QUEENSBURY – Michael (Mike) Patrick Brassel of Queensbury entered into Eternal Life on August 28, 2024. He was born in Albany at Brady Memorial Hospital on October 4, 1941, the son of the late Philip C. and Elizabeth (Cronin) Brassel of North Creek.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Philip C. Brassel Jr. and Dr. Roger W. Brassel. He is survived by: his wife Marjorie L. Brassel of Queensbury; daughter Martha (Chris Anderson) of Vail; son Michael (Jessica) of Troy; and youngest daughter Meghan of Saratoga Springs. He leaves his beloved grandchildren Ella Daley (Meghan), Molly, Logan, & Quinn Brassel (Michael & Jessica); and Storm Anderson (Martha & Chris). His sister Anne Brassel of North Creek and sister Mary Brassel Zack and her husband Richard of Forty Fort, PA; many cousins and two generations of nieces and nephews.
A North Creek native, Mike graduated from Johnsburg Central School, Fordham University and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. He went on to complete the Dun & Bradstreet program at the Banker’s School of Agriculture at Cornell University to better understand the needs of his clients at the bank. From 1964-1969 he served with the Army Reserve.
Mike began his career at National Commercial Bank & Trust Company of Albany. He then worked for the US Treasury Department as a Sr. Examiner for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. His job with the Treasury Department required a lot of travel, so in 1980 he took a position at First National Bank of Glens Falls, and the Brassels moved from Saratoga Springs to Glens Falls. He worked first as an Assistant Vice President of the Financial & Operations Division and later became a Sr. Vice President. In 1990, he became Executive Vice President & CEO of Keeseville National Bank, Evergreen Bancorp. Mike retired briefly, until Tom Hoy, of Glens Falls National Bank, recruited him for his last post as Sr. Vice President & Division Head for Community Development at Glens Falls National Bank. He retired in 2007.
Mike grew up in North Creek, was a communicant of St. James Church and a graduate of Johnsburg Central School. He loved the Adirondacks, skiing and racing at Gore Mountain, playing basketball, and spending summers boating and water skiing on Balfour Lake.
In 1968 he met his wife Marge and they married in June 1970 at Sacred Heart Church in Troy. Mike introduced Marge to skiing when they started dating and they raised three skiers. He always hoped to find a summer sport they could enjoy together but nobody had time for golf, and Marge and Martha were horrible at tennis. Despite being from upstate New York, he was a loyal Boston Celtics fan and his children followed in lock step with this allegiance. He LOVED basketball and every house Marge & Mike owned had a hoop. Mike never missed a chance to camp out and enjoy the state tournaments hosted at the Glens Falls Civic Center. While living in Saratoga Springs, he coached his kids in basketball at St. Clements.
He appreciated the arts, and enjoyed Broadway shows and New York City Ballet at Lincoln Center. Mike spent summer evenings at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center attending The Philadelphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet with his family. Special trips to the Dorset Theatre Festival were also common. And no summer was complete without at least one trip to the Saratoga Racetrack.
Many non-profit organizations benefited from Mike’s dedicated service. Philanthropy was a priority for him and his time, talent and treasures as a board member were shared with Central Catholic High School in Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls Symphony, The Hyde Collection, Crandall Library, the Charles R. Wood Theater, North Country Chamber of Commerce, the North Creek Depot Museum, New York Blue Line Council, and the Development Corp in Plattsburgh. He was active with Kiwanis in Glens Falls and in 1998 he was the Executive in Residence at SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business. In Saratoga Springs he spent multiple years volunteering as the Comptroller of the St. Clement’s Saratoga Horse Show. Mike chaired the boards of Hudson Headwaters Health Network and the Upper Hudson Primary Care Foundation. Mike organized tennis tournaments in Glens Falls and Plattsburgh to benefit the American Heart Association.
The family gives their sincerest thanks to his caregiver Kathy Benson for her devotion and friendship, and to the staff who cared for Mike at The Pines.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 3 pm on Wednesday, September 4 at St. Mary’s Church in Glens Falls. Calling hours will be held Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 4-7pm, at Baker Funeral Home on Lafayette Street. Interment will be at St. James Cemetery in North Creek.
In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to support St. Mary’s Catholic School or Parish, or a donation to The Hyde Collection.
Condolences may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com.
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