Saratoga Springs, NY - Robert Conrad LeCours died at Saratoga Hospital on Friday, December 20, 2024. He was born on December 16, 1931 in Hardwick, Vermont to Anselme LeCours and Violet LeCours (nee Dion). He was the third-born of thirteen children. After four years in the Willimantic, Connecticut area, the family moved to the family farm near Hardwick Vermont, his father having taken over Robert's grand-father's farm. As a youngster, Robert learned the art of farming from his grandfather, Odilon. He was part of an exceptionally musical family, and sang in English and French with his siblings throughout his long life. He learned to project his voice by singing over the rumble of the tractor.

Robert was fiercely passionate about education. He insisted on completing high school, which was rare for farm children—especially those from outlying farms, given the lack of school transportation. Robert was an inspiration in this regard for his younger siblings. At Hardwick Academy, he sang in choir and served as class president his senior year. He graduated in 1948, at age 17. While in high school he also sang in a small series of paid concerts.

He studied English and French at Middlebury College, where he supplemented his tuition money with his earnings from the college snack bar. A gifted singer, he starred in student productions such as The Messiah and Elijah in addition to singing in the glee club and choir. As a senior in college, he was recognized with a voice scholarship. Toward the end of that year, he was offered a scholarship to the Aspen School to further his music career, but declined it in order to complete his military service requirement; he volunteered to begin this in September 1953, thereby obviating the draft which would have caused a later career interruption. After completing his military service, he began a career in education, as a teacher and school administrator, in northern Vermont and, later, Connecticut.

He courted and in 1955 married Madeleine Armande Baillargeon. The couple started a family in Willimantic, Connecticut, then moved back to northern Vermont before eventually settling in Saratoga Springs, New York. There, Robert continued his career in education, first as a French teacher and later as principal of Saratoga High School. He could frequently be heard singing the national anthem at school events.

Upon retiring, Robert helped Madeleine continue her antiques business. The couple later became snowbirds, splitting their time between Sun City Center, Florida, and Glenmont, New York, where they moved in 2010. He returned to Saratoga Springs after the 2018 death of his beloved wife.

Robert was a kind, generous man with a very sweet disposition overlaying an iron-clad will to achieve. He was a Renaissance man and avid reader, and was interested in current events, history, music, art and all of the daily doings of his progeny. He was a fiercely devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. A gifted storyteller, he could turn the most mundane prosaic tale into a spellbinder. He loved to sing—in French, English and any other language. His college nick-name, 'Ezio,' after Ezio Pinza from South Pacific fame, was derived from this gift. He could have had a career in opera had he pursued it, given his acting and singing talent. He certainly succeeded on the stage of life, living a full, upright life—a life of outstanding integrity.

Robert was predeceased by his sister, Mignonne and her husband, Robert LeBlanc; his brothers, Denis, Roger, Richard and Lawrence; and his sisters-in-law, Gail and Patricia. He is survived by his brothers, Leo (Bonnie), Michael and Daniel, and his sisters, Annette (Don) Miller, Jacquie (Bob) Borges, Diane (Emile) Fournier, Paulette (Richard) Bessette, and his sisters in law, Anita and Denise (Denis) Hark, and many nieces and nephews.

Robert is survived by seven children, Marc (Mary), Suzanne, Alan (Laura), Brian (Coleen), John (Erin), Thomas (Lynn) and Lisa (David Coup); ten grandchildren, Daniel (Amanda), Diane (Levi Brown), Elise Fraijo (Matthew), Katherine Drame (Mamadou), Eric (Michelle), Douglas, Jul, Nathaniel Coup, Jason Coup, Genevieve Coup; and nine great-grandchildren, William and Scarlett, Calvin, Maisie and Emmett Brown, Mamadou and Amina Drame; Natalie and Matthew Fraijo. As we say goodbye, our hearts are full of memories that are as beautiful as the man that inspired them.

Relatives and friends are invited to call from 5:00pm -7:00pm on Friday, January 3, 2025 at the William J. Burke & Sons / Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY (518) 584-5373.

A funeral Service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, 175 5th Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866.

A burial with military honors will take place at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, in the spring.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com