ALTAMONT — Frederick Harold Winsor died in the comfort of his home with his family at his side on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. He was 87.

Born July 3, 1937, in Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York, he was the third son of the late Harold and Ida Weir Winsor of Guilford, New York.

In 1955, he graduated from Guilford Central High School and joined the United States Air Force immediately thereafter. He was discharged in 1959 with the rank of staff sergeant and entered the University at Albany, then State Teachers College, in September 1959 where he met his future wife Olga Eckardt. They were married July 1, 1961.

“Fred worked part-time for State Senator Janet Hill Gordon until graduating in 1963 with a bachelor of science degree in math,” his family wrote in a tribute. “From 1963 until his retirement in 1995, he was employed by the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene as one of the earliest computer programmers. He attended graduate courses during the summer of 1964 at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and during the summer of 1966 at Yale University.

“After years of renovating our old farmhouse, Fred enjoyed driving all over West and East Europe and drinking beer, becoming acquainted with the German in-laws and drinking beer, get-togethers with old and new friends and drinking beer, swimming in our pool and drinking beer, cooking delicious dinners and drinking beer, watching training sessions of our German shepherd dogs and drinking beer, and attending Grateful Dead concerts still drinking beer.

“Annually he persisted in planting a large vegetable garden in spite of the local wildlife continually devouring it. (They didn’t drink beer!) To be sure a strange trip, but full of love and laughter. He will be missed.”

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Frederick Harold Winsor is survived by his wife of 63 years, Olga Eckardt Winsor; two daughters, Valerie Winsor and Kristina Sutherland; and his son-in-law Scott Sutherland.

His parents, Harold and Ida Weir Winsor, died before him, as did his two brothers, Ronald Winsor of Fort Myers Beach, Florida and Richard Winsor of Guilford, New York.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at New Comer Cremations and Funerals, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, NY 12205. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.

“We wish to thank Dr. Dan Arenos for his care and friendship through the years and his staff who always answered questions with kindness and patience,” his family wrote. “We are very grateful to all the nurses at Community Hospice for being so gentle and comforting with Fred and the family — especially Erin and Ann. You are truly angels from heaven.”

Memorial contributions may be made to Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204.