Warren L. Bouck, 88, Was Veteran, Educator

Warren L. Bouck, 88, who came to New York's Southern Tier as an English teacher after service in the U.S. Army throughout World War II, and who went on to become a prominent and respected educator within the State University of New York (SUNY), died unexpectedly in Alfred, N.Y., on Thursday, July 22.

Dr. Bouck taught in the Regents program at Hornell (N.Y.) High School from 1946 to 1948. He then joined the faculty of Alfred State College and for 33 years served there as professor of English and dean of liberal studies. During that time, he was also active as a leader in the Boy Scouts of America, a lay member of the Alfred Union University Church, a driving force in the Hornell Symphony and the Fortnightly Club, and served for many years as president of the Alfred Historical Society and on the Alfred Village board of trustees. For a time, he was also president of the Alfred 21st Century Group, which is dedicated to preserving the village's heritage.

For many years, Dr. Bouck and his wife, Dorothy, spent part of every summer on Martha's Vineyard. His son, W. Lynn Bouck, resides with his family in West Tisbury.

Dr. Bouck was born in Middleburgh, N.Y., on July 7, 1916, a descendant of Christian Bauch and Johan Hager, two members of the pioneer group known as the Palatines, who immigrated from the German Rhineland in 1710 and settled in the Schoharie Valley near Albany. He was also descended from Christian's great-grandson, William C. Bouck, who supervised construction of the Erie Canal and was elected governor of New York in 1843.

After high school in Middleburgh, Dr. Bouck went on to Syracuse University, where he majored in English literature and was graduated in 1938. He began his teaching career at the high school in Galway, N.Y., where he taught English and history, and coached soccer, baseball, basketball and boxing. And it was here, too, that a fellow teacher - Dorothy McKnight - caught his eye, and they married in April 1942. But, as was true for many young men at that time, his career was interrupted by World War II and army service in the armored corps and military police.

At war's end, Dr. Bouck returned to New York and resumed his career in education, including master's and doctoral degrees at Alfred University and Syracuse University. He and his family moved to Alfred in 1950. Dr. Bouck retired from the SUNY in 1981, but continued to teach for many years in the Graduate School of Education at Alfred University. He also devoted himself to the Union University Church in Alfred and to village government affairs.

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy, and he is survived by his daughter, Sharon Bouck Smith, and husband, Roger, of Alfred, and his son, W. Lynn Bouck, and wife, Jill, of West Tisbury. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Elizabeth Bouck and David Bouck, both of West Tisbury, and his brother, John Bouck of Union Springs, N.Y., and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at Union University Church in Alfred on July 29.