored to serve 18 years as town justice, always with fairness, respect, kindness and humility. He was selected to join the Masonic organization in Ravena where he became a master mason. With his wry and infectious sense of humor, Harry was often invited to speak at teacher retirement and class reunion dinners. With his ability to reach consensus, Harry became a NYSUT negotiator for area school districts. Throughout his life, Harry had diverse interests - avid stamp collector, trout fisherman, devotee of classical music, lover of poetry by Robert Frost, Seamus Heaney, Rumi, and ancient Asian writers, postcard collector and inveterate poker player. For several years, he spent evenings writing poetry; and he was a patron of the Albany Symphony and Albany Institute of History and Art. Harry is survived by his devoted wife, Marie Degni Sturges, who loved and laughed with him for 45 years; four beloved children, Marjorie Huth, Deborah Lennon (Theodore), Donna McCrea, Brian Sturges (Nicole) and stepson, John Fitzgerald; in-laws, Robert and Francine Degni; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by sisters, Marion Legg, Dorothy Robinson and Mildred Stone; nephew, Daniel Stone; and niece, Susan Tayler. Friends and relatives are invited to call on Wednesday, August 17, from 3-7 p.m. at the Babcock Funeral Home, 19 Pulver Ave., Ravena. A service will be held in the Congregational Christian Church, 175 Main St., Ravena at 11 a.m. on Thursday, with interment in the Grove Cemetery, Coeymans. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Harry A. Sturges to the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society, 15 Mountain Road, Ravena, NY, 12143.