RALPH E. VAN KLEECK
The Dutchess County Historical Society and its members lost a sincere friend on January 11, 1979, when former President Ralph Emerson Van Kleeck passed away. Descended from Poughkeepsie's first settler, Baltus Barents Van Kleeck, Ralph brought more than just a family background to the Society; he brought with him a keen sense of history, an inquisitive nature with regard to the past, and a commitment to promoting the interests and goals of the Society. Mildmannered and retiring, his contributions to the Society were often little heralded. He was born in Poughkeepsie on August 31, 1902, the son of Barnard D. and Margaret Near Van Kleeck. For most of his life he was a consulting engineer and had served as a member of the Poughkeepsie Planning Board. For a year and a half before the Viet Nam War he had been a consultant to the Republic of Viet Nam on its electrical power program. He had also been a former consulting engineerfor Dutchess County, and had been a member of numerous engineering and civic organizations. Ralph was the ninth generation of Van Kleeck's in Poughkeepsie and was proud of his Dutch heritage. He was an active member of the Holland Society and a lifelong member of the Poughkeepsie Reformed Church, serving there as an Elder. He had served the Society in the positions of Trustee and President. Those who have an interest in Dutchess County History will especially miss Ralph; his encouragement, his friendly smile and his generous support.
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