L. Lehmann, Gary

Gary Lawrence Lehmann

of Binghamton

Gary Lawrence Lehmann died in a traffic fatality June 23rd. Born in Ithaca, NY, September 13, 1957, son of Mary and Lawrence Lehmann, Dr. Lehmann grew up in Trumansburg, graduating from Trumansburg High School in 1975 and going on to matriculate at Clarkson University, where he earned bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. Dr. Lehmann moved to Binghamton in 1985, and was among the first faculty hired in the Watson School of Engineering at Binghamton University. Instrumental in helping to shape the newly formed Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Lehmann was, as expressed by Charles R. Westgate, Dean of the Watson School, "a remarkably talented and excellent teacher. He always had a great interest in students, and he showed it by serving as undergraduate director for mechanical engineering and faculty advisor for our national honor society, Tau Beta Pi. This is a great loss to the Watson School and the University Community." During the 1993-94 academic year, while on sabbatical leave and doing research at the Digital Equipment Corporation in Massachusetts, Dr. Lehmann was walking his beloved Golden Retriever "Molly," and met Kristin Bruch Davidson, who was walking her beloved Springer Spaniel "Fenway." The two dogs exchanged amiable greetings, which cleared the way for their master and mistress to do the same. Friendship soon followed, and then love and devotion, and Gary and Bruch Lehmann were married in the summer of 1995. Their first son, Henry Christopher, was born in 1996, followed by brother David Lawrence in 2000, and sister Catherine Anne Claire in 2003. Family, friends, colleagues and students grieve the loss of this loving and brilliant man, as multi-talented as he was self-effacing. He was an avid reader of history, reflective student of social and public policy; he enjoyed blue grass and country western music, and spent many hours gardening and doing woodworking projects. He was a talented athlete, and an especially fine baseball player (whose talent, as well as his love of the Yankees, he passed on to his sons). Dr. Gary Lehmann was an integral part of a large, extended family and had many dear friends. He will be especially missed by his wife and life partner Bruch, and their three children. He is survived by his wife and children, sister Londa VanDerzee and brother-in-law Gary VanDerzee, sister Karen Lehmann, many aunts, uncles, and cousins, his beloved nephews and nieces Curt VanDerzee and his wife Meg, Kevin VanDerzee, Duncan Green, Liam Pulsifer, Zachary Pulsifer, Kimberly McFerran and her husband Bill, and special great nieces Mollie McFerran and Hannah VanDerzee.

The family will be present to receive their friends at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 from 6-8 pm. A Memorial Service will be held at the Trumansburg United Methodist Church on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 1:00 pm with the Rev. Robyn Wernham officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gary's memory may be directed to an education fund for his children. Contributions should be made payable to: Kristin B. Lehmann and mailed to: HSBC Bank USA, c/o Eli Rabinowitz, 95 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205. For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 1-888-534-5446.

Page Submitted By: Joseph L. Sibley, Director