Perry "Pete" Gilbert

Perry Gilbert, 93, of Albany N.Y. died on May 25th 2016. "Pete" Gilbert, son of Perry Gilbert and Marie Remillard, loving husband of Beverly Gilbert passed away at Barnwell Nursing Home in Valatie N.Y. after a long battle with dementia. Pete and "Bev" Gilbert (Trackey) had one daughter Susan and five sons Peter, David, Jeffrey, Paul and Thomas. He is survived by his children Susan, Peter, Paul and Thomas. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, living in the Albany and Philadelphia areas.

Pete was born during a blizzard on May 10th 1923 in Hudson Falls, N.Y. He lived on John Street, a few doors down from his lifelong friend Phil Batteste. Pete was the youngest of six: Marion, Doris, Ester, Clifton "Peanut" and Louise "Anita". As a kid he loved sports and was involved in baseball, football, basketball and gymnastics. He was captain of the football team. He graduated Hudson Falls High school.

Pete enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and was ejected when they found out his real age. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army as an infantry soldier, rising to the rank of Sargent. His unit landed on the third day of the Normandy invasion, June 9th 1944. He was injured on Nov 24, 1944 by land mine a few weeks before Battle of the Bulge (Dec 16th 1944). He was subsequently evacuated to England to recuperate and spent the remainder of the war there. He received a Bronze Star on Feb 4, 1945 for actions taken in combat on Oct 22, 1944.

After the war, in 1947, he went to Ithaca College. He received a BS in 1950. He was on the football team, trampoline team and belonged to the Olympian gymnastics club.

Pete and Bev were married in St Paul's Cathedral in Hudson Falls on September 5, 1948. After college he worked at the Buffalo Veterans Administration Hospital for about a year and then transferred to the Albany Veterans Administration Hospital. The family lived at the Gilbert house on John Street in Hudson Falls until 1956 when they moved to Albany.

Pete worked as an Exercise Therapist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albany, for 35 years, where he worked with wounded and disabled veterans. When his children were young he loved coaching his kids and the neighborhood kids at Colonie Little League and Babe Ruth. After retirement in 1980, Pete and Bev would travel, spending winters in Ft. Myers, FL. He loved watching sports, working in the garden, and tending his grape vines and raspberry bushes. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Services will be held on Sunday June 5th at the New Comer Funeral Home, a viewing from 1 to 3 pm and a service at 3 pm. The address is 343 New Karner Rd, Colonie, NY 12205. http://www.newcomeralbany.com/)

In lieu of flowers the Gilbert family ask that you give a donation to a charity of your choosing.