Robert J. Coveney, age 79, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, December 24, 2016 at the Grand Canyon National Park.   

He was born on July 8, 1937 in Ossining, New York, the son of the late Jeramiah Coveney and Caroline Voelker Coveney.

Robert graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1954.  After graduating he joined the Armed forces in 1956 to serve his country.  Robert served in the Navy for four years, the Army for twenty-two years.  He completed four tours in Vietnam as a member of special forces and, later, the military police. The military suited his sense of order and his code of loyalty; he was proud to have served.   Upon his retirement from the Army, he joined the United States Post Office and worked in several Capital District locations.  In later years his passion was animal welfare.  He supported several local animal charities as well as Wolf Haven in Washington state. He loved his animals, Bromley, who died in 2015, the new dog Finn and Venus, the feline.  Bob enjoyed bluegrass and Irish traditional music and, despite being technologically adverse, learned to enjoy them on his MP3 player and on the laptop.  He and his wife enjoyed traveling. 

Robert is survived by his beloved wife Susan; son, Joseph Coveney; daughter, Maureen Goldsmith; brother-in-law, Robert Smith and his wife, Ellen “Bat”; four grandchildren, Sean and Megan Goldsmith, Nick and Jake Coveney and three great-grandchildren, Brayden, Austin and Cayson Bennett.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Madolyn Curtain.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017 from 12 noon to 1 pm at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave (Rte 9 and/or Marion Ave.), Saratoga Springs, New York.

Interment with military honors will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon, Saratoga National Cemetery 200 Duell Rd. Schuylerville, NY.

In lieu of flowers donations in honor of Robert can be made to HOPE@hopeanimalrescue.org.

If you wish to express your online condolences or view the Obituary, please visit our website at www.compassionatefuneralcare.com

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