Obituary of Henry “Hank” Vollmer III

Henry “Hank” Vollmer III, 85, of Ashley Falls, passed away at his home on Thursday, November 1, 2018, after a lengthy illness.

Henry was born on December 9, 1932, to Alta Rockefeller Vollmer and Henry Vollmer, Jr. of Hollis, NY.  In his early years, his parents moved to Forest Hills, NY, where Hank, as he was known by family and friends, spent most of his childhood and where he eventually met his wife, Diana Brookfield, in 1957.

In 1951, Hank graduated from Trinity-Pawling School and later earned both a BS and MBA from Adelphi University in Garden City, NY.  He was an entrepreneur at heart, and his career spanned many fields.  He managed a TV studio in West Palm Beach, FL; sold insurance for Equitable Life in Garden City, NY; and served as a branch manager of Long Island Trust Company.  Eventually, with several partners, he owned Northeast Trailer Company in Mineola, NY.  In 1984, he and his wife moved to the Berkshires and established Vollmer’s Antiques in Ashley Falls.  In 1993, he and his son Devin opened the Spirit Shoppe in South Egremont, MA.

Hank had many interests, including boating, fishing, scuba diving, hunting, waterskiing, snow skiing, and ice skating.  He spent his summers on Twin Lakes in Salisbury, CT, where he loved teaching his sons everything he knew.  He was a member of the Twin Lakes Beach Club for many decades.  Those who knew Hank will miss his great sense of humor and marvelous storytelling.  His family will always treasure the love he showered on them at every possible moment.

Besides his devoted wife of sixty-one years, he is survived by his son Henry G. Vollmer and wife Linda of Hollis, NH, and their children Erin and Michael; his son Robert B. Vollmer and wife Tricia of Great Barrington, MA, and their children Emmett and Evelyn; and his son Devin P. Vollmer and his wife Kathryn of New Marlborough, MA, and their son Willem.  Henry was predeceased by his son William R. Vollmer and his grandson Steven W. Vollmer.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 2 p.m., at Christ Trinity Church, 180 Main Street, Sheffield, MA.  There will be a reception in the parish hall immediately following.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Hank’s memory to Hospice Care in the Berkshires or Fairview Hospital through BIRCHES-ROY FUNERAL HOME, 33 South Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Condolences may be made through birchesroyfuneralservices.com.