The Village of Ballston Spa Loses a former Mayor

Bert Grandin Obituary .......... via Armer Funeral Home 

Bert C. Grandin, former mayor and active civic leader in Ballston Spa for a half-century, died Wednesday, December 13, at Saratoga Hospital. He died after a short illness surrounded by his family.

Bert and his family moved to Ballston Spa in 1972, and he was promptly elected to the Ballston Spa school board in 1973, serving until 1982, including time as board president. Bert then won election as mayor of Ballston Spa, serving from 1983 to 1991. Bert was also a leader with many organizations in Ballston Spa, including the Franklin Lodge Masons, Christ Church, Ballston Area Senior Citizens, and Community Emergency Corps. He also served in fire departments in Smithtown, NY, and Beaverton, OR.

Bert was widely known as the voice of Ballston Spa High School football, announcing the school’s games for over 35 years (“First down, Ballllllllllston!”); he was inducted into the Ballston Spa Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. He was also instrumental in improving the school’s athletic facilities during his time on the school board. Bert attended his children’s high school athletic events from the 1960s to the 1980s, as well as served as coach to many of his children’s youth athletic teams.

Bert was ordained as deacon in the Anglican Church of America in 2012, at the age of 81. He served in numerous capacities in Episcopal churches since the 1950s.

“He epitomized what growing up in a small town was for me. Strong family values, community involvement and engagement and strong values. All done with a soft voice and a twinkle in his eye,” recalls one of his daughter’s childhood friends.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Barbara Grandin. Bert met Barbara in their high school newspaper office in Spring 1948, and they have been together for over 75 years. Bert and Barbara loved to cruise, taking an estimated 90 cruises; they also took all of their children and grandchildren on numerous cruises.

Bert is also survived by his children Steve (Renee) Grandin of Saratoga Springs, Kevin (Martha) Grandin of Round Rock, TX, and Linda (Bill) Yee of Woodinville, WA; and grandchildren Philip (Megan) Grandin of Montague, MA; Alex Grandin of Saratoga Springs; William (Alison Lester) Grandin of New York City; Ryan (Erica) Grandin of Frisco, TX; Kyle Grandin of Plano, TX; Ben (Kellie) Yee of New York City; Jacob Yee of Seattle, WA; and Ethan Yee of Bellingham, WA. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Madeline, Anastasia, Hitch, Davis, and Trey. There was nothing Bert enjoyed more than spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, both locally and around the country. Bert is also survived by his brother Jack (Lee) Grandin, and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Bert was the son of the late Albert and Margaret Rudden Grandin. After growing up in New York City and winning acceptance to the elite Brooklyn Technical High School, Bert and his family moved to Long Island and he graduated from Sewanhaka High School. Bert attended Canterbury College (IN), Alfred State College, and Adelphi University. He served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1955 as an interior communications specialist on the USS Albany and spent his business career in the high-tech electronic field, first at Brookhaven National Laboratory, and then as a salesman in New York and Ohio.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Saturday, January 13 from 11am to 1pm at Christ Episcopal Church in Ballston Spa. A service will follow at 1pm. Burial will be private at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, contributions are asked to be made to one’s preferred charity.