SARATOGA SPRINGS —Wallace W. Allerdice, Jr., 81, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday March 9, 2024 surrounded by his family. Born in Schenectady on September 10, 1942 to the late Wallace W. Sr. and Margaret (Moore) Allerdice. Wally started his life at a bit of a disadvantage having had his father pass away a month before he arrived. His mother, four loving aunts and maternal grandparents picked up the slack filling him with more than enough love to share with the world.
Ever the curious child, he began a lifelong love for learning that never stopped. His fondness for trucks, construction equipment and building started with an erector set and a collection of Smith Miller metal toy trucks he played with in a sandbox. He still has all of them. Without his father he learned early on that if he needed something, he was going to have to learn how to fix it or build it himself. This led him to forever ask questions on how something was constructed. How it worked. He would get the tools and do much of the work himself. Learning car engines, electrical wiring, building structures and anything mechanical. Often times modifying or machining a part himself.
He graduated Saratoga Springs High School in 1960 and after failing out of Siena College twice, he went on to Hudson Valley Community College and received his associate degree. Shortly thereafter he began his first career as a computer programmer for the State of New York. This was back when computers were the size of rooms! Feeling his education still lacking, he began taking night courses at Russell Sage College to earn his bachelor’s degree in economics. During this time, he was introduced to the love of his life, his wife of almost 55 years, Sue.
In 1980, having gone as far as he could with his state job and getting frustrated with the daily grind, he quit the state, took a welding class at BOCES and began his first of many businesses ARC Welding out of the garage in his backyard. The entrepreneur bug had bitten and shortly thereafter, he purchased a crane and began Allerdice Crane Service hiring his brother-in-law John (Omar), as the crane operator. At this time, having inherited his family home on Circular St. which had been converted into apartments, he decided on expanding his real estate and purchased a burnt-out shell of a home on Phila St. and converted it into apartments. He liked it so much he would later in life go on to buy two more buildings on Union Avenue.
In November of 1982 on a handshake deal, he and his wife were convinced by the Grande Family to buy the failing Millman and Hall lumber yard on the west side of town. Although a terrifying prospect at the time, this proved to be one of the best decisions he ever made. As luck would have it, two weeks after, two gentlemen, TR Pennell and Keith Potter, came looking for jobs. Between the three of them working 90-hour weeks, they built Allerdice Building Supply Inc.
Wally had an unparalleled work ethic and vision for the future slowly adding to the company over the years. A Commercial Door division, Glass and Mirror Shop and two hardware stores one in Milton, the other Malta. He always credited his staff for making all this possible. Without their genuine love, loyalty and hard work, Allerdice would not be a household name.
As hard as he worked at his businesses, he spent an equal amount energy and time on his love for his home, Saratoga Springs.
There were countless organizations and nonprofits he helped throughout his life. Lending a hand when he could or an ear to advise. Caring deeply for the vision of the future of Saratoga, he sat on the City Planning Board for over 20 years never missing a meeting or workshop. When he committed himself, he was all in. He served as a Trustee on many local boards including the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, Brookside Museum (now Saratoga County History Center at Brookside), The Bolster Collection, The Walworth Collection, Greenridge Cemetery, Universal Preservation Hall and most recently Saratoga Automobile Museum. Helping out was second nature to him, never one to turn his back. Because of this in 1995, he was bestowed the honor of becoming a Pillar of Saratoga.
In 1996 when asked to sit on the Board of the Adirondack Trust Company, this was his greatest honor. It was a full circle moment for him having had his grandfather William W. Allerdice serve there almost one hundred years prior from 1910 until his death in 1919. The impact and importance this had on him was incomparable.
It seemed only fitting then when in 2021, Saratoga Springs High School honored him with the Hall of Distinction Award. A shy man not wanting recognition for anything, his impact in this community can be felt far and wide. He touched the lives and hearts of many. He will forever be remembered for never being afraid to get down and dirty. Crawling under a vehicle or out of a hole in the ground, driving his CAT Loader across town to work on a project or plowing a friend’s driveway.
Always busy building something, one can only imagine how he had time for anything else. Anything fun? He lived by the phrase, “do something you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Getting to play with his toys, digging a hole with his excavator or bulldozing in his backyard was his fun. But not his only fun. He had a love for cars, trains, helicopters, boats, guns, golf and photography that kept him more than occupied. From boat rides on Lake George and relaxing at his camp to taking car rides with his beloved German Shepherds on Sundays taking pictures all the while. However, the most fun thing for him though was talking to people. Especially his late-night dinner conversations at his favorite restaurant haunts. You know who you are!
People and his community were his life. They were the things he loved most. He always said, “you are who your friends are” and he had some of the best! He will be missed by this world. Those of us who knew him were the lucky ones though. He was an old school handshake kind of guy. A man of his word. We will love him forever and miss him always.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his four aunts Hannah and Elizabeth Moore, and Doris and Jean Allerdice.
He is survived by his wife Suzanna A. (Pasmik) Allerdice, his two sons Wallace W. Allerdice III and William J. Allerdice, William’s longtime partner Dr. Robert J. Moore, his brothers-in-law John (Julie) Pasmik, Tom Pasmik, his sister-in-law Betty (Jack) King, his nieces Jennifer (Nicholas) Frolish, Valerie Freemantle, his nephew Sean King, his great-nephews Noah (Gabriela) Frolish, Sam Frolish and his beloved fur babies Lucy and Leia.
Memorial contributions may be made to any of the organizations listed above, to Yaddo, the Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund, Community Hospice or any local animal shelter. Share the wealth as he did in his life.
The Allerdice family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses and Hospice for giving Wally the best of themselves at the end of his life.
Relatives and friends may call from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518-584-5373).
A funeral home service will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024.
Burial will follow at the family plot in Greenridge Cemetery, Lincoln Avenue.
Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com
