ALTAMONT —  Dr. George K. Tregaskis, a lifelong educator who was honored for his community service, died on Thursday, March 2, 2017, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany after a brief illness. He was 82.

He was employed in the Bureau of Curriculum Development, New York State Education Department for over 20 years. He was responsible for programs in basic education, citizenship, high school equivalency, and English as a second language. Prior to his state service, he was a classroom teacher and language-arts coordinator in the Guilderland Schools and an adjunct professor at Eastern Kentucky University as well as the University at Albany.

He earned a bachelor of science degree from Nyack College in Nyack, New York and a master of science degree from the State University of New York College at Oneonta. In 1972, he earned a doctorate in education at the State University of New York, Albany.

Dr. Tregaskis was born on July 1, 1934 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and attended high school there. He was a veteran who was stationed with the United States Navy (Seabees) on Guam and Saipan.

A graduate of the Clinical Pastoral Program at Albany Medical College, Dr. Tregaskis was ordained as a chaplain and served for a number of years in the Pastoral Care Department at AMC. He was a member of St. Boniface Episcopal Church in Guilderland, served as a sub deacon, and was a member of the vestry.

Dr. Tregaskis held many small civic positions: principal and sole financial officer of the Harris Acres Subdivision in Knox; president of the Dunnsville Improvement Association; director of the Albany Chapter of the American Red Cross; president of the Helderberg Rod and Gun Club; president of the Newcomb Sportsman’s Club; and director of the Altamont Rescue Squad.

He received the 1982 New York State Education Department Community Service Award, and he was an emergency medical technician and taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Dr. Tregaskis and his wife, Patricia, traveled throughout the United States and Canada aboard the Honda Gold Wing. The family also had a boat on Lake George as well as a cabin that Dr. Tregaskis constructed in the Adirondacks.

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He is survived by his wife Patricia J. (née Harris) Tregaskis of Altamont; his son, David Tregaskis of Guilderland; his nephew, Fred B. Tregaskis and his wife, Louise, of Ridgefield, Connecticut; Dr. William F. Tregaskis and his wife, Joyce, of Buffalo, Minnesota; his nieces, Jo Ann Alverez of Torrington, Connecticut. and Kay Meade of Glenville; brother-in-law, Paul W. Harris, M.D. of Chicago, Illinois; sisters-in-law Carol Avery of Petawawa, Ontario and Sandra Harris of Brantford, Ontario; and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

His infant daughter, Naomi Joy, died before him, as did his mother, Vera Mae (née Kelsey) Tregaskis  Decelles; his father, Fred B. Tregaskis II; and his brother, Fred. B. Tregaskis III.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, March 4, at Saint Boniface Episcopal Church, 5148 Western Turnpike, Guilderland, New York. Arrangements were by Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.