John L. Middelkoop

John Middlekoop’s well-lived life ended peacefully on June 26, 2026, at the Kingsway Community in Schenectady where staff treated John and his visitors with the utmost of care, dignity and compassion. John was born and raised in Astoria, Queens; he graduated from the City University of New York as a civil engineer.

For thirty years, John worked for the Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany where he held supervisory roles in Hazardous Materials Remediation, Water Pollution Control, and Air-Quality Divisions. John was the recipient of multiple awards, each of which demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the environment. He was known for his pragmatic approach to complicated or controversial situations. For example, he was instrumental in the early stages of the Hudson River clean-up project.

John was married to Judy for more than fifty-five years. In the late 1970s, they moved to the West Hill community in Rotterdam, New York. John served as president of the water company there for too many years to recall. Together, he and his wife raised two boys in whom they instilled the values of family, education and connecting to the environment. John was both a loyal husband and a committed father. More recently, he experienced the fruits of his labors through his four grandchildren who reside in Rotterdam and Massachusetts, respectively.

John exemplified the importance of interacting with nature through his everyday routine. He spent many hours maintaining the property around his home or camping and paddling the Adirondacks especially the Indian Lake region. John was a wildlife rehabilitator responsible for treating and releasing skunks, a grey-horned owl, wood ducks, peregrine falcons, opossum, and other bird and wildlife species.

Perhaps the biggest testament to John’s positive influence, though, is the propensity for his family members to understand the importance of freeing chipmunks in peril, rescuing Gartner snakes from ill-intentioned cats, and co-habituating with under-appreciated critters including frogs, geckos, tarantulas, and lizards.

After retiring, John was involved with various aspects of the Half Moon Replica yacht, a teaching vessel that emulated Henry Hudson’s voyage and experiments. Once it was operational, John worked as the engineer during multi-day sailing trips with middle school-aged children. In addition to maintaining the ship, John enjoyed learning the historical background and providing space for a younger generation to develop an interest in the natural world.

International travel was important for John because it fed his inquisitive nature. His favorite trips were exploring the South Indian culture and swimming in the Amazon River with pink river dolphins. An interest in understanding his Dutch heritage led John and Judy to learn Horlepiep dancing, performing annually at the Tulip Festival and international gatherings for twenty years.

John’s wife, children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews are grateful to have been involved in the life of such a curious and caring man. A Celebration of Life for extended family and friends will be announced later. Memorial contributions can be made in John’s name to the National Parks Service or to an environmental advocacy group of your choosing.