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Longtime Poughkeepsie Principal Frederick Rae Hanlon Dies At 87

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Frederick Rae Hanlon -- a Poughkeepsie resident and longtime principal -- died on Thursday, Dec. 1. He was 87.

Frederick Rae Hanlon

Frederick Rae Hanlon

Photo Credit: family of Frederick R. Hanlon, via Doyle's Funeral Home

An Air Force veteran of the Korean War, Hanlon was honored with the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

He earned his bachelor's in physical education from Ithaca College and his master's in guidance counseling from Boston University. He taught physical education for two years at Morton Junior High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, before moving to Poughkeepsie, to continue his career in the Poughkeepsie City School District as a physical education teacher and guidance counselor.

Hanlon then earned his administrators certification from New York University.

Once Poughkeepsie Middle School was built in 1969, he became assistant principal and then principal. He retired after 32 years, in 1989. "He loved to live life to the fullest and touched many people's lives with his kind and caring ways," information from the funeral home noted.

Hanlon was a sports enthusiast: golf, tennis, skiing and ski racing and hiking. He also enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play various sports, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends.

He is survived by his children, Donna and her husband Victor Pecchia, Paul Hanlon, and Beth and her husband James Utter; grandchildren Ryan, Brent and Anthony Pecchia, Shane and Nicole Brandt, and Cameron Utter; great-grandchildren Gianni and Giachenta Pecchia; and his partner Carol Casabonne.

Hanlon was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Dolores Hanlon; daughter Lynne Hanlon; parents James Hanlon and Helen Gladstone Hanlon; and siblings Robert Hanlon and Virginia Kaufmann.

A celebration of life will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, with a service at 7:30 p.m., at Doyle's Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., in Poughkeepsie. A private burial will be held in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association, by clicking here, or by mailing a check to a local affiliate, using this form.

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