Wellsville, NY – Darren Fleeger, 60, life-long resident of Wellsville, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Highland on Michigan Ave of Buffalo following a battle with cancer. He was born on December 31, 1963, in San Francisco, CA the son of the late Ann Fleeger.
Darren was a 1982 graduate of Wellsville High School; and he received his B.A. with a major in History from the University at Albany in 1985.
Darren was well known for owning and loving cats, and it was a favorite topic of his social media posts. In addition, Darren was an enthusiastic fan of the New York Yankees and enjoyed movies and reading and collecting books. Darren was a history buff regarding Wellsville and the surrounding communities in Allegany County and his further interests included science fiction, space exploitation, and trains.
Darren was an advocate for those afflicted with mental health issues and in recognition of his many contributions, Darren was inducted into the Allegany County Mental Health Hall of Fame in 2023. Darren was an active member of the Baha’i faith community and followed its teachings and precepts.
Darren is survived by his sister Adina Fleeger of Orlando, Florida and his niece and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother.
Friends are invited to call on Tuesday April 2, 2024, from 11am to 12 noon at the JW Embser Sons Funeral Home, 34 West State Street, Wellsville. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the David A. Howe Public Library or to the Allegany County SPCA. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
He was an amazing man he always helped any one he could.
ReplyDeleteHe was a beautiful soul, awesome mentor and an amazing friend he will be greatly missed.
Sorry to hear of your loss
ReplyDeleteHe will definitely be missed. He was very smart and caring.
ReplyDeleteLamar
ReplyDeleteI just heard of Darren's passing today. It is a sudden and unexpected shock and makes me cry. I first got to know Darren when we both attended the P. R. O. S. program in Wellsville. As you've said, he loved cats and was extremely intelligent. He was a gentle, caring person which was evident in the fact that he kept in touch with me after I left the program. I loved Darren and tried to talk to him about Jesus from time to time, though I feel I failed him because of preoccupation with my own mental health struggles. I remember the day he called and said he was being honored by the Mental Health Association. I was very happy for him. Please accept my condolences. I will miss him greatly. Jesus loves you and wants a relationship with you. He is the only way to God. If you do not know Him or are uncertain, please get a Bible and get to know Him. You can do so by asking Him to forgive your sins and come into your life today. If you will, He has promised to give you eternal life and to be your Forgiver and Leader from this day forward. Please do not put this off.
We were fortunate to be able to spend time with Darren at HighPointe on the day of his last Birthday. We reminisced about Darren's wonderful contributions, as a student, to the Campus Center at SUNY Albany. From his first days as a Freshman Work Study student in '82, Darren quickly developed the skills of a Building Manager, Campus Tour Guide, campus Telephone Operator, graphic designer, trainer, and a confidant and advisor to professional staff. Truly amazing for a young student. What work ethic, loyalty, and intellect! He brought it all for his 4 years as a student.
ReplyDeleteAs a Senior, he was the manager of the world-renown Russian Children's Theatre Troupe's magical visit to the SUNY Albany campus. What a success it was as a cultural exchange. Darren went, as he always did, "above and beyond."
These and other of Darren's contributions to the SUNY campus will live on.
As a Senior, Darren was named to Who's Who Among Colleges and Universities. The only awardee from Allegheny County.
Once again, as we've said before, thank you, Darren, and thank you for our 42 year friendship.
Don and Peg (Aldrich) Bielecki
I was very sad to learn of Darren's passing today. He was one of the first people I met at orientation at UAlbany back in the Summer of 1982, and we became instant friends. He was a gentle soul with a huge heart and could always be counted on. I echo the sentiments of Don Bielecki and Peg Aldrich in their earlier remembrance on this page concerning Darren's work ethic and skill set. We worked together at the Campus Center Information Desk, among other endeavors. He was first rate. He was also a music lover, and I still have and use a pair of bookshelf speakers he sold me for a pittance back in the 80's when he lived in an apartment up the Street from the Washington Tavern on Western Avenue in Albany. They always remind me of him and our hanging out and listening to music. I also remember his eclectic collection of buttons that he would wear on his jackets and backpack. It was infectious, and there was a time when I began to collect buttons and pin them on my SUNY Albany Class of 86 long sleeve shirt that was tacked to my dorm room wall. I still have the shirt with all the buttons attached. During Covid when I was home during the lock down, I used the time to go through boxes containg a myriad of items collected over the previous decades from childhood on that I had been lugging since moving out of my parents' house. Inlcuded in the mess was my old college trunk. Going through it I found several items from my days working in the Campus Center, which included an employee manual that Darren had put together. I made it a point to mail these to him, and I know he got a big kick out of receiving them. I was happy to have brought him a bit of joy at a time he was not doing well. I am glad that I was able to take him out to dinner a few years ago when I was passing through Wellsville on a work trip. He was the same old Darren and we talked as if we had only just seen each other the day before. That's how you know somebody is a great friend. I could go on and on about Darren. Simply put, he was a great guy and will be sorely missed. May he rest in peace with his buddy Nemo and all of his other dear friends who have gone over the rainbow bridge.
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