A Edward "Ted" Gay III

A. Edward (Ted) Gay III, 85, died in Saratoga Springs, NY on April 14, 2026.

Born in Lockport, NY on August 9, 1940, to Elizabeth (Bud) Gay (nee Carpentier) and Dr. A. Edward (Doc) Gay, Ted attended Lockport Public Schools graduating in 1958. He and his father shared a love of hunting and took many hunting trips to a camp in St. Regis Falls, NY and Montana. Ted’s interest in firearms and machinery was evident at an early age. After attending numerous colleges, Ted graduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL in 1963.

Following in his parents’ footsteps, Ted began his career studying medicine and selling drugs for Merck, Sharp and Dohm. After taking a free flying lesson with his brother-in-law, Dick Love, Ted was hooked and never looked back. He moved to Florida and sold all his possessions to get a flying license and began flying for Page Airways. Hired by Mohawk Airlines in 1968 he stayed with the company and its numerous mergers and rebranding from Allegany to USAir. Over a thirty-year career, he flew many different aircraft, including the Fairchild 580, DC-9, Boeing 737 200 and 300 series, BAC-11 and the Fokker 100.

Ted met his beloved wife Amy (Margaret Worcester) in 1967, and they were married in 1968 in Rochester, NY. After the birth of their daughter (Amy Rebecca) and their son (A. Edward IV), they moved to Camden, NY. In 1992, Ted and Amy welcomed Frank Wolf into their home to attend high school and Frank quickly became another beloved son. For 40 years, they were active in Trinity Episcopal Church, local baseball leagues and sports boosters, and the snowmobile club.

During airline deregulation and multiple furloughs in the early 1970s, Ted and Amy started Tug Hill Trading Company, servicing loggers and the logging industry. The company quickly outgrew the back of Ted’s pick-up truck and garage, and they opened a storefront in Camden around 1975. Ted returned to flying and when the demands of flying and running a successful business became too much, Ted and Amy sold Tug Hill Trading so Ted could focus on flying.

Ted retired as a captain from USAirways in 1993 and devoted himself to the TC Riders, a local snowmobile club based in Thompson Corners. As trail chairman, he coordinated a group of men who built and maintained a world class snowmobile trail system that connected local businesses with recreational riders to support the local economy. In 2015, TC Riders was received two prestigious awards: New York State Snowmobile Association Club of the Year, American Council of Snowmobile Associations Club of the Year Award for USA. The same year, TC Riders was inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Eagle River WI.

When the snow melted, Ted simply took to the pavement on his Harley, often riding with his cousin, Dyson Gay, and his close friends, Darin Cope, Bob Place, John Seward and Bob Reed. Ted and Amy also took multiple trips on the Harley, often visiting their children or heading to places like the Bay of Fundy.

Ted was dedicated to his camp, Buckhorn Lodge, located in 46 Corners, his church, the snowmobile club and his family. The only time he sat still was by the fire to share a whisky and a cigar with friends and family.

He was predeceased by his parents, his wife and two sisters, Sandra Gay Love and her husband, Dick and Cynthia Gay Wiard and her husband, Bruce. Surviving are his children, Amy Rebecca of Maynard, MA, Edward and his wife Lauren of Clifton Park, NY and his adopted son, Frank Wolf and his wife Lisa of Brooklyn, NY. He also leaves behind two cousins, Dyson Gay of Webster, NY and Elizabeth Grant of Wheat Ridge, CO, six beloved grandchildren and two nieces and their children. He will be deeply missed.

Contributions can be made to Ted’s favorite charities, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Wounded Warrior and the Salvation Army.

A private family service will be held this summer at the family camp where, following Ted’s wishes, his children will fire his cremains from the family cannon.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.