William J. Hope

1949 - 2023

Hope, William J.
COLONIE - William "Bill" J. Hope, P.E., age 74, of Colonie died on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at home after a long illness due to lung complications.
Born March 12, 1949, in Troy, he was the second of five children of the late Leo and Marjorie (McNamara) Hope. During his high school and college years, Mr. Hope worked alongside his father who was an electrician; he learned the trade himself and became a licensed master electrician. He was a graduate of Catholic Central High School (1967), where he played on numerous sports teams and was active in their alumni association; and, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1971) where he was a member of the Chi Epsilon Fraternity, the Civil Engineering Honorary Society, and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Licensed as a professional engineer by New York State in 1976 and later in seven other states, Bill worked in the construction industry before starting his own firm, Exterior Consulting. He was active in many professional organizations such as the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and Roof Consultants Institute (RCI) where he held offices and was recognized in a variety of fields. He received his FAA private pilot's license in 1982 and a commercial pilot's license in 1998; he was a member of Scotia Flyers Club, Albany Aviation, and Upper 15 where he piloted numerous small single-engine aircrafts. After his son's graduation from La Salle Institute in 2013, he became an active volunteer, donating time and money to numerous projects and scholarships; he was elected to the Board of Trustees and was later conferred the Distinguished Honorary Alumnus Aware. Bill spent his downtime watching almost any sporting event and was an avid Boston Red Sox and New York Giants fan. Most importantly, he got his greatest pride in life from being a father, and then grandfather; duties in this role included math tutoring, baseball coaching, audience member, frequent flyer, charitable giving, and biggest fan.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth (Francesco) Tignini, and son, Michael Hope; granddaughters, Matteleine and Weaver Tignini; brother, Robert Hope (Stephanie Heslin), and sister, Kathleen Hope (Paul Mattey). In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, James and Thomas Hope.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church, Troy on Saturday, September 30, at 10 a.m. immediately followed by interment in St. Peter's Cemetery, Troy. Family and friends are invited and may call in the Daniel D. Purcell Funeral Home, 510 Pawling Ave., Troy on Friday, September 29, from 4-6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations in Bill's memory to La Salle Institute, 174 Williams Road, Troy, NY, 12180 or at https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/LaSalleInstitute/donate.html.
For online condolences and service details visit DDPurcell.com.