Herb Redl, accomplished entrepreneur, remembered for support of his community
At a glance, Herb Redl's legacy may be tied to his business acumen, or his many philanthropic contributions throughout the Hudson Valley.
But, the Poughkeepsie native was just as dedicated to supporting his fellow local business owners as he was in growing his own miniature empire.
"Yes, he did very well, but he took those earnings and never forgot where he came from or the community that made him who he was," said Assistant County Executive Ron Hicks. "My uncle owned a body shop himself — he was a mechanic. Herb had some pretty nice cars, and I recall how excited my uncle was whenever Herb stopped by the shop to have his car fixed."
Redl, the accomplished businessman behind properties including HHR Construction, Guardian Self Storage and All Sport Health and Fitness, died Friday surrounded by family. He was 91.
Visitation is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at William G. Miller & Son Funeral Home in Poughkeepsie. Services are set for 10 a.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church of Pleasant Valley. The family requests anyone attending to wear a mask.
An Arlington High School graduate, Redl in high school "played the star quarterback" and in 1952 married his "high school sweetheart," Sue Anne Cotter, the captain of Arlington's cheerleading team, according to his obituary. They raised four daughters, and had eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was known to them as a "great dancer, terrible singer and an even worse driver," in addition to his success in the business world.
Redl opened his first auto shop in 1949 and spent the following years investing in real estate with commercial development in mind, according to the website for Herb Redl Properties.
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His properties comprise more than 1,300,000 square feet of space across Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties, per his obituary
Redl served on numerous boards, including for Vassar Brothers Medical Center, The Bardavon 1869 Opera House and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley.
Chris Silva, executive director at the Bardavon, said he was saddened to hear of Redl's passing, calling him a "major supporter.
"Herb will be greatly missed, especially at the (annual Bardavon) Gala, where his smiling face always beamed from his favorite seat in the front row," Silva said.
Redl's businesses often collaborated with organizations, including Dutchess Outreach and the Dutchess Food Bank. He also contributed to area hospitals to help create the Herb and Sue Ann Redl Center for Cancer Care at Mid Hudson Regional Hospital, as well as Vassar Brothers Medical Center to create the Redl Infusion Therapy Center and the Redl Family Foyer.
Despite his many charitable contributions, Redl was characterized as a humble person more interested in helping than receiving praise for that help. When Pleasant Valley Library's building was destroyed by a fire in November 2018, it was Herb Redl Properties that donated a temporary new location.
Hicks said Redl was central in steering Dutchess County through the fallout of IBM downsizing in the region. IBM for years employed more residents than any other company in the county, which helped grow the county itself. When it downsized or moved thousands of those jobs, government and business leaders needed to formulate a plan forward, one that is now evident in the diverse businesses employing residents at the iPark site in East Fishkill.
"I recall Herb Redl was one of many people, business leaders, who came together and put their money on the table to market and create a strategy for Dutchess County — to ensure the county would recover from those losses," he said.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro described Redl as a pillar in the community whose work improved the community.
"Herb was the quintessential entrepreneur, community benefactor, family patriarch and devoted friend," Molinaro said. "He was a gentleman who didn’t seek the spotlight, preferring instead to quietly contribute substance with dignity and grace. Herb was a marker of generosity. The contributions he and his wife, Sue, and their family have made over decades will long endure."
Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4882; Twitter: @GeoffWilson_
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Herb Redl remembered for support; services Thursday, Friday
