John Richard Tether, a Poughkeepsie Resident, Dies at 90
John Richard Tether, a resident of Poughkeepsie, NY since 1958, died at his home on Saturday, August 26th after a long illness. He was 90.
A native of New York, Mr. Tether, the son of Isabelle Regina (Goulden) Tether and Harold Russell Tether, was born on August 16, 1927 at Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville.
He attended Union College, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. Subsequently, he joined IBM as a customer engineer, working in New York City and White Plains.
In 1950 he entered the US Army during the Korean War. He served as a Master Sgt., primarily working as a machine room supervisor. His time was divided between Governors Island, in NYC, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, and Fort Amador, in the Panama Canal Zone.
Upon completing military service he returned to work of IBM. In 1958 he was transferred to Poughkeepsie, NY where he worked as a design engineer and system planner until his retirement.
Mr. Tether met Rosemary Teresa Yerick at the Mid Hudson Catholic Club where he served as social chairman. Married by Msgr. Leo J. Gregg at Holy Trinity Church in Poughkeepsie on Sept. 23, 1961 and honeymooned in Bermuda. They moved into a house he built and raised four children. He enjoyed photography, and planning weekend adventures with his family, serving as a Eucharistic minister at Holy Trinity Church, and collecting numerous happy memories over their 56 years of marriage.
After his retirement in 1987, Mr. and Mrs. Tether spent the next 15 years embarking on 2-3 trips per year. Some of his favorite travels included British Columbia, Ireland, and Kenya.
When in Poughkeepsie, he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Martin de Porres, an avid garden designer, and a passionate genealogist.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Tether is survived by his children, Matthew Tether (Alicia Marie Scott) of Newburgh, NY; Ann Marie Simko (John Simko) of Alexandria, VA; Megan Babson (David Babson III) of Raleigh, NC; and Patricia Tether of Poughkeepsie. He also leaves his sister, Isabelle Goulden Mort of Santa Barbara, CA and five grandchildren: Kyla Babson, Joseph Simko, David Babson IV, Zoe Tether, and Amy Simko.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Victoria Ann Stobie, and his brothers-in-law, David Stobie and Paul Mort, Jr.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 30 from 4-8 pm at Miller Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie. Mass of Christian burial will be on Thursday, August 31 at 10am at St. Martin de Porres Church, 118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie. Interment will be in Long Eddy, NY. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit
our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com