Undated, unidentified clipping in a scrapbook at the Saranac Lake Veteran's Club.
Born: February 9, 1910
Died: May 2, 1993
Married: Vivian Noelk (died 1973); Beverly Tripp
Children: Donald V. Jr., Mrs. Judith Anne Worden, Joseph L. Rinella, Gregory F. Rinella, Teresa M. Hafler, Beverely Anne Rinella
Donald Dupree was a World War II veteran. He was a son of Syriac Duprey, Jr. of 4 Merrill Street.
Press-Republican, May 2, 1993
Saranac Lake public figure and bobsledder Donald Dupree dies
SARANAC LAKE - Donald V. "Ducker” Dupree Sr., a longtime Saranac Lake public figure and a medal-winning Olympic bobsledder died Saturday at Adirondack Medical Center. He was 74.
A former Saranac Lake village trustee and head of the Saranac Lake Republican Committee, Dupree was an influential politician. In 1992 he co-founded the Saranac Lake Area Taxpayers Association.
He was born Feb. 10, 1910 in Saranac Lake, the son of Syriac and Mary Etta (McGrain) Dupree Jr. He was one of 13 children.
He had been a lifelong resident of Saranac Lake and lived most recently at 3 Center St.
He was a graduate of Saranac Lake High School and attended Colorado State College. He was then drafted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He was in the first troop deployment to arrive in Pearl Harbor after the Dec. 7 bombing.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in 1943 and served 4 1/2 years in the Intellegence OSS in the Pacific and Burma.
He was commissioned to 1st Lt. while on active duty and served with Merrill's Marauders in Burma.
Upon returning home, he entered the construction business with his father and brothers as Dupree and Sons. The family helped build The Eagles Nest, The Thompson Building and the post-war remodeling of many homes in the, area. He also worked on the construction of the New York State Thruway.
He was later employed by North Country Community College as the director of Buildings and Grounds, retiring in 1981. He was called back as clerk of the works of the new maintenance building and stayed on for a while in the Buildings and Grounds Department.
He was an active bobsledder from 1936 to 1952. He received a bronze medal as a member of the 1948 Olympic 4-man bobsled team. He was a charter member of the Saranac Lake Bobsled Club and served as chairman of many committees, in World Bobsled championships.
In 1946, he was elected Saranac Lake Village Trustee, serving as a Republican trustee for one term. He was the youngest person to be elected trustee in the village. He also served as chairman for the Saranac Lake Republican Committee, the North Elba Assessment Review Board and was a member of the North Elba Planning Board.
He was also a member and trustee of the BPOE Elks Lodge 1508, the American Legion and was inducted into the Saranac Lake Redskin Hall of Fame.
He married Vivian Noelk in 1943. She died Nov. 25, 1973. He later married Beverly Tripp in Saranac Lake on July 9, 1977.
He is survived by his wife; one son, Donald V. Jr., and his wife; Andrea, of Bath; one daughter, Mrs. Judith Anne Worden and her husband, Charles, of Bath; two stepsons, Joseph L. Rinella who lives abroad with the State Department, and Gregory F. Rinella of Warrensburgh, Missouri: two stepdaughters, Teresa M. Hafler of Alplaus and Beverely Anne Rinella of Hartford, Ct.; three sisters, Mrs. Edward (Marie) Fogarty of Saranac Lake, Mrs. Dean (Murial) Anson of Murial, Ohio and Mrs. Edward (Elizabeth) Doyle of Saranac Lake; two brothers, Raymond of Fort Covington and Robert of Saranac Lake; 13 grandchildren, one great-grandson and many nieces and nephews. Two sisters, Eileen Wood and Leona Dupree and three brothers, William, Bernard and Paul, all died earlier.
Calling hours will be held Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home. An American Legion service will be held Monday at 7:45 p.m. The Elks will hold a service Monday at 8 p.m. A bible vigil service will be held Tuesday at 8 p.m.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. at St. Bernard's Church. Burial will be at a later date in Pine Ridge Cemetery. Donations may be made to the High Peaks Hospice or to St. Bernard's School in care of the funeral home.
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