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- Category: Hall of Fame
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CHARLES “ERNIE” MANN, JR. is being inducted for his 32 years of teaching at RCSD, his work on authoring “Rensselaer Then and Now” and “Railroads of Rensselaer” and his 48 yrs of volunteering for the Rensselaer Fire Department. Ernie is a 1965 alumnus of Van Rensselaer High School. His higher education was at Dutchess Community College, SUNY New Paltz and his Masters was from the College of St Rose. He taught Art from 1970-2002 at Rensselaer Jr-Sr High School. While at RJSHS he was a member of the school Safety Committee, Peer Mediation Group, Key Club advisor, softball coach and theater scenery designer as well as mentor to many art students. He was a member of the Rensselaer Teacher’s Association as well. His volunteerism for the city includes 48 years with the Fire Dept, including serving as Fire Chief. He is the current Rensselaer County Fire Coordinator for the City. Ernie’s love of history has made him the “unofficial city historian”, especially in the areas of the railroad and fire department. He has two published works about the city: 1) “Rensselaer Then and Now” was commissioned for the city’s centennial and 2) “Railroads of Rensselaer” from the Images of America Series, from Arcadia Publishing, Oct 19, 2009. Ernie was also the winner of the Alumni Association’s Logo Contest and is the artist of our current logo. Ernie still lives in Rensselaer and is predeceased by his wife, the former alumna, Janice Erlich, ‘67. He has 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
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- Category: Hall of Fame
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MARCIA LEHNER is being induced posthumously for her service in WW II, her long and respected career as a Jr High Math teacher in the RCSD and her service on the Board of Education. Mrs Lehner, the former Marcia Yaggle, graduated from St John’s Academy in Rensselaer in 1935, and from the College of St Rose in 1939, magna cum laude. She attained her Master’s degree from State Teachers College and became a captain in the Marine Corps, serving in WWII in Washington DC. She taught mathematics at the junior high/ middle school level from 1941-77, and after retirement served as a member of the Board of Education from 1979-90. Marcia passed away in 2011. Marcia was married to Joseph Lehner and had one son, Mark, both of whom predeceased her. They were life-long residents of Rensselaer. Marcia’s daughter-in-law Annette Lehner is here tonight to accept her plaque.
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- Category: Hall of Fame
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LOUIS H DUTCHER is being inducted posthumously for his academic achievements, his career of 40 yrs with the Rensselaer School System and his community leadership. Louis graduated as salutatorian of the RHS class of 1924. He was president of his class and received the highest average for all four years, also receiving four awards at graduation: French, Latin, Math and History. He was on the basketball team as well. He married his high school sweetheart and went to Wesleyan College on a scholarship. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa (the most prestigious honor society in the US) in 1928 and his one year old daughter Jean went to his graduation. He attained a Masters Degree from State Teachers College (now SUNYA). He began his long career teaching Math in 1930 at School 3, later becoming Principal there and after that, at Van Rensselaer, until his death in 1970. He died prematurely at the age of 64. He was a trustee at the First United Methodist Church and chairman of the finance committee for 40 yrs as well. He belonged to the Greenbush Lodge/Masons and was treasurer of their dart league and secretary of the bowling league. He was also on the Chamber of Commerce. In his leisure, besides darts and bowling, he like fishing, antiquing, and playing poker and pinochle. Louis was born on Green Street in Rensselaer and later moved to Eastland Park where he and his wife, the former Elizabeth Gibson, raised their three daughters. Louis’ grandchildren are here tonight to accept his award.