John Gade Jr

Guilderland-John "Jack" Hauf Gade Jr., owner of the Gade Farm in Guilderland, died Friday, April 17, 2015, in Ellis Hospital after a long battle to recover following a stroke. He was 85. He was born Jan. 3, 1930, the son of John Gade Sr. and Elizabeth Thornhill Gade. He was raised on the farm, and lived his entire life within a few miles of it. He was a farmer and entrepreneur. He was the third generation of Gades to run the farm business, overseeing its transition to a retail farm market and nursery on the family homestead on Western Avenue. Jack made his living with his powerful hands, his ingenuity and vision for the farm business, and his physical strength. He loved his family and the farm, and the two were inextricably linked throughout his lifetime. He was a graduate of Cobleskill College and Milne High School. He was a lifelong member of the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church in Guilderland, and served as a church deacon. He was on the board of directors of the Capital District Farmers Market in Menands for 47 years, and the board president from 1987-2002. The regional market, owned by local farmers as a cooperative to sell their produce, was started in the 1930s. Among the market's founders was Jack's father, John Sr., who was on the original board of directors. Jack's tenure of leadership in the market reflected his commitment to his father's legacy and the success of all produce growers in the Hudson and Mohawk valleys.He was a guiding hand in the market for nearly a half-century. He served for many years on the Prospect Hill Cemetery board of directors, also a service his father had done in the mid-20th century. He gave back to his community, donating produce to food kitchens and supporting more than two dozen groups and organizations in the Guilderland area. He loved baseball, and played centerfield for the Guilderland Indians, a perennial power in the Helderberg League after World War II and the 1950s. He coached little league and Babe Ruth baseball teams in the Pine Bush league in the 1960s. As a parent and grandfather, he regularly attended baseball, football, lacrosse and softball games in which his family participated. His extended family gathered at his home every Sunday for dinner, which was routinely followed by pinochle, a family ritual that has been passed through several generations. He is survived by his wife, Louise (Tants) Gade; two sisters, Greta Radley of Guilderland and Nancy Hollomon of Boston; five children, Peter Gade of Norman, OK, Susan Gade Marcucci of Altamont, and John Gade III, James Gade and Mark Gade, who continue the farm business in Guilderland. He is also survived by son-in-law Derrick Marcucci, and daughters-in law Susan Winters Gade, Diane (Stahl) Gade and Kellie (Coup) Gade. He had 14 grandchildren: Nicole, Sam and Jack Marcucci; Emma and Joseph Gade; Tim, Matt, Thomas, James and Caroline Gade; Mary, Molly and John IV Gade; and Jessi Coup. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of John Gade Jr. to Sunnyview Hospital Foundation, 1270 Belmont Ave., Schenectady, NY, 12308. A public viewing will be held 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 21 at DeMarco-Stone Funeral Home, 5216 Western Ave. (Route 20), Guilderland. Funeral service is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 22 at the Hamilton Union Presbyterian Church, 2291 Western Ave., Guilderland.