Randy was a resident of St. Jospeh’s Home Ogdensburg, NY since January 1, 2019.
Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease eight years ago, he has slowly been leaving us. His spirit has finally joined his mind and left this world on February 19, 2019.
Born in Carthage, NY December 15, 1954 to William Henry Gadbaw and Rachel Jane Koster Gadbaw, he grew up in Gouverneur NY, attended St. James Parochial school, and graduated from GHS in 1973. After high school, he traveled with friends and worked in Florida and Texas.
When he returned to Gouverneur, he worked for WIGS radio as a DJ, where he got to express his love of music and share it with the North Country. Randy attended Canton College, receiving a Criminal Justice degree and then SUNY Potsdam where he graduated with his bachelor's degree. His education landed him a job as a probation officer with the St Lawrence County Probation Department, where he worked for 26 years before retiring. He was well respected and went above and beyond to treat his clients fairly.
Gab married Cindy Reilly on December 26, 1982 at her family’s home in Gouverneur. They raised their children in Norwood NY, where they lived for 30 years.
He had a lifelong love of Sylvia Lake, where the family has a camp on the North Shore. Gab enjoyed his years of participation in men’s basketball in Norwood and Potsdam. He hiked, hunted (or read poetry in the woods,) and was a triathlete. Gab was an avid reader and a founding member of the Sylvia Lake Bookclub. He enjoyed these meetings over the past 20 years with the dearest of friends. Gab was a storyteller extraordinaire.
Surviving are his wife, Cindy Reilly Gadbaw, son, Ian Gadbaw, daughter, Katie Gadbaw and husband Alex Carpenter and granddaughter, Anna Carpenter, all of Canton NY, as well as his brother, Phil Sprague of Watertown, his two stepbrothers, and a step sister. He loved his nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
Predeceasing Randy are his father, William Gadbaw, his mother, Rachel Koster Sprague, his sister, Elaine Gadbaw Marcellus, niece Tammy Marcellus, his stepfather, Donald Sprague, and a stepsister.
The Gadbaw family would like to extend their sincerest gratitude to friends, family, and caregivers who generously gave their time and energy to support Randy over the last 8 years. Your kind efforts improved the quality of his, and all of our lives.
Randy's family would also like to invite all to attend a celebration of life to honor Randy at the Casablanca Restaurant in Gouverneur on Saturday, February 23rd from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Arrangements are with the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association of Central New York, 441 West Kirkpatrick Street, Syracuse, NY 13204.