ALBANY – Duane “Dewey” Amsler passed peacefully on June 18, 2014 surrounded by his family after a brief illness. Dewey graduated from Bethlehem High School and received an AAS degree in Highway Technology from Hudson Valley Community College. He had over 50 years experience working in highway research, claims and litigation, operations and maintenance and was an internationally recognized expert in snow and ice control operations and technology. He worked with the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) from 1960 until his retirement in 1996. He then began his own consulting business, AFM Engineering Services where he continued to work until his passing.
Dewey was known for his love of fishing and gardening. Amsler’s Family Market was a fixture in Slingerlands for over 35 years where he and his family sold pumpkins and other vegetables during the summer and fall. Dewey was loved by many and the world was a better place with him in it.
Dewey is survived by his wife of 50 years, Beverly (Fuller) Amsler, his children, Duane, Jr. (Katherine), Diane Fisher Golden (Jonathan Golden) and Dawne Amsler-Nunziato (Richard Nunziato), his grandchildren Amber, Kendall, Abigail and Zachary, his step-grandchildren Brian and Jason and his beloved grand-dog Sasha. He had a network of very close friends, in-laws and extended family, who will also miss him greatly.
Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Monday afternoon at 1 pm. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Monday from 11 am until 1 pm. Interment will be in Memory Gardens, Colonie. To leave a message of condolence for the family, or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Estela M Rivero
June 20, 2014 at 4:51 pmDear Bev and Family,
Our thoughts are with you during this sad time. All our symapthy to you and your family. Sincerely, Estela
Karla
June 20, 2014 at 8:02 pmDawne I am so sorry for your loss, your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Richard Clark
June 21, 2014 at 5:38 amI greatly enjoyed working with Dewey in the DOT Claims Unit.
ralph and carol schimmel
June 21, 2014 at 7:08 amWe offer our deep condolences on the passing of Dewey. He and I shared so many special days weeks, months, years together working on dot matters all of which were as I look back a special blessing to me. Dewey was very special and liked by all. In the business he had as a career it is rare to find a person not being subject to tainted words occasionally, but dewey was the rare exception. Always respected for his opinions and work effort. He will be missed by all that came in contact with him. we pray for Gods blessing to Bev and the family. God Bless
Gina Keith
June 21, 2014 at 6:58 pmDear Beverly, I’m so sad to learn of your husband’s passing. I’m one of your customers and will miss seeing Mr. Amsler on his tractor or
at the stand. I offer my prayers to first thank God for the peaceful
passing and wonderful life and family and then to ask for His healing
of your hearts through your grief and adjustments… all in His loving
care and provision for you, Beverly, and your precious family.
In our Lord’s Embrace,
Gina Keith
Angie Diaz-Myers
June 22, 2014 at 4:25 amBev,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family during this time of sorrow.
TOM VAN BRAMER
June 22, 2014 at 1:24 pmDewey was my first supervisor when I started working for NYSDOT and we worked together for many years. He was always fair and a more respected man would be hard to find. He influenced me in so many ways to better myself. I will miss knowing he’s not around anymore. My condolences to Dewey’s family.
David Orr
June 22, 2014 at 4:47 pmAll of us here at the Cornell Local Roads Program were saddened to hear of Dewey’s passing. He made a difference for many people and we will miss him. Bev, please know you and your whole family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Lisa Dulgar-Tulloch
June 22, 2014 at 6:33 pmBev and family, I am so sorry for your loss. You will be in my thoughts tomorrow and in the weeks ahead. Sincerely, Lisa
Joyce Dewitt-Parker
June 23, 2014 at 4:27 amDear Bev and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I’m thinking of you and wishing you comfort and strength. Joyce
Geraldine Briggs
June 23, 2014 at 7:34 pmDear Bev and family,
I was so sorry to see that Dewey has died. We were away for the weekend and I didn’t see the obituary until tonight or I certainly would’ve been at his service.
Ralph Schimmel pretty much said it all. Dewey was such a wonderful guy, always cheerful, always helpful. It was a sincere pleasure to work with him for many years.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Geri Briggs
Lynn Bernhard
June 24, 2014 at 8:30 amBev & Family;
My condolences to you on the passing on my colleague and longtime mentor. I know Dewey through his consulting work. His clarity and well-founded advice aided our snow fighting program here in Utah meet the challenge of increasing roads to care for with no additional funding.. With his passing I have lost a mentor and the snow fighting community has lost a great leader.
Sincerely,
Lynn J Bernhard PE
Utah Department of Transportation
Anne-Marie McDonnell
June 25, 2014 at 12:51 pmI wanted to share what a lasting impact Dewey had on the Snow and Ice Practices and Public Safety. He visited our state in the 90’s as a designated ‘Champion’ of the AASHTO program. He shared his knowledge in his wonderfully personable style. The sharing of his knowledge impact future practices and the state-of-the practice today. He was highly respected and is remembered fondly. Please take comfort in knowing what an impact he had to us all.
With sincere condolences,
Anne-Marie McDonnell
Connecticut Deptment of Transportation
Salt Institute
June 26, 2014 at 2:11 pmWe are so sorry to hear of your loss. Dewey was a great asset to the Salt Institute throughout the years.
Dave Bergner
June 29, 2014 at 2:00 pmOn behalf of American Public Works Association’s Winter Maintenance committee, our condolences to the family of a highly respected colleague and friend. Dewey has left a legacy of very extensive knowledge regarding snow and ice control. He made many significant contributions to this field not only with APWA but other professional organizations as well such as Transportation Research Board, American Association of State Transportation Officials, American Society of Civil Engineers, and numerous local, state, provincial, and federal government agencies. He was a great instructor through the Cornell Local Roads program and helped build APWA’s Snow Supervisor course. I worked with Dewey over the last seven years on presentations: I valued his expertise and warm humor and, above all, his decency and friendship.
Dave Bergner