Harold Gladd

Harold Lee “Pete” Gladd, age 87, of Saranac Lake, died Monday, December 31, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family following a long illness.

Born in Saranac Lake, New York on April 30, 1931, he was the son of Monroe and Thelma (Martin) Gladd. Pete married Mary Elizabeth Salls on May 24, 1958 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Saranac Lake.

Pete graduated from Saranac Lake High School. He went to work for the Nash Car Dealer and then the Chevy Dealer. He later went into the car business with two brothers on Church Street in 1959. They named the business Lake Colby New and Used Car Exchange. They later renamed the business M. Gladd & Sons when they moved to Lake Colby Drive. He eventually bought his two brothers out and his son Peter worked with him for thirteen years before he left to join the Saranac Lake Police force in 1997. Pete retired from the car dealership in 1998. He spent eleven years on the Saranac Lake Planning Board. He served on the 4-H Board and was a senior warden at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Pete was a member of the Saranac Lake Elks Club BOPE 1508 and the Mason and Shriner’s. He was instrumental in getting the Lake Colby Intersection garden planted and helped his wife maintain it for eleven years. He loved going to rodeos and car races that his son competed in, and his daughters summer softball games. He owned his own airplane, a 1959 Forney F-1, which he loved fling and flew many first time flyers. “N7569C, 69 Charlie clear for takeoff’.

He is survived by his wife Mary of Saranac Lake, one son Peter Lee Gladd of Chiefland, FL, three daughters Shellie Lynn (Gary) Manning of Saranac Lake, Lisa Mary (Peter) Amorosi of South Glens Falls and Velvet Larissa Kopach of Dayton, TX. One sister Elizabeth English of Enfield CT, six grandchildren Shauna, Nick, Alexis, Anthony, Tanner and Brandon whom he loved dearly and were all with him near the end. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased in death by 5 brothers Joseph, Eugene, George, William and Monroe, one sister Dorothy Davis.

Calling hours will take place from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday January 6, 2019 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A funeral service will immediately follow at 3:00 PM at the funeral home with Rev. George Nagle officiating.

In lieu of flowers friends wishing to remember Harold Lee Gladd may make memorial contributions to the Gladd Foundation sending children with bleeding disorders to camp, PO Box 116, Clifton Park, NY 12065 or the Shriners Hospital for Children 1003 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC H4A )0A9 Canada or in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.