Patrick F. Kotary

Boonville- Patrick F. Kotary, 92, fondly known as “PK”, widower of Lovilla “Lolly” Kotary, passed away while surrounded by the loving care of his family, on Monday, March 4, 2024, at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse.

Patrick was born in Boonville, on April 29, 1931, a son of Eugene M. and Mary Pearl Burns Kotary. For the first nine years of his life, Pat grew up in the Boonville Hotel, which his parents owned and operated. In 1940, his family sold the hotel and they moved to the Fish Hatchery Property, located on Moose River Road, near Boonville.

Pat’s life possessed many defining features. One of those was his lifetime of education; he attended Boonville Central School through the third grade. For the four grades that followed he attended Black River Country School, returning to Boonville Central School, to enter Eighth Grade. Pat graduated from Boonville Central School, with the Class of 1949, after a brilliant high school era punctuated by achieving the status of a high honor student, while at the same time being very active in athletics, earning letters in Basketball, Baseball, Soccer and Volleyball.

In addition to his high school studies and athletics, Pat also was elected to President of the Senior class, he also participated in the Student Council, Senior Band, playing Clarinet and serving as Band President and a member of the Science Club, Varsity Club, French Club, Press Club, Magazine Club, Senior Chorus and served as Chairman of the Magazine Sales and Sports Editor for the school newspaper. As his high school years continued, Pat developed an interest in acting; he enjoyed participating in the Junior Play, Senior Play and for two years in the Little Theater contests of the Lewneida League, winning first prize as Best Actor for the boys. During his Junior year, he was selected by the American Legion Post 406 DSC to attend Boys State which was conducted at Colgate University for a week.

Pat enrolled in a lifesaving course at the Boonville Municipal Swimming Pool and served as assistant Life Guard at the Boonville Pool for two summers.

In 1949, Mr. Kotary entered the Engineering Program Clarkson College, Potsdam, NY, graduating in 1953, with a BCE Degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and an Academic Standing of 2nd in the Clarkson Engineering Department.

Pat’s first semester at Clarkson was held in Malone, NY, due to overcrowding on the Potsdam campus. While attending Clarkson, Pat was a member of the Karma Fraternity and was placed in Tau Beta Pi and in Chi Epsilon, both the National Honorary Engineering Society as well as a member of National Society of Pershing Rifles, a military-oriented national honor society. He also served as a tutor for members of Clarkson athletic teams, endeavoring to improvement of their grade averages.

In June, 1953, Mr. Kotary began his long employment career as a Civil Engineer, at Griffiss Air Force Base of Rome, NY. In September, 1953, during the Korean Conflict, he interrupted his career to serve his country in the U.S. Army, 82nd Airborne Division of Paratroopers and was honorably discharged on September 16, 1955. While serving Mr. Kotary was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, KY, Division Headquarters G-3 as a Draftsman, where he made twenty-three parachute jumps, including one at night jump. After his discharge, he served in the active reserves of the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in September, 1961. In 1955, Pat returned to his position at Griffiss Air Force Base, where he was employed as a Civil Engineer until his retirement in 1991. Pat then continued to work as an Engineer for Rome Research Labs from 1991 until he retired in 2001.

On August 3, 1957, Patrick was united in marriage with the love of his life, Lovilla Ann “Lolly” Scheve, at St. Joseph’s Church, Boonville. Later the couple settled on Aubrey Avenue, Boonville, where they since lived. For the past 27 years, the couple greatly enjoyed wintering at their home in Rotonda West, Florida. Their union was filled with happiness, enduring for 66 1/2 years, until Lolly passed away on December 24, 2023.

In addition to Pat’s career at Griffiss, his love for the community and involvement therein were all vital aspects of his life. He served the Boonville area through his Catholic faith, at St. Joseph’s Church and membership of Boonville Council Knights of Columbus. He was an over 50-year member of the Boonville Fire Company, where he served as a department officer, up to the position of Assistant Chief. In addition, Pat served many years as an EMT for the Boonville Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance service. He was also a member of Boonville Lodge of Elks # 2158, Charles J. Love American Legion Post #406 and the Harland J. Hennessey V.F.W Post #5538, all of Boonville. In addition, for twenty years Pat participated in the Fresh Air Fund in the Boonville area. Pat greatly enjoyed living in the North Country and over the years he and his family spent time at their camp at White Lake and in High Market and numerous other parcels of land, where he and his sons greatly enjoyed hunting.

Most of all, Patrick dearly loved his wife, Lolly and their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and extended family. He is survived by a daughter, Kim Howard, Boonville; son and daughter in law, Ronald (Christine) Kotary, Constableville; daughter and son in law, Leigh Kotary and Ray Hannaman, Fort Plain, NY and a son, Patrick Kotary, Jr., and Shannon Secor. A daughter, Lara Lynne Kotary, passed away on July 20, 1991. Pat is also survived by ten grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren; and by Larry Austin, who was like a son to Lolly and Pat. Pat was predeceased by a sister, Jean Marie (Kotary) Witzigman, and two brothers, Thomas Kotary and Michael Kotary.

His Funeral will begin with a prayer service on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 10:30 A.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Church, Boonville, with Rev. Matthew Rawson as celebrant. Interment with Military Rites will be later this spring in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Prussian Settlement in West Leyden, NY. Calling hours are Monday, March 11, from 4-7 P.M. at the funeral home, where members of Charles J. Love Post American Legion, Harland J. Hennessey Post V.F.W. and The Tun Tavern Marine Corps League will call in a group on Monday at 6:30 P.M., and where members of the Boonville Fire Company will meet in a group, on Monday at 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Boonville Fire Company, P.O. Box 164, Boonville, NY 13309.