Pine Plains' Anthony Pulver passes away

PINE PLAINS —  Anthony “Brudâ€� Pulver, whom some nicknamed the “mayor of Pine Plains,â€� died Aug. 26 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, Conn.

Pulver, 80, was born in Poughkeepsie in 1927.

He was the owner and operator of A. Pulver Trucking and was widely known for his service to the community.

For more than 60 years he was a member of the Pine Plains Hose Company and also served as its commissioner for 40 years. He was on the FFA advisory board for over 30 years and was a charter member and past president of the Lions Club in town.

He also was a treasurer for the Dutchess County Farm Bureau, a member of the American Farm Bureau and a member of the board of directors for the Farmer’s Mutual Insurance Company.

“He did a lot of other things that the town doesn’t even know about because he never looked for headlines or recognition,� son Gregg Pulver said. “He did it because he loved the town. That’s the most important thing about my father. Whenever he was on vacation or away from town all he would talk about is Pine Plains.�

Gregg Pulver, who is also the town’s supervisor, said he has “a million� good memories about his father.

“For me, he just demonstrated everything that was right about living in a small town,� Pulver said. “It was his life. Some people are critical about small-town life. However, I was always fortunate and cherished my town because of my father. It’s so nice that so many people have called me and reached out after he passed away. It makes you appreciate small-town life.�

Pine Plains Lions Club President Peter Hague knew Pulver for over 20 years.

“He lived his whole life committed to the community,� Hague said. “He was a strong supporter of the FFA program and the Lions Club. Most of the time I spent with him was doing things for the club. He made it a point to always do whatever he could. The strongest recollection I have of him was the pride he had when he inducted his own son into the Lions Club earlier this year. He was a real pillar of the community and he will be missed.�

Former Fire Chief Thomas McGhee said he had a lot of good memories of Pulver.

“I am going to miss sitting down with him, talking to him and hearing him laugh,� McGhee said. “He always liked to needle people just to raise their blood pressure a little. But it was all good natured. He was very devoted to his town, the firehouse and all of the organizations he belonged to. He never had many enemies and no one disliked him. We’re all going to miss him.�

Planning Board Chairman Don Bartles first met Pulver in 1969.

“I had just moved to the area and was renting from a weekend farmer in Gallatin,� Bartles wrote by e-mail. “My landlord sent me to Brud’s to pick up fertilizer with instructions to just take what was needed if no one was there. Naturally, no one was there until I had the truck half loaded. After about 30 minutes of good natured threats and teasing by Brud and some of his farmer friends, I was officially initiated into the Pine Plains community.�

Bartles wrote that the Lions Club recently named Pulver a “Knight of the Blind,� which is a way of recognizing a club member for their work with the visually impaired.

“In selecting [Pulver], the nominating committee recognized his lifetime commitment to supporting not only Lions Club projects, but also supporting all of the nonprofits in Pine Plains and the surrounding areas,� Bartles wrote. “He was always willing to sell tickets or lend a wagon or lend the use of his shop to assemble floats. He was always a quiet and unassuming supporter and never demanded or asked for any kind of recognition for his support.�

A funeral service was held Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in town.

A memorial service will be held this Saturday, Sept. 6, at Saint Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are request to be sent to the Pine Plains Lions Club c/o Jack Pulver, 130 Pulver Rd., Millerton, NY 12546; to the Pine Plains Hose Company, PO Box 668, Pine Plains, NY 12567; or to the FFA c/o Dave Tetor, 5626 Route 82, Clinton Corners, NY 12514. 

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