Herman Otto Bressler
Ret. NYTEL Foreman, 86

Herman Otto Bressler, a lifelong Sullivan County resident, passed away on Wednesday June 17, 2009 at the Roscoe Community Nursing Home. He was 86.
The son of the late Herman and Elsa Hillig Bressler, he was born on March 3, 1923 in Liberty, NY. He was a retired foreman for New York Telephone in Fallsburg, NY. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
A family statement reads, “Our father was tough as iron nails on the outside hiding a heart of gold. He would drop everything to help out friends or strangers alike. It is impossible to gauge the number of people whose lives were touched by his presence. Until the very end of his life he was most concerned about his wife and his family. He seemed oblivious to his condition and his pain but terribly concerned about those around him. Dad spent countless hours working on the behalf of others expecting no pay and no thanks. He was a long-time member of the Monticello Chapter of Kiwanis International and ran their golf tournament for many years. He was a founding member of the Bethel Volunteer Ambulance Corps. He organized and cooked the Easter breakfast at the Bethel Presbyterian Church and was always ready to lend a hand. He gained statewide recognition for helping to increase the population of bluebirds in New York State. He built and gave away over 20,000 nesting boxes and was always ready to share his knowledge with others, young and old. He was a long-time member of the Bethel Planning Board and helped to shape the town. Above all he was a wonderful brother, husband, father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. The hole he leaves in our lives will be filled by many happy memories.”
He was the husband of Mildred Phillips Bressler at home; the father of Ralph Bressler and wife Cynthia of Livingston Manor, and Linda Nygard and husband John of Deltona, Fla.; grandfather of Karl Bressler and wife Kathleen of Williamsburg, Va., Kurt Bressler and wife Aimee of Orlando, Fla., and Krista Bressler of Lewisburg, Pa.; brother of Alma Curran of Liberty, Edna York and husband Wayne of Liberty, Helen Sherwood and husband Jack, Gretel McCausland of Florida and Otto Bressler of Liberty.
He was predeceased by sisters, Olga Fritz, Irmgard Starr, Elsie Kelly and Marguerite Ruppert.
Friends may call from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 3534 State Rt 55, Kauneonga Lake, NY.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, Bethel, NY. The Rev. Nancy Asbury and Ginny Bossley will officiate.
Burial will be made in Evergreen Cemetery, Rt 17B, Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sullivan County Audubon Society, PO Box 30, Loch Sheldrake, NY 12759 or to the Bethel Volunteer Ambulance Corps, PO Box 31, White Lake, NY 12786.
Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay’s Funeral Homes Inc. Kauneonga Lake, NY. 845-583-5445.