Obituary of Kenneth T. Lally

Niskayuna - Kenneth T. Lally of Ruffner Road in Niskayuna, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2008 at his home. He was born on October 20, 1914 in Waterville, New York, the son of William and Mae Lally. Mr. Lally is survived by his sister, Mary Lally, of Niskayuna, NY and his brother Robert Lally of Binghamton, NY, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers, Howard Lally and John Lally and his sister, Helen Lally Fischer. Ken was a graduate of Waterville Central Schools and on July 11, 1939, he married Thelma Perkins. Thelma and Ken moved to Schenectady where Thelma taught at a "one-room" school house in Glenville and in the Niskayuna School District. Thelma was a dedicated teacher for over 35 years who was greatly admired and respected by both her colleagues and her students. Thelma, who served as an Officer, Director and Trustee of numerous educational and community organizations, predeceased Ken on March 22, 2005. Mr. Lally began a manufacturing engineering career with the General Electric Company in Schenectady, NY. In 1964, he left General Electric and purchased the historic W. & L. E. Gurley Co. (now Gurley Precision Instruments, Inc.) in Troy and took control of its operations. Ken's efforts saved the Company and made it very successful. He later sold Gurley to Teledyne, Inc. He served as President of Coradian Corporation and also as an Officer, Director, Financier and Consultant to various privately owned manufacturing companies, including many Capital District "startup" companies. Ken is perhaps best remembered for his financial contributions to area educational and health institutions. He was an active member of the Board of Trustees of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for over 30 years. He also served as the secretary of the RPI Board and founded and chaired the trustee committee on community relations. Ken was a member of The Stephen Van Rensselaer Society of Patroons, a recipient of the Rensselaer Alumni Association's 1986 Albert Fox Demers Medal, the 1989 Distinguished Service Award and also received an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from RPI. In addition, Ken was one of the founders of the Capital Region Technology Development Council, a member of the Business Council of New York State, a President of Samaritan Hospital Board of Trustees, a President of the Troy Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Board of the Troy Savings Bank. Ken was a member of the Board of Trustees of the College of Saint Rose, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ellis Hospital Foundation. He was also a member of the Mohawk Golf Club for over 40 years, and a very active member of the Lake George Yacht Club. Ken Lally was a true self-made man and enjoyed challenging new fledgling businesses and their founders to achieve their dreams. Most of his gifts to various charitable, medical, educational and community service institutions and organizations were made contingent upon their success in achieving over-all campaign goals and program objectives. Almost without fail such conditions inspired the beneficiaries to raise funds from other sources thereby multiplying the impact of Ken and Thelma's substantial and cornerstone support. In 1995, Ken and Thelma Lally gave what was then the largest gift ever received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in order to help the School of Management gain national prominence. As a tribute to Ken and Thelma, RPI renamed its Management School the "Kenneth T. and Thelma P. Lally School of Management and Technology". The Lally's also made substantial gifts to several other local Colleges, Universities and private secondary schools, including the College of Saint Rose, Siena College (from which the Lallys received Honorary Degrees), Union College and Schenectady County Community College, as well as Catholic Central High School, LaSalle School, LaSalle Institute, Academy of Holy Names and St. Anne's Institute. In recognition of Ken and Thelma's record setting gift, St. Rose named its new signature building the "Thelma P. Lally School of Education" in 2003. Union College also named a reading room in its library, the "Kenneth T. and Thelma P. Lally Reading Room" in recognition of their leadership gift. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany has also been a major beneficiary of Ken and Thelma's interest in supporting Catholic education programs and initiatives. Area hospitals receiving substantial contributions from the Lally's included the Samaritan Hospital, which named a Pavilion in their honor, Albany Medical Center, establishing the Lally Stroke Unit, St. Clare's Hospital, Sunnyview Hospital and Ellis Hospital. Ken and Thelma received the "Philanthropists of the Year" award for their support of charities in the Capital Region from the National Society of Fundraising Executives in 1994 and in 1999 they were honored with the Citizen Laureate Award from the University of Albany Foundation. Mr. Lally's family is grateful to Dr. Arthur Stevens and the nurses who have provided such loving care to Ken for the past several years. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church on Union Street in Schenectady on Tuesday, November 11, at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, November 10, at the Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union Street at McClellan Street, Schenectady. Memorial contributions may be made to any of the institutions and organizations that the Lally's supported. Burial will be Wednesday, November 12th at 11 AM at St. Bernard's Cemetery, Waterville, NY.