OSWEGO, NY – Dr. Charles V. Groat, 93 of Oswego Town, died Saturday November 21, 2015, after a long siege with heart trouble.
He was the son of the late Dewitt C. and Jennie Vincent Groat.
He was predeceased by his loving wife, Dorothy Duke Groat, in 1987; and also a son, Gary V. Groat, who died in 1990.
A graduate of Oswego High School in 1939, Dr. Groat received his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego and his Master’s Degree from SUNY Albany.
He furthered his education with two years additional graduate work at Columbia University in New York City.
Subsequently, he transferred his graduate credits to Syracuse University where he was awarded a Ph. D. in 1963.
He was also awarded an assistantship from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.
He began his college teaching career at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
He taught two years at SUNY Oswego and also one year at Oswego High School.
For the next 25 years, Dr. Groat taught at the Cayuga Community College in Auburn.
In later years he often maintained that this period of his life was the most productive and rewarding portion of his career.
When he went there, the college was in its infancy and he was proud to play a part in drafting and shaping its various programs.
He served as chairperson of the Social Science Department for 13 years. He was particularly interested in building up the college library and was the sole motivating force that led to the creation of the Local History Section in the library.
During this time, Dr. Groat was very active in community affairs.
He was one of the founders of the Auburn Community Council and was active in Boy Scout work.
He was especially interested in furthering the growth of museums in the area.
He served on the board of the Cayuga Museum of History and Art for 20 years and was one of the founders of the Owasco Stockaded Indian Village and helped in the promotion of the Cayuga County Agricultural Museum.
Moving back to Oswego in retirement, his interests centered increasingly on the research and writing of local history.
Many of his articles have appeared in the Palladium Times and in the Citizen Advertiser of Auburn.
He belonged to many professional organizations including the New York Historical Society (New York City), the New York State Historical Association, the Society of Public Historians, the Scriba Historical Society, The Owego County Historical Society, and the Oswego Town Historical Society.
Dr. Groat was always interested in farming and in gardening in particular.
He served as a volunteer Master Gardener for the Oswego County Extension Office for eight years.
He was a familiar sight at both the Oswego Farmers’ Market and the Fulton Farmers’ Market where he sold both farm produce and his homemade jams and jellies.
Surviving are one sister, Tracy (Gladys) Gillette of Rochester; one son, Graham Groat of Oswego; two daughters, Lora Zilberman of Niskayuna, NY, and Maryanne (Christopher) Berardi of Oswego; four grandchildren, Charles (Kathleen) Berardi, Lindsay Zilberman, Kathleen Berardi (Caitlynn Cuyler) and James Zilberman; two great-grandchildren, Sophia Berardi and Lincoln Berardi-Cuyler; and two nieces, one nephew.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home in Oswego.
A spring burial will be planned.
The family of Charles V. Groat would like to express their sincerest gratitude and deepest appreciation to all the dedicated and hard-working staff at St. Luke who took incredible care of Charles during his lengthy stay there.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Oswego Town Historical Society.
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Meg, so sorry for your loss. Your dad so so gentle and kind. He was an amazing man so well accomplished yet so modest. Cherish his memories. Kathie