Howie T. VanRensselaer of Randolph is running in the November 2019 election for Cattaraugus County Coroner, a position he has had for the past eight years since being elected in 2011.

VanRensselaer has been in the funeral industry his entire adult life and has been a licensed funeral director in New York since 1988. He is the owner and operator of his family’s third generation business, VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home in Randolph, since 1996.

In addition to owning the funeral home, he has assisted his father in many coroner cases over the years and understands the spontaneous response and professionalism that is required in the position that represents the citizens of Cattaraugus County.

VanRensselaer is a graduate of Randolph Central School and Simmons Institute of Funeral Service in Syracuse.

He is the past president of the Allegany-Cattaraugus County Funeral Directors Association from 1999 through 2018, serves on the board of directors for New Directions Youth and Family Services, the state Funeral Directors Association, Randolph Lions Club and served as the treasurer of the Randolph Cemetery Association for 22 years.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, golfing and traveling.

His former volunteer board seats where held with the Randolph Area Community Development Corporation and the American Red Cross of Western New York.

He and his wife Gretchen (Kartman) VanRensselaer are the parents of three children; Rachel, Gage and Lucy and are former foster parents for the Randolph Children’s Home. VanRensselaer is the son of Howard and Bethany VanRensselaer of East Randolph.