Andrew R. 'Andy' Gillespie

~~New Port Richey Fla: Andrew R. Gillespie, 49, of New Port Richey, FL, passed away on Friday, November 24, 2017, at the home of his brother, Jason, of the Rome Oriskany Road, Rome, while surrounded by the loving care of his family and hospice. Affectionately known as Andy, he was born in Middletown, NY, on March 29, 1968, a son of Richard and Jane Wildner Gillespie. He grew up in Middletown and in nearby Montgomery, where he attended Valley Central High School, Montgomery, until the middle part of his high school junior year. In January, 1985, Andy moved with his family to Boonville, where his father was employed at General Telephone Company. Andy attended Adirondack Central School, for his junior and senior years, graduating with the Class of 1986. One of the loves of Andys life was the sport of Baseball, an interest which Andys father, Richard, nurtured by playing catch with and as Andy grew up, his father, a legendary ball player himself, threw 80 plus mile an hour balls for Andy to catch. He began his baseball career on T-Ball teams and then little league teams in the Middletown, area, later playing Varsity Baseball for Valley High School. In the spring of 1985, Andy joined the Adirondack High School Wildcat Varsity Baseball Team. While on the Wildcat Team, Andy was a 2 time All-Star Catcher on the 85 and 86 baseball teams which played for a combined 39-4 record, claiming back-to-back Intervalley League titles. The 1986, Wildcat Team, which he captained, lost by a score of 6-5, in the 1986 NY State final game to Ardsley High School, (of Westchester Co.), at Murnane Field in Utica. Andys defensive exploits behind the plate are of legend and he also held the schools single season RBI record for a stretch of 30 years! Andys classmate and teammate, Mickey Fauvelle, best sums up Andys baseball high school career and general character: A great player, Andy, was a quiet leader and a beloved teammate in the ACS dugout. Following high school, Andy, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving his country stateside in California, from 1987, until his honorable discharge in 1990. While serving in the Navy, he furthered his education in Electronics. In 1990, Andy settled in Goochland, VA, where he was employed as a lineman in the telecommunications industry. From Virginia, he moved to Sevierville, TN, where he lived for several years while employed with his brothers, David and Eric in the residential log home construction business. During this time, Andy honed his skills in carpentry under the tutelage of his brother, David. While living in TN, Andy also attended Great Smokey Mountain Community College, earning his Associates Degree in Education. In 2007, Andy returned to Boonville, where he lived before moving to Rome, settling on the Rome-Oriskany Road. For several years thereafter, he was employed in home construction and remodeling in the Boonville area. In 2015, Andy moved to New Port Richey, Fla, where he was employed as a carpenter in home construction for Leverette Home Design, Hudson Fla, until October, 2016, when he retired due to illness. In 2006, Andy met the love of his life, Elisa Vangorder; together they had brightened each others lives. Andy greatly enjoyed coaching his daughters T-Ball Team; he also was gifted at and enjoyed creating new items from old lumber and he enjoyed playing golf. In addition to his companion, Elisa, Andy is survived by his daughter, Johanna Gillespie, the light and joy of his life, his mother, Jane Wildner, Louisa, VA, his father, Richard and Wanda, Ava; three brothers, Eric (Shelly) Gillespie, Boonville, David (Tracy) Gillespie, Louisa, VA and Jason Gillespie, Rome and three nieces, Grace, Lydia and Emily. His Funeral will be Monday at 6:00 P.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, where calling hours will be Monday from 2-6 P.M. Interment will be in St. Josephs Cemetery, Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Judes Childrens Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas PL, Memphis, TN 38105.