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Funeral Services Set For Former Congressman Ben Gilman

Funeral services for Poughkeepsie native and former longtime lawmaker Benjamin A. Gilman have been scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Services for Poughkeepsie native Benjamin A. Gilman will be held in Middletown on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The former congressman died Saturday at the age of 94.

Services for Poughkeepsie native Benjamin A. Gilman will be held in Middletown on Tuesday, Dec. 20. The former congressman died Saturday at the age of 94.

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Gilman, who was a U.S. congressman for 30 years, died Saturday, Dec. 17. He was 94.

Services begin a 10 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 75 Highland Ave., Middletown.

Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein will officiate.

Burial will be in the West Point Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home.

For directions, or to send condolences to the family, visit the funeral home’s website, www.connellfuneral home.com.

Gilman, known as "Ben," had been hospitalized since having hip surgery more than three years ago, according to family members. He died at the Castle Point VA Medical Center.

According to The New York Times, Gilman left Congress in 2002 after redistricting consolidated his district with fellow Republican Sue W. Kelly's.

Seen as an underdog in a possible primary, he decided to retire, The New York Times said.

In the 1970s, Gilman's district had included Rockland and Orange Counties and parts of Ulster; later on, it was made up of Rockland and sections of Westchester, Orange and Sullivan counties, The New York Times said.

He was the son of the late Harry and Esther Gilman.

Gilman graduated from Middletown High School and earned his undergrad degree at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He got his law degree from New York Law School

After finishing law school, Gilman was appointed as the state’s assistant attorney general.

He set up his own law firm in Middletown.

Gilman served as a state assemblyman before going on to Congress in 1973. During his long run there, he served under seven presidents.

Gilman also chaired the House Committee on International Relations.

He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for having completed 35 missions over Japan.

Gilman was a member of Temple Sinai in Middletown.

He is survived by his third wife, Georgia Tingus Gilman; three children from his first marriage, Jonathan Gilman, Harrison Gilman and Susan Gilman; two stepchildren, Nicole Pappas and Peter Tingus; and 11 grandchildren.

To read the New York Times story, click here.

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