Saratoga Springs, New York - Jay French, 87, of Saratoga Springs, died peacefully at home at 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 16th from lung cancer.

Jay was born in Brooklyn on May 31, 1931.  His parents were Irving and Jean (Askin) French. He was previously married to Judith French (née Horowitz), mother of his three children. She died in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Margaret French (née Marston), his three daughters and their husbands: Erika and Al Gordon, Jaime French and Christopher Phillips, Meghan French and Olaf Van 't Erve. He is also survived by five grandchildren: David Hasson, Olivia Gordon, Rory Garhart, Janneke Van 't Erve, and Benjamin Van 't Erve; by his sister, Iris Plafker and her husband Herbert Plafker and their two children Karen Plafker and Michael Plafker and their families; and by his three stepsons, Paul, Raj, and Raman Wadehra and their families.

As a boy, Jay's most memorable job—from a multitude held—were two summers during WWII spent working on farms in upstate NY for the Farm Cadet Victory Corps. Like other teenagers in NY, he did the work of young farm boys fighting in World War II. He was drafted into the army during the Korean War and served in the infantry in Germany. Later he went to Cornell on the GI Bill, majoring in agriculture, and spent his working years as a salesman in animal health. His last position before retiring was with NLS Animal Health. Jay loved golf, bridge, travel, rowing, the New York Giants, the birds that came to his feeder and volunteer activities—from volunteer fireman as a young man to volunteer work for Road to Recovery, Saratoga Hospital, and Hospice after retirement.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, October 27th, at 3 p.m. at Burke and Bussing Funeral Home, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs.

The family is grateful to the staff of Hospice who cared for him at the end of his life.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice in Saratoga Springs.

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.