Earl G. Lenhardt

Earl G. Lenhardt unexpectedly passed away on May 30th, 2025 at the age of 74. He loved his family more than anything, and embodied that love by reliably showing up in ways large and small whenever and wherever he was needed. One of his greatest accomplishments in his mind was that he and his son Adam were friends as well as father and son, a feeling that his son has very much shared.

Earl was born to Earl H. and Alice (Bennett) Lenhardt in Albany, NY. He grew up as the middle child alongside his brothers George and Dennis in Slingerlands, NY.

After graduating from Bethlehem High School, he was drafted and served his country honorably as a lineman in the United States Army and the Army National Guard of New York.

Like his father before him and his brothers alongside him, he joined the Slingerlands Fire Department in 1968. After 34 years as a dedicated active member, he continued to work on the fire department's behalf serving a couple terms as a commissioner.

He was a graduate of Hudson Valley Community College, and spent the bulk of his career working for the NYS Department of Transportation, where he met his close friends Frank Andrews, Bob Lohse and Tom Cooper. Even long after they'd all long ago retired, Earl, Bob and Tom still continued to get together regularly for "Manhattan nights" and other social outings.

Through his first wife, he met Daniel (Boz) Baker who became one of his closest lifelong friends. After Earl’s first marriage ended, Boz's wife Mimi and sister Kathy introduced him to Mary Jay (Casey), a nurse in the doctor's office they worked at.

Earl and Casey bought a five-acre property in Slingerlands together, which Earl considered their own little sanctuary. Having committed to a decades-long mortgage together, Earl figured marriage would be the practical next step. The pragmatism of his decidedly unromantic proposal was belied by the love that permeated the more than four decades they would spend together as husband and wife; in his words, "we had a lot of good years together."

After retirement, Earl and Casey traveled extensively, and he was able to see much of this country that he hadn't already seen during travels earlier in his life, as well as many of the Caribbean islands and Florida Keys that Casey loved.

In 2023, he weathered a serious stroke and Casey's passing after a seven year battle with lung cancer. In the aftermath of those two life-changing calamities, he rallied remarkably well, bolstered by the comfort of his friends, the support from the Slingerlands Fire Department, and a good attitude: He answered the frustrations resulting from his stroke and the grief of losing his beloved wife with gratitude for what he'd had, for all of the people in his corner, and for what he could still do.

He was grateful for the help and assistance of his occupational therapist Leah Campbell and his speech therapist Fatima Khan, who worked him to help him regain a lot of the function impacted by the stroke, to the point where he was able to continue living independently after Casey's passing.

As a widower, he and Adam went on three major road trips: one to spread Casey’s ashes in the Florida Keys, one exploring the national parks of the Pacific Northwest, and most recently exploring the national parks of New Mexico and the Four Corners region. He enjoyed an active social life with his son and his friends right up until the end.

He is survived by his son Adam of Albany; his sister-in-law Lynne (Lesse) Lenhardt of Delmar; his nephews, Brian and Dennis Jr.; and his niece, Kimberly. In addition, through his marriage to Casey, he is survived by his sister-in-law Sarah (Tony) Fiacco of Potsdam, NY; Casey’s nephews, Mark (Tracy) Bradish and Sean Casey; and her niece, Bridget (Jim) Bradish.

In addition to his wife Casey, he is predeceased by his parents and both of his brothers.

Friends are invited to gather to visit with the family at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave, Delmar, NY on Sunday, June 8 from 4 to 7 pm. A brief service celebrating Earls life will be held at the Applebee Funeral Home on Monday, June 9 at 11 am, with a reception following immediately at Slingerlands Fire District Station No. 1, 1520 New Scotland Rd, Slingerlands.

Those who wish may send a remembrance in his name to the Slingerlands Fire Department Benevolent Fund.