Obituary of Dr. Donald Roswell Gaylord

Following a long illness, Dr. Donald Roswell Gaylord passed away at his home among his loved ones on June 18, 2021, singing along to country music. Born in Stamford, New York, to Harper Boyce and Emma (Weeks) Gaylord, Don was the oldest of three children. Working on the family farm, Don realized his love of learning was his way to the world beyond. He graduated from Jefferson Central Schools and went on to study chemical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, graduating with a BSCHE in 1961. Don earned an MBA from Western New England University in 1963, an MA in Polymer Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1967, and a PHD in Chemistry from the University at Albany in 1991. He put his education to work at Monsanto in Springfield, Massachusetts, and GAF, BASF, and AMRI in Rensselaer, New York; retiring in 2015. The only thing Don loved more than learning and chemistry was his family. He married the love of his life, Remi Snyder Gaylord, on November 23, 1963. They raised seven children and had a huge impact on many other young lives, always caring about the welfare of any life they touched. Don was a Webelos Leader, member of Habitat for Humanity, a lector and active member of St. John's Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus in Valatie. Don was also a member of the Kinderhook Democratic Committee for over 40 years, embodying the Democratic ideals of equal opportunity and social equality in everything he did. He served on the Town of Kinderhook Planning and Zoning Boards, and volunteered in his community whenever the opportunity presented itself. Don is predeceased by his parents; his siblings, James Gaylord and Florence Koselus; his beloved son-in law, Dwayne Hopkins; and his two grandchildren, Michael Lynch and Harper Gaylord. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Remi Snyder Gaylord; their seven children, Donald (Marie), Mary (Dwayne), Raymond (Kim), Helen (Steven) Schneider, Stephen (Kate), Anne Klein, and Joseph (Elizabeth). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Katherine and Raymond Gaylord; Dwayne and Maryhelen Hopkins; Rose, Molly, Ethan and Remi Schneider; American and Ultan Gaylord; and Erin and Alex Klein; as well as his two great-grandchildren, Alex and Nathan, and daughter-in-law Paula O'Loan. His family invites anyone who wishes to say farewell to a wake at Bonds Funeral Home on Route 9 in Valatie Thursday June 24th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by a Mass Friday, June 25, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, Route 9, Valatie In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Habitat for Humanity or the Valatie Ecumenical Food Pantry. .