By Mark Reynolds
Long time Highland resident Leonard C. Hossenloop Jr, affectionately known as “Bud”, passed away on December 22, 2024. He was born in Buffalo on December 8, 1950 to the late Leonard and Marilyn Hossenloop and was preceded in death by his sister Judith A. Fields and brother-in-law Ronald W. Fields. He is survived by his brother David, three nephews, along with a number of great nieces and nephews.
Throughout his life Bud always volunteered to help others less fortunate, starting as a youth at the Cradle Beach Camp in Angola, NY by assisting special needs and under-served kids. He later worked for decades as a Physical Therapist at the Bergen County Special Services School and even helped them develop specialized equipment for children.
In Lloyd, Bud served as a volunteer on the Environmental Conservation Council [ECC] and for more than a decade helped Camp Karlin Stolen, a local Jewish summer camp. It was said that his, “selfless contributions, warmth and unwavering spirit left an indelible mark on every staff member and camper.”
Bud was also a member of The Gathering at Faith Assembly Church in Poughkeepsie where he often volunteered to drive people to services. Friends and family honored Bud there at a ceremony on January 4th and burial followed at the Union Cemetery in Highland.
Neil Curri, Chairman of the Environmental Conservation Council, wrote in a remembrance that Bud was one of their most dedicated and longest serving members.
“Bud was dedicated to the protection and preservation of our community’s natural and historic resources, serving not on the ECC but also the Water and Sewer/Drainage Committee and on an advisory committee to the John Burroughs Black Creek Corridor Project,” Curri wrote.
Curri also highlighted Bud’s commitment to the development of the Black Creek Water Trail and the canoe and kayak launch on Route 299. He often mowed the launch site and even got the Ulster County and the Town of Lloyd’s Highway Departments to address needed repairs to the parking area.
Bud participated on ECC cleanup days at the Black Creek from setup to breakdown.
Former ECC Chairman Jack Maguire recalled that Bud became a member of the ECC, in part, because he wanted to help the Black Creek corridor and owned a piece of land bordering it.
“He was very religious and did some spiritual work in prisons,” Maguire added.
Maguire said Bud helped pull the invasive water chestnut species out of Chodikee Lake with support from the ECC, the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Karlin Stolin Jewish camp.
“He was totally honest and he really got things done when he was on a project. He is probably 50% responsible that we have the boat launch on Route 299; he was like a bulldog and pursued the paperwork with the state and with a grant. He was a tireless worker.”
Committee woman Nancy Hammond, who got to know Bud through the ECC, said he was a “super human being and very dedicated to the environment and interested in the people of the community. He was always right there on whatever needed to be done.”
Hammond recalled that Bud,“would come in with a smile and always had a kind word to say about everybody and everything. He is going to be missed but our loss is heaven’s gain.”