William F. Straub

Lansing, NY

William F. Straub, aged 90, died at home on February 21, 2017. Bill was born in Catskill, NY, on December 26, 1926, the son of Audin and Beatrice Straub. Bill graduated from Catskill High School where he excelled in sports. He served in the United States Army, then he enrolled at Ithaca College, graduating in 1951. After graduation, he signed a semi-pro baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals until a severe injury ended his career. He then took a teaching position in Saugerties, NY., where he taught Physical Education and was a successful coach for many years. While he was teaching, he completed a Master’s Degree from Albany State college. Bill was then admitted to a PhD. program in Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin, graduating in 1966. He worked in the State Education Dept. evaluating school programs statewide. He spent a year at Cortland State University as Assistant Dean of Physical Education. He left Cortland to join the faculty at Ithaca College, where he taught for twenty-five years, retiring in 1992. While at Ithaca College he became interested in Sports Psychology. He got a second Master’s degree in Psychology from the New School of Social Research in New York City. After his retirement from Ithaca College he started his own consulting business called Sports Science International.

Bill is survived by his wife, Lucille, and one sister and brother-in-law, Theo and Maynard Peloke of Catskill, NY, and a brother-in-law, George Mandos of Ohio. He also leaves several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, a brother Lauren and a sister Ann Mandos.

For those who wish to remember Bill in the form of a contribution, please consider one of the following organizations that Bill supported; SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (www.spcaonline.com); Nature Conservancy, 4245 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606 (www.nature.org); or Boys Town, 14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010 (www.boystown.org).

In keeping with Bill’s wishes there will be no calling hours or service. Burial will be at a later date at Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery.