Michael Dockwiller

Michael John Dockwiller, 61, of New Windsor, NY died suddenly on October 15 in Andover, Massachusetts, where he had gone to attend a conference.
Mr. Dockwiller was born on July 30, 1944, the eldest son of the late Joseph Dockwiller Jr. and Marjorie Cowles Dockwiller of Mattydale. He graduated from N.Syracuse H.S. in 1962 and attended Hunter College in New York City, where he received both Bachelor?s and Master?s degrees in English and Education. He subsequently served as a member of the English Department faculties of the Shrub Oak NY High School, Lakeland High School in Peekskill, New York, and finally for a number of years at Rye Brook High School in Rye Brook, NY, retiring in 2002.
Michael was a dedicated teacher and was a friend and mentor to many of his students. He loved reading, and music, orienteering, and hiking, especially in the Adirondacks. He traveled widely, and retained a gleeful amazement of the world even as he worked against its injustices. Michael was keenly interested in those around him and had a gift for making people believe in themselves. Everyone awaited his visits with joyful anticipation. He was a loving brother and uncle, generous in all his ways and all he did. He is dearly missed.
He is survived by two sisters, Ginger Frank Sylvester of Liverpool, Mary Clare Tolone of Mattydale, three brothers, James and Philip of Mattydale and Joseph III Tavis of Philadelphia, one niece and four nephews, the extended family of the late Jacquelyn Keller Gilbert of Yorktown Heights, NY, who was his long-time companion, and his life-long friend and mentor Courtenay Cauble of Ridgefield, Connecticut.
A memorial service will be held on November 19 at 2:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church in Yorktown Heights NY.