Read About Who We Are and What We Do
Memoriam
We celebrate the lives of fellow 46ers who are now climbing the celestial hills, wishing them peace.
2019
Alan H. Wadliegh #7705
Obituary for Alan H. Wadleigh #7705, GLENS FALLS
Alan H. Wadleigh #7705, 52, of Glens Falls passed away while hiking in the Adirondack Mountains on Sunday March 17, 2019.
Born October 26, 1966 in Glens Falls, NY, he was the son of Elizabeth (Betty) Wadleigh.
He was a class of 1985 graduate of Glens Falls High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Charter Oak State College and his MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Alan married Glenda Martindale in 1990 at the United Methodist Church. He was a very caring man with a deep love for his family. Alan was very outgoing and made friends easily wherever he went. He made many close friends at work, at his kid’s sporting events, with his neighbors, as an EMT, and as a hiker in the Adirondack mountains. He had a long career at AngioDynamics as a Systems Analyst and took pride in his career. He was always willing to help others and always treated everyone with kindness. He was known for his sense of humor and enjoyed a good prank or scare.
Alan was an avid hiker who conquered the 46 high peaks and hiked year-round. He also completed the Fire Tower challenge, Saranac 6er, Tupper Lake Triad, and the Indian Lake 4-3-2-1. He loved cooking, a good poker game and trying new restaurants with his family. He recently became a grandfather and opened his heart to her instantly. In his recent years he made a close circle of friends as part of the QC Club at Davidson’s in downtown Glens Falls.
He was predeceased by his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Otis and Viola Martindale, his sister-in-law Joyce Keays, and his brother-in-law Norman Martindale.
Alan is survived by his wife of nearly thirty years, Glenda (Martindale) Wadleigh, his son, Joshua Wadleigh, his daughter Katlin Wadleigh (Cody Yousey), and his granddaughter Avery, all of Glens Falls. He also leaves behind his mother, Betty Wadleigh and five siblings, Donald (Laurie) Wadleigh, Glenn (Lynn) Wadleigh, Mark Wadleigh, Sue (Patrick) Baldwin, Craig (Lisa) Wadleigh, sisters-in-law Beverly Whiting, Arlene Austin, and Gwen (Wayne) Thomas and brothers-in-law Bascom Elms and David Keays. His is also survived by his many nieces and nephews.
Thomas J. Clark #700
Edward C. Stone #2364
March 18, 2019
Edward C. Stone, 74, of Oswego, passed away at his home on Monday, March 18, 2019. He was born in Oswego to Carlton “Gene” and Margaret Stone and was a graduate of Oswego Catholic High School in 1963. Upon graduation from high school, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served four years until his honorable discharge in 1967. Ed continued to serve his country in the U.S. Naval Reserve until 1969. He was employed for several years as a sheet metal fabricator with Fulton Sheet Metal. Edward enjoyed bowling, hunting and had a passion for hiking in the Adirondacks. Ed climbed all 46 of the high peaks and was member #2364 of the ADK 46-R Mountain Club.
He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie (Brandon) Forsythe of Mexico; his mother and step-father, Margaret and John Grela of Oswego; his siblings, Thomas (Sharon) Stone of Martville, Stephen (Nancy) Grela of Harleysville, PA and Ann Marie (Brian) Sawyer of Oswego; three grandchildren, Tyler (Morgan) Kennedy, Ashley (Michael) Barry and Trevor Forsythe; two great grandchildren, Toren and Roxy Kennedy; an uncle, several aunts, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Carlton “Gene” Stone in 1953.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Brown Funeral Home, Fulton. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, Oswego. Calling hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 22 at the funeral home, 21 Flood Drive, Fulton. Contributions in Ed’s memory may be made to the ADK 46ers, P.O. Box 180, Cadyville, NY 12918. To leave a message of sympathy for the Stone family, please visit www.brownfuneralhomefulton.com.
John Pearson #6820
John Pearson, 80, passed away February 2, 2019 surrounded by his family. He was born in Syracuse, NY to Hubert and Trewey Pearson and lived in Bridgeport and Long Lake, NY. He served in the US Air Force and was employed with GE as an electrical engineer for 36 years. He was an extra class amateur radio (AA2AE) operator and enjoyed speaking with people all over the world.
John loved to learn about nature and became a proficient naturalist. He could readily identify and explain the life history of most wild flowers, shrubs, trees and song birds found in the Adirondacks. He also became a student of Adirondack history and developed an impressive personal library for his reference.
He initially doubted he could handle the long, arduous High Peak trails but as anyone who hiked with John soon discovered there was no peak he could not conquer as well as, if not better than, many hikers half his age. In July of 2007, at age 68 John began hiking the High Peaks with Jim (#6818) and Katherine Cronn (#6819). Their first peak together was Phelps and upon seeing the view from the summit, he could not wait to hike the rest. Four summers later they finished together on Whiteface. The Cronn’s sons joined them on the hike and John’s daughter, Cathy, met everyone on the summit for a celebration. At age 72 John became ADK 46er #6820.
John completed the ADK Fire Tower Challenge and continued to climb the High Peaks and other trails and summits until his health failed him last summer. Colden which he summited several times remained a favorite and he loved the alpine flora atop Algonquin. In addition to hiking John loved to paddle his Hornbeck canoe logging hundreds of miles in Adirondack streams and ponds and was well on his way to completing the ADK Paddle Challenge.
John served as Vice-President at the Long Lake Fish and Game Club. He was never too busy to help out a friend on whatever the project. John was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Nona Pearson. John is survived by his children, Lucinda (David) Fehringer, John (Deborah) Pearson, Suzanne (Mark) Pearson-Ceretto, Cathy (Greg) Hudson, and David DeGroff; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Burial is in Onondaga Valley Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the ADK 46ers, PO Box 180, Cadyville, NY 12918.
2018
Lisa K. Turpin-Soeller #7118
The Rev. R. L. Donahue #358
The Reverend Canon Ray Lawrence Donahue of Downsville, NY, died on Thursday, November, 22, 2018 in Binghamton, NY.
Father Donahue was born February 23, 1929 and was the son of the late James and Laura Donahue of Horseheads, NY. He was predeceased by a brother James, and is survived by two sisters, Josephine Larson and Anita Donahue and several nieces and nephews.
“Fr. D” as he was affectionately known, was beloved throughout Delaware County and the Catskill region, The Episcopal Church, and to countless people whose lives he blessed.
He received his bachelor degree in Philosophy from Hobart College, Geneva, NY and a Master of Sacred Theology from General Seminary, New York City. He was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1954. He was made Canon of the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY.
Father Donahue served at Trinity Church, Sharon Springs, NY, St. Paul’s Church, West Middleburgh, NY, St. Mary’s Church, Downsville, NY and St. Margaret’s Church, Margaretville, NY. In retirement, he served at Trinity Church, Rensselaerville, NY and Christ Church, Greenville, NY. He also supplied regularly at Christ Church, Walton, NY, St. James Church, Lake Delaware, NY, and St. Peter’s Church, Geneva, NY.
As Chaplain of the Lake Delaware Boys’ Camp for fifty years, Father D nurtured young people and their counselors and provided for the camp’s spiritual needs by the offering of daily mass and addresses to over 100 campers and staff each season. A celebration was held at the camp this past summer to honor him for his 50th year as Camp Chaplain, and to express the love, reverence and respect with which he was held by all.
As a renowned mountain climber, Father Donahue passed on his love for the mountains to many other people. In 1969, he climbed all forty-six peaks in the Adirondacks over 4,000 feet in elevation in nine days, a record that stood for many years. He was a Charter Member of the Catskills 3500 Club, and served as the Chair of Conservation.
In retirement, Father Donahue took a milking course at Cornell Cooperative Extension, and worked at the Harmonie Farm, Downsville, NY for several years.
A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of The Rev. Ray L. Donahue will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11:30 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 55 Lake Delaware Drive, Delhi, NY. The Rev. James Kruger, celebrant, The Rev. James H. Adams, preacher and assisted by others.
Father Donahue made an Anatomical Gift of his body to the Albany Medical College.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lake Delaware Boys Camp, P. O. Box 31, Delhi, NY 13753.
