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Hempstead, former Cairo Highway Superintendent, dies

Dec 02, 2021 1:46 pm

Ted Remsnyder reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Cairo;s Robert Hempstead died Nov. 30 from heart disease. He had worked in the Greene County highway department for 37 years, and was Highway Superintendent in Cairo, elected in 2011 and 2015. “He probably would have won re-election again if he ran for a third time but I think his wife would have divorced him,” former Cairo Town Supervisor Dan Benoit said. “He was uniquely dedicated to his job. He was always proud of the fact that he was asked to teach at Cornell. He died too soon.” Greene County Legislator William Lawrence agreed. “I knew the man and he loved highway work,” Lawrence said. “He was even hired by Cornell Cooperative Extension to teach other superintendents how to do road work. He did that for three or four years and went all over New York State giving his expertise to newly-elected superintendents.” Hempstead, also known for his large mustache, is survived by his wife Cathy and three children, Gwen, Joanie, and Robert. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.