SARATOGA SPRINGS -
Jesse Ward Williams passed away in his home on Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, at the age of 83.
During the last years of his life, Jesse suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Although ultimately succumbing to the fatal disease, Jesse never surrendered his dignity and maintained every ounce of independence possible right up until his final moments. Jesse is survived by his wife of 49 years, Louella (Draper) Williams.
Jess and Lou married in February of 1958, and settled in North Tonawanda, N.Y. Together they had five children, Mary Lee Tierney and David, Steven, Kevin and Peter Williams. Jesse is also survived by two children from a prior marriage, Adora Williams and Julee Bayless.
During their time in the Buffalo area, Jesse worked at the Bell Aircraft Corp. In 1971, he accepted a position with Industrial Nucleonics as a computer service engineer maintaining, servicing and repairing manufacturing systems. As such, he was assigned to work with the computers at the International Paper Mill in Ticonderoga. He moved the family to Ticonderoga, where they lived at the northern tip of Lake George in the Adirondack Mountains.
In 1976, Jesse accepted a position with AccuRay, where he continued his work as a computer service engineer. He worked with computers in various manufacturing facilities in the Capital District Area. He then moved the family to Saratoga Springs where all five children graduated from Saratoga Springs High School.
In 1989, Jesse retired from AccuRay and continued his work as a computer service engineer, as an independent contractor, until he was eighty. Jesse volunteered at the Veterans' Administration Hospital in Albany. He served veterans at the hospital for over sixteen years. Jesse and Louella also worked as volunteers for Meals on Wheels, where they delivered meals to the elderly and infirmed for over fifteen years. Jesse was a World War II veteran. He decided to join the United States Navy when he learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
He enlisted in December of his senior year of high school at the age of seventeen. He served on active duty with the United States Navy for over three years. He was an Aviation Mechanics Mate, and he reached the rank of Third Class Petty Officer. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Jesse was born in Schenectady, in 1924, to Elmer (a/k/a 'Sliver') and Nina Williams. When he was five weeks old, his family moved to Miami, Florida, and later moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. As a boy in Miami, Jesse developed a passion for sailing.
He learned to sail in the ocean waters off the Miami Coast. While living in North Tonawanda, he was a member of the Wilson Yacht club, where he and Lou sailed on Lake Ontario. He ultimately became the Commodore of the Wilson Yacht Club. When the family moved to Ticonderoga, he taught the children to sail on Lake George. Later in life, and while living in Saratoga Springs, he and Lou became members of the Mayfield Yacht Club, where they enjoyed sailing on the Great Sacandaga Lake. Although Jesse was raised in a Protestant household, Jesse attended Catholic mass each and every Sunday with his Catholic wife and children. In 2005, he converted to Catholicism.
He was a faithful parishioner at Saint Peter's church for over thirty-one years. He served on the parish council from 2004 until the time of his death. Jesse lived a long and full life. He thoroughly loved and appreciated his family, and his family thoroughly loved and appreciated him. Jesse is survived by his wife, Louella, seven children, 16 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (584-5373). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m.
Friday in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway, by the Rev. Dominic S. Ingemie, pastor. Burial with military honors will follow at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga national Cemetery, 200 Duell Road, Schuylerville.
Memorials may be made to the ALS Center at 19 Warehouse Road, Albany, NY 12205, or to the Community Hospice of Saratoga at 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the following workers and volunteers at Hospice who helped Jesse and his family through this trying time, Carol, Debbie, Glenn, Sally, and especially Kelly.
Online remembrances may be made at
www.burkefuneralhome.com.
ŠThe Saratogian 2007