Donald Gilbert Hauprich passed away peacefully in his Ballston Spa home surrounded by loved ones on August 24, 2021. He was 97.
Born in Albany on February 10, 1924, Donald was the son of Edward Hauprich, Sr. and Sophie (nee Keller) Hauprich. Shortly after graduating from Albany High School in 1942 Donald proudly served in the US Army where he earned the rank of corporal prior to being honorably discharged following World War Two. Having sustained injuries while in northern Africa, his patriotic legacy includes having been a Disabled American Veteran (DAV).
It was during a rehearsal for an Albany Light Opera Company production in 1946 that Donald met and fell in love with Audrey (nee Bopp) with whom he exchanged vows of Holy Matrimony in March 1948. Their two hearts continued beating as one as they welcomed 10 children before settling in Ballston Spa in 1968.
Donald’s hands on approach to parenting during the 1950s and 1960s ultimately earned him accolades as having been “A New Millennium Dad in a Father’s Knows Best World.” (legaciesunlimited.com/PDF/NEW-MILLENNIUM-DAD_IN_A_FATHER-KNOWS-BEST-WORLD.pdf)
The “Dad for All Seasons” celebrated every holiday to the fullest, festively decorating the Hauprich abode and sharing traditions from coloring and bucking Easter eggs to lighting Advent wreath candles leading up to Christmas.
The homestead’s walls also often reverberated with the sounds of music as Donald, who was a self-taught pianist, sang duets with Audrey to the delight of family and friends. For many years the couple also raised their voices in songs of praise and worship as part of the choir at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ballston Spa.
The former Boy Scout additionally enjoyed singing around campfires with his offspring as well as fishing, hiking, swimming and playing shuffleboard during summer vacations on Lake George where Donald further honed his captivating lifelong storytelling skills. Memories of his bocce ball and ping pong playing adventures abound as do those of him dancing everything from waltzes to polkas to The Bunny Hop and The Hokey Pokey at weddings and other celebrations. Seemingly born with a Green Thumb, the bounty from Donald’s backyard garden was often shared with friends and relatives.
Somehow Donald, who was fondly regarded as “a perpetual ray of sunshine” also found time to commute from Ballston Spa to his full-time electrical maintenance position at SUNY/Albany. After retiring in 1984, he travelled with Audrey to such diverse destinations as Arizona, Gettysburg, PA, Canada and Italy.
Donald was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Edward Hauprich, Jr. and Elinor Hauprich Dougherty as well as by his granddaughter Jennifer Marie Danison.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Audrey Bopp Hauprich; his children, Charlene Reese, Timothy Hauprich, Pamela Irish, Ann Hauprich (Cole Broderick), Francis Hauprich, William Hauprich (all of Ballston Spa), Stephen Hauprich (Nancy) of Cicero, NY, Christopher Hauprich (Joanna) of Ballston Spa, Andrew Hauprich (Sharon) of Schenectady and Mary Reilly (Dave) of New Hampshire. The family tree extends to include 28 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Over the years, Donald was also a beloved honorary “second father” to Marcio de Melo of Brazil, Dave Sherwood of Ballston Spa and the now late Rev. Anthony Maione.
Heartfelt thanks to Mariola Klawender and Joanne Hauprich for their devoted daytime caregiving assistance and to caring overnight aides Nora Bennett and Lynn Bouteiller as well as to Sister Nancy Schmidt of the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Rev. Francis Vivacqua and Deacon Ron Hogan of St. Mary’s Church for their spiritual support and to Stephen Pezzulo, MD for his palliative care services.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 9:30am Monday, August 30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Donald may be made to St. Mary’s Church,185 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
