01/21/2026
Bruce Wollaber
Bruce Wollaber, 74, died Sunday, January 18, 2026, in his home, surrounded by family, in Summit, NY from end-stage ALS. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Debra Wollaber, his two children, Allan (Allison) Wollaber, Diane (Raj) Chudgar; his sisters, Pam Wollaber, Mary Ann Wollaber-Bryan, and Stephanie Jock, sister-in-law, Jeanette, and his six grandchildren, DoBin and YooJin Wollaber, Jacquelyn Barmettler, and Kavin, Shayan, and Amara Chudgar. He is predeceased by his parents, Forest and Winifred Wollaber, as well his brothers, Steven and Lawrence Wollaber.
Bruce was born in Rome, New York on May 18, 1951, and moved to Cobleskill in 1959. He met his future wife at the Cobleskill Central School, where he played football and baseball, graduating in 1969. He married his high school sweetheart, Debra, in September 1973. He graduated from SUNY Albany in 1975, with a B.A. in Mathematics, where he made lifelong friends in the Alpha Pi Alpha fraternity. He graduated from RPI in 1979, with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He went on to have a successful career in HVAC, earning multiple patents and rising into management and moving to Tennessee with family in 1985. After becoming frustrated with the layoff culture of the early 90s, he and Debra decided he could take a risk in entrepreneurship. He co-founded, with Jim Napolitano, Comfort Engineered Systems (CES) in 1994. His commitment to individual design and service helped the company grow to be a highly successful business. He earned his Professional Engineering license and was an early leader in geothermal heating and cooling. From 1998-2016, he and Debra thoroughly enjoyed time on their houseboat at the Edgar Evins Marina in TN together with a vibrant community of friends. In part due to his lifelong love of deer hunting, he built his dream home in 2007 in Summit, NY alongside shared property with his family and friends. He and Debra "reverse snow-birded" until they retired there in 2016, hunting and snowmobiling in New York in the fall and winter and spending springs and summers on the houseboat. Always active in his community, he served in leadership roles at the Exchange Club, Summit SnoRiders and Conservation clubs, and the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club.
Bruce was a born problem solver and active learner. He was always happy to share his expertise with others, whether HVAC or house issues, boat-launching and docking, snow-plowing, firearm safety, billiards, etc. He was an avid outdoorsman in all seasons and well maintained equipment of all sizes - jet skis, UTVs, snowmobiles, tractors, and more - and he generously shared them with others, pulling many water skiers for their first time, hosting on the houseboat, grooming snowmobile trails, and inviting friends and family hunting. He loved giving family and friends too-fast rides on these machines, seeing if he could make them laugh. He raced snowmobiles in his youth and was an avid NASCAR fan for many years. He had a fascination with the Old West and enjoyed visiting ghost towns. He was a vigorous competitor at card games with friends his entire life, and he enjoyed counting cards to beat the odds at blackjack. A conservationist, he took care of the land, planting, protecting, and felling trees, waiting for birds to migrate before bush hogging, and stocking the pond. He became an avid golfer later in life, hitting the Cobleskill links with friends every chance he could get.
Bruce demonstrated love for his family by showing up for them and having something fun to do together. His intelligence came out through his dry wit, his adventurousness, silliness, and confidence. A true big brother, he was loving and consistent in his support of his younger siblings, providing advice, support, and being a fierce advocate. Bruce and Larry in particular were not just brothers, but dear friends. His laughter and even his stubbornness will be missed. As a faithful husband of five decades, he was a rocksteady companion and a responsible man of the house. He and Debra shared many adventures, moving cross-country, boat trips to BVI, and Alaska and river cruises. They supported each other through demanding careers, the hard work of raising a family, and the deaths of their siblings and parents. As a father, he took his children to the lake to swim, ski, and cook out with friends almost every weekend; he was a Cub Scout den leader, he attended every major school and sporting event, and he was always available for life advice. As a grandfather, no toddler was safe from the tickle monster! He adored teaching his grandchildren to fish, play pool and cards, and loved trying to throw them off the tube behind the motor boat.
ALS took him away too soon. He is deeply loved and missed.
A celebration of life will be held at the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club on June 20, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. At that time, his cremated remains will be scattered in a beloved hemlock grove.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made in his memory to the Exchange Club of Cobleskill, PO Box 246 Cobleskill NY, 12043, or the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club 2322 Rt-7 Cobleskill, NY 12043, or Helios Care, 297 River Street Service Road, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820.
View Bruce Wollaber's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
