SARATOGA SPRINGS – Willard E “Bill” Grande passed away peacefully at home on Friday, September 25, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on April 27, 1933 and raised in Saratoga Springs, son of the late Willard J. and Madeline Cook Grande, and was a lifetime resident of Saratoga, his only time living away from his beloved community was from 1955-57 while proudly serving his country in the Corps of Engineers in Sondrestrom, Greenland, overseeing the construction of the airstrip support buildings there. Bill was an honors graduate of Saratoga Springs High School in 1951 and the School of Architecture at RPI in 1955 where he was president of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He attended the Corps of Engineers Officer Training School in 1954-55. Upon his return from Greenland, Bill became a Professional Engineer and dedicated his life to the improvement of the city he so loved.
Along with his father and brother, Bill worked tirelessly to provide affordable housing in and around Saratoga, helping to build several hundred homes for working families, along with hundreds of additions to houses and businesses. Bill was involved in the design and construction of many commercial buildings in the community including projects for the Adirondack Trust Co., Stewart’s, Fasig Tipton, the Saratoga Raceway and numerous professional offices. He also was very involved in the land use planning and infrastructure development that brought these projects to fruition. His progressive approach to development was coupled with his lifelong interest in history and commitment to historic preservation, and he oversaw the renovation construction of numerous historic homes and buildings throughout Saratoga County. All of his undertakings were geared toward bettering the community, and he devoted himself to many civic activities.
He served on numerous boards including the Saratoga YMCA where he served as president, the Saratoga Springs Planning Board and was a charter member of the Architectural Review and Historic Review Boards as well as a director of the community bank, the Adirondack Trust Co. He worked with the Historic Preservation Foundation, the Saratoga Springs Historical Society, in particular the preservation of the Bolster Collection, and the National Bottle Museum. His fundraising efforts for community projects included the United Community Fund where he was campaign chairman, the Saratoga YMCA, the Saratoga Community Hotel, the Saratoga Hospital, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Saratoga Emergency Corps, the Saratoga Historical Society, the Saratoga Preservation Foundation, Skidmore College and others.
His penchant for local history and its preservation carried over to his personal interests which included collecting Saratoga memorabilia and 19th century NYS decorated stoneware, of which his collection is renowned. He authored over 40 published articles on decorated stoneware and lectured on the subject. Bill’s love of the land and its many uses carried over to his hobbies. He was an avid fisherman and hunter for many years, enjoyed cross-country and downhill skiing, hiking in the woods and mountains of the Adirondacks, swimming and boating with his family. He also enjoyed supporting and leading cheers for the Saratoga hockey teams, developing a love for the game while an usher at Houston Field House at RPI home games while he was in college.
Bill will be remembered for many things not the least of which is his infectious “Grande grin” and his encyclopedic knowledge of stories of the Saratoga region. Bill loved to laugh and had a penchant for smiles, particularly in his later years when he thoroughly enjoyed the company of his grandchildren. He was a kind and generous man who gave of himself tirelessly and selflessly and led by example in all that he did. Bill is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Holly Klopstock Grande; his loving children, Timothy A. (JoAnn Woodworth) Grande, Thomas C. (Jacqueline Dunbar) Grande, Kim Klopstock, Kris-Jon Klopstock; his cherished grandchildren, Timmy, Max, Mickey, Marina, Talara, Thad, Sierra, Kyle and McKenzie; his cherished great-grandchildren, Leila, Parker and Burke. He is also survived by his siblings James J. Grande, Shirley Carpenter, Nancy McNeary and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the local charity of your choice. As per Bill’s wishes, there will be no services. The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to all of Bill’s extraordinary care givers at the Saratoga Hospital, Hospice and his home care providers.
