Robert J. Ames, 93, formerly of DePeyster. Funeral services for Robert J. Ames, of Dryden Road, Ithaca and formerly of DePeyster, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning with calling hours at 11 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m. at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home.
Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery in Heuvelton. 

Mr. Ames passed away on Monday, Oct. 26 at the Cayuga Medical Center after a short illness.

Surviving is a daughter, Connie Ames and her husband, Bengt Nestell of Pottstown, PA; a son, Thomas Ames and his wife Holly of Newtown, PA; three grandchildren, Andrew Ames and his wife Cheryl of Alexandria, VA, Heather Wygonik and her husband Aaron of Wilmington, DE and Heidi Ames of Newtown, PA. 

His wife of 56 years, Eva Ames predeceased him along with three siblings, George, Zaidee, and Vivian.

Bob was born on Dec. 7, 1915, in DePeyster, a son of the late Clark and Jennie (Humphrey) Ames. He graduated from Gouverneur High School and continued his education at Cornell’s College of Agriculture, where he obtained a degree in agriculture economics in 1938.

He worked for the NYS Cooperative Extension service from 1939 to 1950, first as an Assistant Agriculture County Agent in several upstate counties before becoming the Agricultural County Agent in Otsego County. In 1950, he came to Cornell’s College of Agriculture to head the County Information Services, preparing news stories for local adoption and release to the media by county agents in their areas. He was instrumental in getting information from the faculty members at the University out to the state’s farmers. The monthly packets of articles and photos were used by each county; total circulation statewide was 130,000. In addition he prepared scores of service letters on a variety of agricultural subjects. During this time, he also earned a Master of Science degree from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications.

He retired from Cornell’s Department of Communication Arts in 1973 and was named Professor Emeritus. 

Bob then started his second career at Cornell, working for the Athletic Department taking tickets at football and hockey events. He especially enjoyed working at hockey games and meeting the players, coaches, officials and their families.


Bob was a member of the Masonic Lodge in DePeyster, a life member of the Association for Communication Excellence in Agriculture, as well as a life member of the Cornell Hockey Association.
Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to the Eva F. Ames Memorial Fund, c/o Cornell Hockey Association, P.O. Box 4265, Ithaca, NY 14852.




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