Thomas VanAlstyne Sr.

“I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people leading ordinary lives.”    – Tracy Chapman

Thomas VanAlstyne Sr. (b. Feb 4, 1934) peacefully departed this world with all his children lifting him up on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY. Thomas, lovingly known as Tommy, Daddy, or Grampy to most, was born to Charles VanAlstyne and Bertha (Coley) VanAlstyne in the small town of Stockport, New York, joining a loving family that would grow to be 18 children. He attended the Claverack School in Claverack, NY., to which he often attested that he and his siblings would walk dutifully in the wind, rain, and snow. He enjoyed splashing around on hot summer days in the Spook Rock Creek and playing baseball at the Claverack School. 

He started working as a young boy, first as a farm hand, tending the cows and the land at various farms in Columbia County. Two local farms included The Peck Farm, owned by Earl Peck, in Craryville in the 1950s and 1960s, and The Hess’ Farm in Claverack briefly. He had a great love for machinery and moved on to driving an oil truck for Joseph Murrell in Hudson, delivering to residences countywide. He returned to farming for The Gellert Family in Germantown in the 1970s and proudly shared stories of being a grape farmer. He enjoyed being in nature out in the fields but mostly cherished his leisurely drives riding high in the grape harvester, traveling from Germantown to Hillsdale, hauling the harvest of the day. He continued his career as a “farmer,” working with The Gellert Family for the next 30+ years at Pine Lane Poultry Farm in Hillsdale. In his final role until his retirement, he drove trucks, delivering goods to local restaurants, schools, and businesses in the area, and meeting many along the way who won’t forget the inextinguishable twinkle in his eyes and his warm demeanor. In his retirement years, he would tinker with cars and lawn mowers and saw that they were put to good use. From his early working life until well after he retired, he was committed to being the man of the house who always took care of his family.

In his 90 years, Tommy experienced hardships, yet remained a generous soul that raised the spirits of those around him. While he didn’t seek to stand out, he created a legacy of family, storytelling, hard work, easy laughter, and innate positivity. He lived through an era that tolerated racist policies as a standard and endured injustices in his years that starkly contrasted the kindness with which he authentically treated others. He looked back at a life he was proud of, in which he earned the great appreciation and love bestowed upon him. 

Tommy mastered the elusive art of seeming just like a regular guy while he was extremely unique and special. He drew devotion from his loved ones – the intensity of which is rivaled only by that of their sadness in his absence. If a man’s worth can be measured by how lovingly he will be remembered, then Tommy was a billionaire in all the ways that mattered to him most. 

Tommy is predeceased by his wife, Mary (Hamm) VanAlstyne, his son, Peter; his parents, Charles and Bertha; and his siblings, Elizabeth, Sandy, Susan, Thelma, Rosie, Clifford, Eddie, Kenny, William, Richard, Janet, Florence, Mary, Frank, and twins who passed at birth. 

He is survived by his brother Malcolm, forever friend Dora Coppa, and his children: Thomas Jr. (Mary), Claudia (Larry), Julia, Larry (Danielle), Janet (George), Angela (Bill), and Giosue (Jessica), his grandchildren; Thomas III, Joshua, Ashley, Tom, Troy, Tiara, Winston, Jordan, Shamira, Jasmine, Jahaira, Olivia, Kobe, Kaden, Benjamin, Gabriel, Mason, and Samuel, his great grandchildren; Joshua, Joseph, Christopher, Donovan, Logan, Emma, Angel, Joses, Arianna, Amari, Alana, Deonne, Hunter, Sage, Laurel, Sora, Gabriel, Nashyra, Orion, Journee, Novela, Sylas, and Remington, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A life well lived is a tribute to all, a Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 4pm to 8pm at at the Hudson Elks Lodge, 201 Harry Howard Ave, Hudson, NY 12534

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