Robert Whitford is being posthumously inducted in to the Hall of Fame for his dedication to the youth of the city through his volunteering in athletics and for his memberships in several civic organizations.
Robert is known as “Bobby” or “Wimpy”. He went to elementary school at St. Joseph’s in Rensselaer and graduated from Rensselaer Jr-Sr High School in 1982. Bobby excelled in sports while in high school, especially football and baseball but he also played basketball, being named team captain many times. After high school, Bobby attended Hudson Valley Community College for a year.
Bobby had a career as a Correction Officer for 22 years at Coxsackie Correctional Facility. Bobby’s community service coaching Rensselaer’s youth began in 1985 and continued to his death in 2010. For 22 years he was head coach or assistant coach for Rensselaer Pop Warner from 1985-2007. During this time, he also managed or coached Little League, and was President for 4 years. He was involved in the City Youth Bureau for 11 years and was Board Chairperson from 1992-1994. He also coached CYO basketball for 3 years and Castleton Youth Soccer for 2 years.
Bobby didn’t only volunteer for athletics. He was a 25-year member of the E.F. Hart Hose Fire Company, and a 16-year member and officer of the Leonardo DaVinci Lodge. Bobby also belonged to the Eagles Club from 2007-2010 and the Van Rensselaer Elementary PTA for 6 years.
Bobby was well known thorough Rensselaer and loved by many. He passed away in 2010 at the young age of 46. He left behind his wife Suzanne and 2 sons, Anthony and Nickolas, who nominated him. A Memorial Scholarship in his name has been established and has assisted 11 students so far. His family still lives in Rensselaer.
Karen Urbanski is being inducted into the Hall of Fame for her outstanding career in the RCSD, and for her support of the Alumni Association.
Karen has been with the RCSD for 33 years, retiring this past March. Her higher education began in 1984 when she received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Studies from SUNYA. Her Master of Arts in Reading was completed in 1990, also from SUNYA. Her first teaching job was at St. Agnes School in Cohoes where she taught grades 6-8 Social Studies. In 1986 she joined Rensselaer Middle School teaching Social Studies for all grades and acting as team leader for the 8th grade. In 1994 she was promoted to Dean of Students for the Middle School overseeing discipline regarding the school’s Code of Conduct. In 2000 she became Middle School Principal, after completing an Educational Administrative Internship at Van Rensselaer Elementary School and obtaining her Master of Science in Educational Administration from SUNYA. After 10 years as the Middle School principal, Karen became the principal of Rensselaer Jr-Sr High School. Along this journey she completed her required certifications in Social Studies, as School Administrator/Supervisor and District Administration.
Karen received the Greater Capital Region Principals’ Center
“Principal of the Year” award in 2008 and the following year, Educator Leadership in Character Education from the Academy of Character Education at the Sage Colleges. She received two national “Promising Practices” awards for this work with the Character Education program.
Karen is a life time member of the Parent Teacher Student Association and belongs to several local, state and national Professional and Service Organizations. She initiated and supported the “Seeking Necessary Alternatives Photographically (SNAP) program and the partnership with the New Netherland Museum’s replica ship the “Half Moon” and the “Voyage of Discovery”. She also introduced the “College for Every Student (CFES)” program including student leader lunches to support scholar leaders and mentors. These are just some of her career highlights.
The Alumni Association has been fully supported through Karen’s acceptance of our goals and mission. She has never said “no” to our ideas, has given of her precious time to meet with us and to encourage us. She has attended our functions and incorporated our ideas for assisting students. The association could not have been as successful without Karen’s full support.
Karen was nominated by last year’s Hall of Fame inductee, Sally Shields, RCSD’s former Superintendent. They were a great team and will be missed. Karen lives in Albany and enjoys gardening, her camp in the Adirondacks, is an avid cyclist and enjoys the theater.