Jon Whitbeck's Home Accessibility Ramp

If you have lived in or near Albany or Greene County in the last 40 or 50 years, chances are that Jon Whitbeck has touched your life positively in one way or the other.

Born in Albany in 1955, and after marrying the love of his life in 1984, Jon spent his younger years supporting his family as a devoted father and long-haul truck driver, servicing construction needs along the East coast. The hours away from home proved long and difficult.

After many years of this work and looking to spend more quality time with his family, he took a position at the Rensselaerville Transfer Station in Albany County. It was a position that he turned into a career- and a career that he cherished.

During his years at the transfer station, Jon was a celebrity and “legend”. He befriended many people, both locally and from the big city downstate (including actors, artists and authors, and always the weekenders) all of whom were deeply taken by his magnetic personality, kindness and passion to help.

Though Jon retired from the Transfer Station, he could not stay away and returned to work part time there again not even a year later- where he worked until just recently.

In 2024, he fractured his back. That injury did not heal, and it was soon discovered that he had Multiple Myeloma, a rare blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells inside of the bone marrow.

Jon has been in rehabilitation for several months. It has been a difficult time, but he is expected to be released to come home and start treatment for the cancer.

The challenge is that his home currently is not handicap accessible. A ramp will be needed to enable him to go in and out of his home. At this time the cost of that ramp is estimated to be between 9 and 11 thousand dollars.

As a result, they are turning to the Go Fund Me community to help them raise the money needed for the ramp and expenses going forward.

The need is urgent and immediate, and they thank everyone in advance for any consideration of help they can provide.