A well-respected local judge who passed away last fall was honored in December with a dedication of the town courtroom.

A small gathering of friends and family were on hand on Dec. 3 for a ceremony to dedicate the courtroom to former Town Justice Lester E. Gale.

"Lester passed away unexpectedly on September 10th as he was serving his second term as Judge. His vision was to update the courtroom and make it something the community could be proud of, and he did this through working to obtain grants from the New York State Court System, as well as working with the Town Supervisor and the Town Board," said Town Clerk Connie Maguire.

Gale was a Potsdam native and worked for Canton-Potsdam Hospital and Mort Backus and Sons. He became town justice in 2016 and served in that capacity until he passed away after battling cancer.

"Lester served as Town Judge from 2015 until his untimely death in September of 2023. Throughout his years as the duly elected Judge, Lester brought to fruition his vision of the courtroom located on the second floor of the Parishville Town Office building," said Town Supervisor Rod Votra. "In large part the project was made possible by grants obtained through the hard work and dedication of Lester and Town Clerk Connie Maguire."

"Judge Gale, often referred to as "The Gentle Giant" was adored by the community for his genuine respect and ability to communicate in a manner that brought out the best in everyone. As a Judge he was always fair, empathetic and consistent with those that came before him," Votra told North Country This Week.

"Throughout his final years as he endured his battle with cancer, Judge Gale continued to be optimistic, always encouraging others with his genuine compassion for the community he was such a large part of. It is and will always be a great honor to remember Judge Lester E. Gale Jr. for his dedication and commitment to the Town of Parishville," the supervisor said.