Charles Leland Currey

SCHENECTADY - Charles Leland Currey, 86 yrs, from Schenectady, NY passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on March 25th, 2025.

Chuck was born August 21st, 1938, to Howard M. and Irene J. Currey in Syracuse, NY then moved to Albany, NY, where he attended The Milne School.

He later graduated from Bard College and Syracuse University receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation. In 1995, he retired from a lengthy career of helping people as a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of New York’s VESID (Vocational Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities) Program.

Although he was against the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the Navy to serve and defend the country he was most passionate about and was an Interior Communications Specialist on the guided missile destroyer, Henry B. Wilson. He was grateful to be rescuing his fellow soldiers instead of taking human lives and was honorably discharged in 1968.

He was a member of the Protestant Young Adult (PYA) group where he met his beloved wife, Dorothy A. Dake. They were married on October 19th, 1963, and had four beautiful daughters, one of whom died 21 days after birth.

Chuck loved life, was very talented and played several instruments. He was a classically trained pianist, played guitar, banjo and hammered dulcimer. He loved music, singing and performing barbershop music as a member of the Electric City Chorus for over 40 years. Also, an Authur Murray trained ballroom dancer, he later developed a love for country line dancing and enjoyed going to the SOS (Singles Outreach Services) parties and meeting new people.

His other hobbies included riding his speeder train and steam engine around the track at Adirondack Live Steamers (ALS) and cleaning up the Hudson River waterways as a volunteer for North River Friends of the Clear Water. He was honored to have met and spoken with Pete Seger several times.

Chuck was an active member of the Universal Unitarian Society of Schenectady where he loved to sing in the choir and welcomed everyone. Toward the end of his life when he could no longer attend in person, he would watch via zoom and join in the conversations afterward. He really loved getting to know his friends and hearing the messages.

He is survived by daughters Lisa M. Fitzpatrick (John), Michele A. Currey (Patrick), and Dawn E. Currey, granddaughter Brittany F. Desso (Nick) and grand pups Mr. Bojangles and Brinkley, as well as great grand pup Brandon, his sister Barbara J. Wood, nieces Kirsten (Mark) and Penny (Jesse), nephews Bobby (Eve), David (Molly) Chris (Sara) and great nieces Jessica, Abby and Leslie, nephews Jacob, Robby, Matt, Joey and Nick as well as family friends Ingeborg Glidden and Barbara Kuban.

In addition to his first love Dottie, he is predeceased by his infant daughter Heather, as well as others he loved, Annmarie Hamal and Sandra Calabrese.

The Memorial Service/Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, June 7th 11am at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady, located at 1221 Wendell Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308 with a brief reception. Interment will follow at Broadalbin-Mayfield Cemetery, Broadalbin Cemetery Road (North Main Street, Broadalbin, Fulton County.

Donations may be made to:

Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady (UU) - 1221 Wendell Ave, Schenectady, NY 12308

Adirondack Live Steamers (ALS) – C/O Warren Hockaday- 688 Tanner Rd, Clifton Park, NY 12065

North River Friends of the Clearwater (NRFC) – PO Box 3842, Albany, NY 12203