Francis Robert "Bob" Brew II, was born in Yonkers, NY on September 12, 1934 and lived a full life of 90 years until his passing on January 18, 2025 following a brief illness. As a boy, Bob's family moved to Livingston, NY where he began a life of hard work and developed his love of farming. In 1950, he graduated from Hudson High School at the age of 16 and attended New York University earning a degree in Metallurgy. He was soon drafted into the Army then honorably discharged. About this time he met a young woman named Leah Hadley and began a journey together that lasted 67 years.They travelled cross country where Bob earned a Civil Engineering degree from the Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy and welcomed their first child Mary. In 1959 they moved to New Orleans where Bob worked as a Petroleum Engineer on an oil rig in the Gulf of America. That same year their second child Michel was born. Bob also entered a body building contest and won the title of Mr. New Orleans. In 1960 they moved their young family back to NY and purchased the Briwa farm in Claverack where Bob & Leah lived the rest of their lives.

Bob worked for NYS DOT in Albany as a Civil Engineer for over 30 years. He and Leah added three boys F Robert III, Jon Randall & Patric Ryan to their family. The early years were demanding work building their own home and developing the farm. The farm was always a busy place raising five children, hundreds of Angus cattle, crops and eventually thousands of trees. The farm became an annual destination at Christmas in search of that perfect tree. For over fifty years he was rarely seen without one of his St Bernards, most of them named Schatzie. He loved the farm and never ventured far from it. Bob also had a Land Surveying business, constructed metal buildings and was keenly interested in motorcycles and flying. He was a licensed pilot which prompted him to build a mile long airstrip on the farm. He took many flights in his vintage plane until he landed it in the top of a tree!

In 1972 he and Leah began another venture that would define them: Claverack Motocross which is still the oldest continuously operating Motocross track in the Northeast.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Mary (McDermott) Brew and Francis Robert Brew, as well as his brothers, William and Michael, his son Jon Randall Brew and granddaughter Fiona Hardaker. He is survived by his wife Leah (Hadley) Brew, their four children; Mary (Brew) Miller CPA, Michel (Brew) Hardaker DVM, F. Robert Brew III, and Patric Brew; twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bob Brew Memorial Fund, c/o Central Veterinary Hospital, 388 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206. (518) 434-2115.

Calling hours are scheduled from 11am to 1:30pm, service at 1:30pm at the French, Gifford, Preiter & Blasl Funeral Home 25 Railroad Ave, Chatham, NY on Saturday, January 25, 2025. Burial will be private.