Obituary of Barbara D. "Bobbi" Ercoline

Barbara du’Wan (Bobbi) Ercoline, RN
Pine Bush, NY

Bobbi Ercoline, RN, a lifelong Orange County resident, passed from this life at the age of 73,  at home on March 18, 2023, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with Leukemia. The daughter of John P. (Jack) Kelly and Eleanor M. Gihr, born on Flag Day, June 14, 1949 in Middletown, NY. Bobbi graduated from Pine Bush High School and Orange County Community College Nursing program at the top of her class, receiving O.C.C.C.’s 1986 “Excellence in Nursing” award for graduating 4.0 in the nursing program. Bobbi was well known throughout the region as the school nurse at Pine Bush Elementary (PBE), winning several community service awards as well as being nominated for the 1998 NYS School Nurse of the Year award. She was a fierce advocate for the student educational and physical needs. She lived by her motto, “Be Kind”. While working at  PBE, Bobbi started and maintained a food pantry that was always stocked for anyone in need and now lives on at the high school.  She created a holiday project that feed and insured that ~125 families in need celebrated with gifts for all; including turkeys for Thanksgiving and complete meals for Easter and Passover holidays. If a single mom in need needed her car repaired in order to work, Bobbi found a mechanic to repair the vehicle.  She would find fuel oil for families that had no heat because they ran out of fuel and had no money to fill the oil tank. Bobbi always convinced the businesses to donate their services for free. She lived by her words of “How much do you need if you already have everything you need? Why not give.”  Bobbi was also known for being the better half, with her husband, as the “Couple on the Cover” of the 1969 Woodstock album cover. She spent her retirement years traveling the world from Fairbanks, Alaska to Berlin, Germany, and the Caribbean. If you knew Bobbi, you loved her. She never thought ill of anyone, ever. She was a shining star and lit up every room she entered and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Bobbi is survived by her husband of 51-1/2 years, Nicholas (Nick) Ercoline Jr., sons Mathew and Luke and his wife, Simone, along with her 4 grandchildren, Ryan Nicholas, Piper Layne, Alice Emilia and Charlotte Emily Ercoline. A brother, John and sister, Cindy, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins and an aunt, Helen Gihr. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 25, from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 pm, Sunday, March 26, from 2 – 5 pm at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc., 1525 Burlingham Road, Pine Bush, NY. Followed by a Funeral Mass at the Infant Savior Catholic Church, 22 Holland Avenue (Rte.302) Pine Bush, NY, on Monday, March 27 at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to “Tunnel to Towers Foundation” at www.t2t.org   To leave an online condolence, please visit www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com