Bruce R. McLaughlin, Sr., a US Navy Veteran, Dies at 74

Bruce R. McLaughlin, Sr. passed away July 16, 2017 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, attended by his loving family. He was born September 5, 1942 to John E. and Kathryn J. McLaughlin in Washington, DC and grew up in Chevy Chase, Md. He was awarded an ROTC scholarship to College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA and graduated from there in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts. He followed that with five years in the Navy as an officer, the last year in Vietnam where he served his country with honor, earning several medals. He was honorably discharged in 1969, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
He immediately went to work for IBM in Kingston, NY where he was a Software Engineer and later a Technical Writer until his retirement in 1995. He enjoyed his work, and treasured the many friends he made there.
He was a devoted father and grandfather to his four children and four grandsons, and took great pleasure in attending all their sporting events. Next to his family, he loved boating: he spent over twenty-five years enjoying his small power boat on the Hudson, as well as the social life at the marina on the Rondout Creek where the boat was docked. Eastham, Cape Cod was his third love: he and his family vacationed there several times a year for over forty years.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carolyn; sister Mary Finnin of Silver Spring, MD; brother John and wife Jan of Londonderry, VT; brother-in-law Frank Amorosi, Falls Church, VA (husband of Bruce's beloved late sister Joanie); daughter Kristina Laber, husband Ken and children Killian and Keagan of Virginia Beach, VA; son Bruce, Jr., wife Suzanne Cachon and children Gavin and Aiden of Poughkeepsie, NY; daughter Kathryn of Washington, DC; son Brian of Beacon, NY; and multiple nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends on Saturday, July 22, 2017 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street in Wappingers Falls. A Memorial Service will follow at 4 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Keith W. Tamlyn officiating.
To send the family a personal condolence or for directions, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.