BERNE — Bill Kelsey, a man of his word with many and deep commitments, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017. He was 74.

“From the response to his unexpected death, it’s obvious that he touched a great number of people,” his family wrote in a tribute.

“His integrity and honesty were bone deep, as was his sense of justice,” his family said. “His word was unquestionably his bond in any circumstance.

“He put a lot of himself in everything he did: husband, father, friend, union steward, folk-music lover, state worker, fireman, country and world traveler, bridge player, supporter of causes he believed in, and made friends in all of them.

“He lived a good life, though not as long of one, as we left behind would have wished.”

He is survived by his wife, Vicki S. Kelsey; his son, W. Daniel Kelsey of Averill Park, New York; his daughter Saki (Chelsea) Kelsey of Tucson, Arizona.

He loved his dog, Daisy.

He also leaves, his family wrote, “adopted daughter and son Jennifer Stafford (Fritz) and their furry children, and Scott Duncan (Jennifer) and their children, to whom he was Poppa Kelsey.”

His family also wrote, “Many others considered themselves members of the family due to his generosity and well-thought-out advice about things that troubled them.”

There will be a gathering of friends at the Fredendall Funeral Home at 199 Main St., in Altamont, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, followed by a get-together at the East Berne firehouse.