SLINGERLANDS — William J. Zeh, known as Bill to many, was a man always on the go, always meeting new people, and always making friends. He died on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, surrounded by family. He was 62.

Mr. Zeh was born in Albany to Clinton and Jane Zeh on April 25, 1954, and grew up in the city. He played baseball in the West Albany Little League and achieved life standing in Boy Scouts Troop 213. He attended Cardinal McCloskey High School, where he excelled at running track, and graduated in 1972. He then attended Hudson Valley Community College.

Mr. Zeh’s father, who had three jobs and six children, was a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 7 in Latham, as was Mr. Zeh’s uncles, grandfather, and cousins.

He became a member of the union on his birthday in 1975, starting as a journeyman and working his way up to a foreman. Mr. Zeh, like his father, became active in the union.

“But, in fact, he went further than my father,” said Mr. Zeh’s sister, Deborah Lee.

Mr. Zeh was the vice president, recording secretary, treasurer of Pension and Welfare Plan, Negotiation and Grievance Committee and apprentice instructor of the union. During his work in the union, he also held part-time jobs at Sears in Colonie Center and Grand Union in Guilderland. He also earned a paralegal associate’s degree from Bryant and Stratton College in 1998.

He retired from his job at Local 7 in 2013, but remained active as a teacher of incoming journeymen there. He also began teaching plumbing and steamfitting in 2008 as an instructor for the New York State and Civil Service Employees Association Partnership for Education and Training in conjunction with State University of New York at Delhi.

“He brought real-life experience to the textbook,” said his sister.

“To say that he left our programs and curricula better than he found them would be an understatement,” said Kyle Nurse, a coworker, in a statement.

A man who could never sit still, Mr. Zeh spent his free time walking through Crossgates Mall or Colonie Center, window shopping and meeting new people.

“He loved to be around people,” said Mrs. Lee. “He made friends easy.”

Mr. Zeh would also go to Friendly’s or Denny’s on Wolf Road (after the one on Western Avenue closed) to sit and talk with people.

“Everybody loved him,” said his sister. “He was a very friendly man.”

A sports fan, Mr. Zeh’s favorite teams were the New York Giants, the New York Yankees, and the University of Michigan’s football team. He also rooted for NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) drivers Dale Earnhardt and Kyle Petty, and for pro golfer Phil Mickelson.

Mr. Zeh never married, enjoyed his family and the holidays they spent together. His sister described the armfuls of presents he would bring on Christmas.

He leaves behind his family, coworkers, and the many friends he made as he constantly made his way around.

“He wouldn’t stop,” said his sister. “He was constantly trying to go.”

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Mr. Zeh is survived by his father, Clinton Zeh and his wife, Frances, of Feura Bush; his siblings, Michael Zeh and Judy Werking, of Slingerlands, Kenneth Zeh and his wife, Mary, of Ravena, Diane Donahue and her husband, Mark, of Colonie, and Deborah Lee and her husband, Mike, of Albany.  
He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Christopher Rikard and his wife, Ashley, of Crawley, West Virginia; Carolyn Mattiske and her husband, Brian, of Rensselaer; Eric Donahue and his wife, Christina, of Charlton; Clinton “C.J.” Zeh and his wife, Andrea, of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina; John Payette and Sarah Muche, of Port Orchard, Washington; Sonya Blizzard and her husband, AJ, of Richlands, North Carolina; Darcie Jaskot and her husband, Chuckie, of Guilderland; Megan Donahue, of Colonie; Cynthia Goff and her husband, Bobby, of Aiken, South Carolina; Deanna Lee, of Albany; and Sarah Donahue, of Colonie. He is also survived by 16 great nieces and great nephews.

His mother, Jane E. Zeh, and his brother, Retired Master Sergeant John J. Zeh, died before him.

Calling hours will be held at New Comer Funerals & Cremations, Colonie Chapel, 343 New Karner Road, Albany, on Monday, March 6, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, March 7, at 10 a.m. A burial will be held at Calvary Cemetery, in Glenmont.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 139 South Lake Ave., Albany, NY 12208, or to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 313 Washington St. # 310, Newton, MA 02458.

— H. Rose Schneider