Obituary of Ralph Slighter

Ralph (Gary) Slighter, 92, of Albany and formerly of Hoags Corners, New York went home to be with the Lord July 16, 2017. 
Raised in Hamburg, New York, he was the eldest of six children of the late Ralph and Viva Slighter.  He graduated from Hamburg High School and attended Dartmouth College (BS), Harvard University and RPI (MS).  His life work was as a research biologist for Sterling Winthrop Research Institute in Rensselaer NY.
In 1947, Gary was married to Lorraine Troop and they were blessed with 67 years of marriage until Lorraine’s death in 2014. 
He is survived by his siblings Alfred and Verne (CO), Laura Moreau (CA), Warren (NY) and Polly Petersen (CA), his children Alysan (Troy NY), Ralph (VA), Tim (MA), Heather Byrne (VA) and Pam (Brooklyn NY), and 5 Grandchildren and 3 Great grandchildren.
Gary was a member of Loudonville Community Church (LCC) and volunteered as a youth leader, a caretaker with the MOPS program, a greeter, and he was a member of the Board of Elders.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at LCC, 374 Loudon Road Loudonville, NY on Tuesday July 18 at 6:00 p.m.  to celebrate Gary’s life. Interment at Hoags Corners Cemetery is limited to family. 
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Gary’s name to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 - an organization that supports Gary’s love of birds.
Funeral arrangments are under the direction of the Morris-Stebbins-Miner & Sanvidge Funeral Home, 312 Hoosick Street, Troy, NY 12180. Phone (518) 272-5802. Please express your condolences by using the green "Add Condolence" tab below.