Obituary of Jay J. T. Posner

      My beloved dad and my mother's adoring husband has left this Earth.  Jay, who his family affectionately called "The Poz", was called home by the Lord on May 14th.  He was born in Peekskill, NY and was an only child.  He lived in Peekskill for the majority of his life. He married the girl of his dreams, Kathleen (Kathie) Mooney on July 10, 1966.  He once said that he loved her as soon as he saw her.   They spent 10 years enjoying their life together before their only daughter, Corinne (Corie), joined the picture.  As a creature of habit, Jay lived and raised his family in the home in which he, himself grew up in. He and his wife formally moved to Camden in 2005 to join their daughter and he couldn't have been happier. He found the sense of community that he seemed to always be looking for.   Jay was a true "people person", kind and gregarious, he made the rounds and created special relationships with anyone he crossed paths with. People were drawn to Jay.  He seemed intimidating due to his size and stature,  but he was really a gentle, quirky soul at heart.  Jay always made a point of learning people's names and interests and hardly ever forgot them. He was a good judge of character, which was why he never really liked Corinne's ex-husband.  

      Although he was usually a steady guy, he was also surprisingly spontaneous and had a flare for the dramatic at times.  He knew all the words to the really fast song in the "Pirates of Penzance" and acted in local community theater when he was younger.  You could tell he was up to something when he had an impish glint in his bright blue eyes.  He once bought a car when he went out to grab a toothbrush and years later purchased another car as soon as his wife left town to visit family.  He knew she'd be upset, but he loved the fact that the window tint was pretty darn close to illegal.  It made him feel young again.  He also learned to ski and was deep sea diving certified-two things no one even knew he was interested in until he randomly made them a reality.  

      Jay was always the tallest person in the room, and perhaps also the most talented.  Although very humble, he was creatively driven and technically minded and was always (always!) learning.  He graduated from Peekskill High School and later went to Germain School of Photography in NYC.  He picked knowledge up wherever he could find it and was able to speak with certainty about nearly any subject.  If someone didn't understand something, his favorite saying was "Here! Let me draw it for you!".  As an artist, he drew all the time, but most of his drawings were technical diagrams on napkins or detailed maps to places on the backs of envelopes.  He did leave behind five huge topographically accurate globes that he helped create for Rand McNally, when he worked there.  We only know where three of them are....the other two are a mystery.  You can visit them at The Museum of Natural History, The Smithsonian or Annapolis.  He was alright when tiny plastic animals were eventually glued to one of the globes...he enjoyed knowing that they are still on display.  

      Jay and his wife were a match made in heaven.  They were marred for almost 57 years.  If she could dream it, he could do it.  They were a creative force and enjoyed planning many projects together (some never were fully finished, but it was the thought and the fun that counted!)  They planned road rallies, elaborate Christmas displays and Halloween costumes for their daughter that at times she could neither breathe, nor walk in.....but it was all very adventurous!  He always wanted to make sure that his "girls" felt loved, and he bought them flowers whenever he could.  He bought Kathie the same three Christmas presents for the last twenty years and after a while, we didn't quite understand it....but now we have that silly memory forever.  

     Jay worked several jobs throughout the years and even spent some time in the U.S. Navy, leaving with an Honorable Discharge.  His last job was with Verizon and when he retired, he hooked up with a small group of other local retired utility workers who he fondly referred to as "The Retired Old Men Eating Out" or "The Romeos" for short.  He enjoyed sharing stories with them over a cup of coffee or a big breakfast....mostly big breakfasts, though. 

          Jay was a "foodie" at heart.  He loved Kathie's cooking the most and would often extol the virtues of her meatloaf.  He never met a potato that he didn't like and when he was at the hospital earlier this year, he worked tirelessly to get just one baked potato before he was discharged.  He was in a long-time pursuit of the most perfect crab cake (which needed to have the golden ratio of crumb to crab) and eventually, he found that.  He wished he had tried hummus, but we agree that he really wasn't missing anything.  His Yelp reviews will live on.  

      Jay loved the Lord with every fiber of his soul.  He grew up in the Episcopal Church and later became a member of the Peekskill Presbyterian Church, where he served as both a Deacon and an Elder.  When he moved to Camden, he found peace and comfort within the Methodist Church congregation and as his mobility failed, he watched services at the Abundant Life Church in Camden virtually and always enjoyed Pastor Brian's sermons. 

      Jay was a Freemason and was a member of the Philanthropic Lodge in Camden as well as a Lodge in Cortlandt, NY.  We don't know much about that...it was a well-kept secret between he and his brothers.  

        As his daughter, while writing his obituary, there are so many things that go through my mind.  My father said that I was his greatest accomplishments and I truly hope that I will always make him proud.  He was my ally, my warrior and my forever friend.  He and I shared the common bond of being only children and he never missed an opportunity to spend time with me or keep me company.  As a child, he played Barbies and built me a treehouse.  He read me an incredible amount of books at bedtime, including all 78 Nancy Drew Mystery novels, while acting out each character's part in lavish detail.  He watched countless plays and concerts and encouraged me wholeheartedly in anything I did.  As I got older, he took me to see my most favorite work of art and we enjoyed going for sushi....he would say that the Rock Shrimp appetizer was his most favorite.  My father showed his unconditional love for both my mother and I in so many ways.  He will be missed.

      Jay is predeceased by his mother, Priscilla Posner and his father and stepmother, James and Ruth Posner as well as many family pets that he lovingly cared for throughout his life.  We hope he finds Gabby, his most recently departed French Bulldog, in heaven and that they ride his John Deere lawn mower with reckless abandon while listening to "Car Talk" or "Bob and Ray" together.  

      Jay leaves behind us, his small but devoted family, to carry on the Posner traditions as best we can.  He leaves his cousins, Donnie (Cindy) Risi, Billy (Gale) Ennis and Arvi Ennis (Bill) Glen with fond memories of their times with him and he leaves behind many, many friends.  

      We would like to thank everyone who spent time with Jay during this difficult time, whether it was a family friend, EMS worker, nurse, or CNA.  He was always grateful to them.  

     Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 24^th at 6:00 p.m. at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 9464 State Rt. 13, Camden NY 13316. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home prior to the service from 4-6:00 p.m. 

     Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Town of Camden Ambulance Service 14 Church Street, Camden NY. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 222, Camden, NY 13316 or an animal rescue charity of your choosing.  

You may light a candle, send a message of sympathy, and read the obituary at www.nunnandharper.com.