Obituary of Albert E. Gillander

Albert E. Gillander, Jr., 75, of Lee Center, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2021, at St. Elizabeth’s Healthcare in Utica. He was born in Rome on December 8, 1945, a son of the late Albert E. and Hilda (Corr) Gillander. On June 5th, 1987, he was united in marriage to Cherie Sauer. Al grew up in the Lake Delta area, attended Rome schools, and graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College. During his career, he spent more than 30 years helping others as a Registered Nurse with the NYS DDSO and Department of Corrections before retiring in 2001. Al was a devoted husband, and when he and Cherie were not babysitting their grandchildren, they enjoyed playing Bingo and going on many travel adventures around the country and Canada. His hobbies included woodworking, golf, and HAM radio, and he was a long-time member of the Rome Radio Club with the call sign N2XT. Al was fond of the outdoors, and spent many seasons in the Adirondacks at their camp on the channel between 3rd and 4th Lakes. Most of all, Al was known as an easy-going, generous, kind, and loving guy. Affectionately known as Gill by friends, and Dad or Grampa by his family, he treasured all the time he spent cheering on his grandchildren at all their sports and arts endeavors, and celebrating life’s milestones at every gathering of family and friends. Surviving besides his loving wife, Cherie, are two daughters, Susan Lewis-Matthews (Wayne) and Jennifer Gillander (Jamie Harper); a son, Paul Gillander (Amy); a sister, Deborah Talerico (Joseph); three brothers, William (Gayle), Robert, and Thomas (Petrin) Gillander; two step-sons, Jeffrey Balch (Rick Whipple) and Kyle Balch (Eryn); ten cherished grandchildren, Courtney (Eddie) Escobedo, Emily and Molly Lewis and Karlee Matthews, Dasey and Vito Rizzo, Andrew and Rebecca Gillander, and Levi and Jax Balch; one precious great-granddaughter, Marleigh Escobedo; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Al was predeceased by a daughter, Rebecca Gillander, and a sister, Barbara Ernst (William). Al’s family would like to express their deep gratitude to Dr. El-amir, the nurses and staff in the CT-ICU at St. Elizabeth’s for their wonderful care and compassion. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 12th at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 502 W. Chestnut St., Rome. Interment will take place in Rome Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to call at Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome, on Thursday, February 11th from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the number of guests allowed to enter the funeral home at one time will be limited, everyone must wear a face covering upon entering, and proper social distancing protocols must be adhered to once inside. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Al’s memory to The Kelberman Center, 2608 Genesee St., Utica, NY 13502 or the Lee Center Fire Department, 5643 Stokes-Lee Center Rd., Lee Center, NY 13363.