ALTAMONT — New York State Trooper Timothy W. Hard was “as honest as the day is long, a stand-up guy,” said his friend since childhood, Theresa Balfe-Gallager.

Trooper Hard died on May 25, 2017 at his home on Main Street in Altamont. He was 52. The son of the late Ronald W. Hard and Claire Fisher Hard, Trooper Hard was a 1983 graduate of LaSalle Institute in Troy, and then of Hudson Valley Community College, his family wrote in a tribute.

He was “an awesome dad,” Ms. Balfe-Gallager said, and very close with both of his now-adult children, Emily J. Hard and Alexander W. Hard. “He volunteered coaching, went to games, took them fishing, took them on vacations,” she said.

“His son looks just like him. He’s a replica of Tim,” Ms. Balfe-Gallager noted.

He had a sharp wit, Balfe-Gallager said of her friend. “He was kind of a serious guy, but very quick-witted.”

He took care of people, she said. “If he was your friend, wow. Even if he wasn’t your friend, he would still do anything for you.”

He was engaged to be married to Jeannie Kelly, his family wrote.

Chief of the Guilderland Police Carol Lawlor called Trooper Hard “a very nice man.” He was dedicated to his job, she added. He participated each year in the town’s National Night Out, she said, at the dive tank where a diver in a tank would play tic-tac-toe with passing children. Hard would explain to people what the dive team did, Chief Lawlor said.

Altamont Fair President Willard Schultz said that Trooper Hard ran the dive part of the state police exhibit at the fair for years. “He not only educated, but entertained the crowds by eating apples under water.” He will be greatly missed, Mr. Schultz said, by the general public and by the members of the Hometown Heroes Building who had daily contact with him.

Trooper Hard enjoyed “the outdoors, music, fishing, baseball, and, most of all, spending time with his beloved family and dear friends,” his family wrote.

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Trooper Timothy W. Hard is survived by his children, Emily J. Hard and Alexander W. Hard. He is also survived by his fiancée,  Jeannie Kelly, and her children, Keith Ahearn, Thomas Ahearn, and Kelly Ahearn.

He is also survived by his three brothers, Jeffrey R. Hard; Michael F. Hard and his wife, Lisa; and Douglas J. Hard, and his wife, Diane; and by many nieces, nephews, friends, fellow dive team members, and law enforcement colleagues.  

Services were handled by McVeigh Funeral Home of 208 North Allen St., Albany and included visitating hours from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 at the funeral home, and a funeral service on Thursday, June 1 at 9:15 a.m. from the funeral home to St. Pius X Church in Loudonville, where a funeral mass was to be celebrated at 10 a.m.

Interment was to be at St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands, immediately following the funeral mass.

Mourners wishing to leave a message of condolence are invited to visit www.mcveighfuneralhome.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to Signal 30 Benefit Fund, NYS Troopers PBA, 120 State St., second floor, Albany, N. Y. 12207. This fund supports the members of the New York State Police and their families in extraordinary circumstances such as death, illness, injury, and loss. It also provides an extensive scholarship program to benefit the children of troopers.

— Elizabeth Floyd Mair