Obituary of Richard Valentine Stieglitz Sr.
Melville, NY Formerly of Sullivan County, NY
Richard Valentine Stieglitz, formerly of South Fallsburg and Kenoza Lake, New York, as well as Richmond Hills, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Melville, New York. Known as Dick, Dickie, or Rich, he was the son of the late Charles and Martha Stieglitz of South Fallsburg and was born on February 14, 1937, in Ellenville, New York.
Dick was a graduate of Fallsburg High School, Cornell University (BA), and New York University (MA) and served in the United States Army Reserves. He primarily taught English at Fallsburg High School for more than 20 years and for a brief stint earlier in his career at Monticello High School. He was also the owner of Stieglitz Bungalow Colony and managed River Valley Summer Estates after the bungalow colony was sold. Dick was a long-time horseman and owned and bred multiple near-champion harness racehorses. After retiring from Fallsburg High School, he worked for Rolling V bus company and spent most of his free time post-retirement travelling with his wife to watch their beloved racehorses and on other treasured vacations.
The love of his life and partner in raising his children, Glenna Poley Stieglitz, passed away in 2008. He was also predeceased by his parents Charles and Martha Stieglitz and his brother Charles Stieglitz, sister Mary Ann Racine, and brother-in-law Denis Racine. Survivors include his daughter Mellen and son-in-law Jack Genatt of Melville, New York, and their children Dylan and Justin and his son Richard and daughter-in-law Courtney of Morristown, New Jersey, and their daughter Grace. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Elizabeth Stieglitz, Lynne Austin, Laurie Arliss, and Georgia Buckles and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins and all of their collective families.
Burial will be at the nonsectarian section of The Workmen’s Circle #281 Cemetery on Marsh Road in Glen Wild, New York, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of flowers and food, donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Dick’s family thanks all of his supportive friends, his doctors, especially Nicolas Raio, and his caregivers, especially the staff of Huntington Hills Center for Health and Rehabilitation.
Arrangements are honorably entrusted to the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home - 845-794-7474 or www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.
