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Before serving on the Malta Town Board from 1990 and 2016, including 10 years as the town supervisor, Paul Sausville, a licensed engineer, worked for the state Department of Environmental Conservation for over three decades, retiring in 1989.
It was his need to serve the community that Sausville, who died March 11 at age 83, is remembered for.
As supervisor of Malta he oversaw town planning during the development of the Luther Forest Technology Park and Global Foundries moving to Malta.
“Mr. Sausville was a dedicated servant and official to his constituents in Malta,” says Pete Bardunias, the senior vice president of the Capital Region Chamber. “He simply loved this community and wanted the best for the town he called home.
“Now his vision would often include some controversial stances, but my experience with the supervisor was that he was unfazed by or perhaps even took delight in stirring the pot,” Bardunias said. “Paul Sausville was a man of conviction and wasn’t afraid to stand his ground and fight for what he believed in, and deserves our respect for his conscience and the care with which he managed the affairs of the town of Malta.”
Sausville also served on the Malta Town Planning Board from 1979 to 1989, as town supervisor from 2006 to 2016 and was the chairman of the county Board of Supervisors in 2014.
Saratoga Springs Supervisor Matt Veitch, who served as vice chairman of the board alongside Sausville, said in a Facebook post he was saddened to hear of his death.
“We worked together on many initiatives, and I always appreciated his ability to look at issues in a unique way, always with his town’s and the county’s residents’ interests coming first,” Veitch said. “My thoughts are with the Sausville family.”
Beyond holding various town offices, Sausville was known for time spent being a coach, treasurer and board member of the Ballston Spa Junior Baseball League, where he helped acquire and develop the Doubleday Fields for which the league’s ballfield complex is located, according to his obituary. He was also a member of the Malta Sunrise Rotary Club and local chamber of commerce.
Bardunias said he remembers Sausville attending a Chamber of Southern Saratoga County event.
“Someone volunteered me to spend a few hours in the dunk tank at a festival and Shenantaha Park, and the supervisor strode up ready to put some points on the board,” Bardunias said. “He very methodically went into his windup and sent me to the bottom of the tank on three straight throws! Somehow I think that was one of the happiest moments of his career. It was all in fun and he was grinning from ear to ear.”
In his obituary, Sausville’s family said he was always finding ways to stay active in the community.
“Paul never stood still,” the obituary stated. “He loved life and was constantly developing new interests and learning new skills.”
After leaving the DEC he opened a consulting firm — Sausville and Schriber Engineers — with his son-in-law. He and his wife, Nancy, operated Sausville’s Christmas Tree Farm at their property in Malta for over 50 years.
“Paul loved the holidays and seeing the joy on his customers’ faces as they carried on the age-old tradition of cutting down their own Christmas tree,” his obituary states.
He also liked exploring new interests and tried blacksmithing, opening Saratoga Forge in 2012, where he made his own creations.
Because of his work at the state, Sausville was known as the father of the state Petroleum and Chemical Bulk Storage Program. He was also a published author, coming out with a book, “A Beach Guide to Marie-Galante,” in 2012.
Sausville was also very devoted to his family. He and his wife were married for over 65 years. He is survived by three children, Laura, Paul and Grace, and many grandchildren.
The family will hold a private service and a celebration of life will be held in the spring, according to the obituary.
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