Obituary for Ronald C. Gillespie
WATERFORD Ronald C. Gillespie, 87, of Fonda Rd. passed away peacefully Thursday July 7, 2022 at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center. Born in Troy he was the son of the late James and Kathryn Duffney Gillespie. He was a1952 graduate of Waterford High School, a 1956 graduate of Syracuse University where he was Captain of the basketball team. He received his Master’s Degree from Siena College in 1966 and did advanced studies at SUNY Albany from 1970 – 1976.
Ron was a teacher and Social Studies Department Chair at Waterford Halfmoon High School from 1958-1970. He then served as Assistant Principal at Voorheesville from 1970 -1973 and then Principal and Assistant Superintendent at Cohoes Schools from 1973- 1979. In 1979 he became Superintendent of Schools in Galway and served there until his retirement in 1994. He had served as Director of the Waterford Youth Council from 1958- 1970. He was inducted into the Waterford-Halfmoon Hall of Fame in 1990 and later was inducted into the Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. He was also a veteran of the US Army.
Ron was the devoted husband of 64 years of Marilyn Fisher Gillespie who died in 2021. He is the beloved father of Barbara J. Wagner of Rensselaer, Thomas J. Gillespie (Joyce) of Halfmoon, Jennifer Gillespie (Mark Peltz) of Voorheesville and James R. Gillespie (Nancy) of Latham. He is the brother of Rodger Gillespie (Helena) of California, Eddie Osterhout (Aloma) of South Carolina, the late Richard and Robert Gillespie. He is the brother in law of Carol and Eddie Hines and is the proud grandfather of Shannon McMullen, Ian, Thor, Hailey and Paige Castaldo, Veronica, Sarah and Eileen Peltz, Conway, Emily and Kody Gillespie and great grandfather of Lucas, Athena, Atlas, Beckham, Bindi and Preston. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be Monday July 18, 2022 at 10:30 am from the Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St. (Rte.32), Waterford and at 11 am at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Waterford. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Saratoga National Cemetery.
Relatives and friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday July 18 prior to the funeral from 9 – 10:30 am.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, 1003 Loudon Rd, Cohoes, NY 12047.
Ron was a teacher and Social Studies Department Chair at Waterford Halfmoon High School from 1958-1970. He then served as Assistant Principal at Voorheesville from 1970 -1973 and then Principal and Assistant Superintendent at Cohoes Schools from 1973- 1979. In 1979 he became Superintendent of Schools in Galway and served there until his retirement in 1994. He had served as Director of the Waterford Youth Council from 1958- 1970. He was inducted into the Waterford-Halfmoon Hall of Fame in 1990 and later was inducted into the Capital District Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. He was also a veteran of the US Army.
Ron was the devoted husband of 64 years of Marilyn Fisher Gillespie who died in 2021. He is the beloved father of Barbara J. Wagner of Rensselaer, Thomas J. Gillespie (Joyce) of Halfmoon, Jennifer Gillespie (Mark Peltz) of Voorheesville and James R. Gillespie (Nancy) of Latham. He is the brother of Rodger Gillespie (Helena) of California, Eddie Osterhout (Aloma) of South Carolina, the late Richard and Robert Gillespie. He is the brother in law of Carol and Eddie Hines and is the proud grandfather of Shannon McMullen, Ian, Thor, Hailey and Paige Castaldo, Veronica, Sarah and Eileen Peltz, Conway, Emily and Kody Gillespie and great grandfather of Lucas, Athena, Atlas, Beckham, Bindi and Preston. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services will be Monday July 18, 2022 at 10:30 am from the Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home, 133 Broad St. (Rte.32), Waterford and at 11 am at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Waterford. Interment with Military Honors will follow at Saratoga National Cemetery.
Relatives and friends may visit at the funeral home on Monday July 18 prior to the funeral from 9 – 10:30 am.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer’s Disease Association, 1003 Loudon Rd, Cohoes, NY 12047.