It is with great sadness and appreciation of life that our family announces the passing of Sally Ann Gotzmer on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2023. She was 70 years old.
Born in Troy on Flag Day, June 14, 1952, to Maurice and Mildred Foley, she was the youngest of six children. As a child, she spent summers camping with her family on the Saranac Lakes. She had an early inquisitiveness for life, and traveled across Europe and the United States in her late teens and 20s. Sally was loving and kind with a natural acceptance of people, and an unassuming wisdom. She was all about the here and now, a view that set her free from the pursuit of the material trappings of life.
Sally lived in Schenectady for much of her earlier life. There she met her husband, Dave at The VanDyke restaurant. They married at her parent’s home in 1978. Sally and Dave spent two years living in Texas before moving to Saranac Lake permanently in 1986 to raise their own family.
Easy to talk with and easy to laugh, Sally could hold a conversation with anyone. This was ever so apparent in the 30 years she worked for the Blue Line Sports Shop in Saranac Lake. From decorating windows to helping customers with everything from shoes and skates to fishing and hunting equipment; she knew a lot, about a lot, yet was humble, accommodating and approachable. Her sense of humor and her smile did not discriminate.
Sally loved playing games of all kinds. Neighborhood kids would come to her house to play video games with her. Her family would gather around for nights of cards and board games, and she loved to play slots and scratch offs. In contrast, Sal was also a voracious reader, and loved books on all kinds of subjects. She was very nostalgic and thought fondly of old memories, music and events in her past. She loved to gather around a table of women; her mother, sisters, nieces, and cousins to talk about family and shuffle through old pictures. Loyal to all her friends and family, she was someone you’d be lucky to have with you in times of trouble. We always admired her thoughtfulness, how kind, loving, and polite she was to everyone, her independence and feistiness and her ability to share emotions.
Sally loved her family immensely and showed that through an endearing worriness about their every move. Sal was a devoted wife, and happily journeyed through life by Dave’s side for 44 years.
Sally will be lovingly missed by her husband and best friend, Dave Gotzmer, daughter Marcy Gotzmer, son Sam Gotzmer and sisters Sue Mantello and Millie Vorrath. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers David and Donnie, and sister Connie.
Our family is enormously thankful to friends, family, the staff at Adirondack Health, and our wonderful community. But most of all, we are grateful to have had our Sally in our lives.
Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
In lieu of flowers or donations, please hug someone you love, make someone smile or laugh, and tell them how special they are to you. Friends and family can share their condolences and share their memories at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
