George A. Bud" Haar

George Alvin Haar, born in Elmira, on July 12, 1926 was the eldest son of Geraldine and Alvin Haar died July 28th, 2010 at his home in the Township of Catlin with his family by his side. Mr. Haar graduated from Corning Free Academy in 1944 and subsequently entered the US Navy, serving in WWII in the Pacific Theater. He saw action on a PT Boat in the Philippines, one of the vessels was subsequently featured in the motion picture "They Were Expendable." He remained an avid life-long sailor, keeping a classic Richardson Motor Yacht for many years on Seneca Lake, where he and his wife, Barbara, were active members of the Watkins Glen Yacht Club. Following his military service, Mr. Haar, known to his friends and family as "Bud", attended the University of Missouri and received his teaching certification. He became a highly respected instructor for the BOCES Programs in Chemung, Schuyler and Tioga Counties, teaching machine shop for 23 years to hundreds of Southern Tier students. In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Haar had multiple business interests over the years, including Haar's Tydol Service Station, sales and promotion for Reaction Laboratories, machine shop instructor at Corning Community College and as a tool and die maker for Coning Glass. Subsequent to his retirement from BOCES, Mr. Haar started Grandpa's Specialty Workshop, where he designed and handcrafted high quality machined products, including portions of a specialized gyroscope which was used in the Hubble Space Telescope. He was also an experienced traveler, obtaining the dual citizenship of his beloved Republic of Ireland, where he and his wife journeyed on many occasions and in particular visited his mother's ancestral home at the foot of the spectacular Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, where the family's cottage still stands. Mr. Haar served his community as a Boy Scout Leader. He was also a long-standing member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and a member of the Elks Club of Corning and Horseheads. Mr. Haar is survived by his bride of 60 years, Barbara, and his daughters, Martha (Pierce ) Ryan; Cathleen Haar; Margaret Claire Sikora; his son, George (Lucy) and his grandchildren, Patrick, Brigit, and Brendan; Matthew, Amanda, and Richard; Jordan, Jarrod and Rachel, and Justin, Steven, and Collene; also three great grandchildren, Gabriel, Ryan and Kyle and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Haar is also survived by his sisters in-law, Terry Haar and Francis Haar and their children and his many Haar cousins, including Jean George Haar, M.D., D.D. of Buffalo, Cece Haar Burden and Mary Haar Arnold of Jacksonville Florida and the James A. Garvey family, also of Buffalo. Mr. Haar was predeceased by parents, Geraldine and Alvin; his sisters Claire, Patricia, and Peggy; and his brothers, Thomas and Robert. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site, 509 W Onondaga St, Syracuse, NY 13204, The Southern Tier Hospice, 11751 E. Corning Rd, Corning, NY or the Dominican Monastery, Church St., Elmira, NY The family wishes to acknowledge the professional and empathetic care of Dr. Pulkrabek, Dr. Shaikh, Dr. Thuraisamy, Dr. Boktar, and the staff at Corning and Argot Ogden Hospitals and Southern Tier Hospice. A special thank you to all of our family and friends for their love and support. Services will be held at 3PM on Saturday, July, 31st at the Dominican Monastery at 1310 W Church St, Elmira. Arrangements are with Roberts Funeral Home 279 Main Street, Wellsburg, NY 14894.