Andrew James Higbee Glace, 75, passed peacefully in his loving home on Tuesday December 3, 2024 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease and a heart condition.
Andrew will always be cherished as a kind, generous, thoughtful and intelligent friend, father, and husband who was full of fun, gentleness and devotion. He was exceptional in many ways. Andrew's adventurous palate led him to love all the cuisines of the world. An enthusiastic participant in holidays and celebrations, it was fitting that Thanksgiving dinner was his last meal. Even as illness took its toll, Andrew remained steadfast in his devotion to his loved ones, continuously showing up and offering warm optimism.
Andrew was a passionate man who fiercely pursued his interests personally and professionally. Always with the NYTimes or book in hand, Andrew cared deeply about the environment, cultural, political and historical trends. Interested in the tide of change and new technologies, he embraced learning and encouraged others to change his mind. Born in California, Andrew moved to Amherst, MA as a young man, resided there for almost 50 years and raised his children there. He traveled a great deal and always treasured his return to Amherst, his community, his barn and his garden.
A humble and tenacious soul, Andrew was known for his strategic mind and unwavering dedication to environmental conservation. Whether working within the system or challenging it from the outside, Andrew advocated for smart growth and ecological sustainability.Andrew was a supporter of ongoing struggles for civil rights and justice. As a community member, friend, and family member, he had an uncanny ability to make everyone feel welcomed. He was always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear.
A young man of his times, Andrew went from being a member of the ROTC at the University of New Mexico, to briefly belonging to the white auxiliary group of the Black Panther Party, and later the Young Socialist Alliance Panthers in Cambridge, MA, where he worked on food programs for the poor. He cared deeply about politics and equity and was especially interested in Latin American affairs. As a young man he struggled with poverty and with the seasonal nature of his work in bicycle repair in New England, but determined to complete college, he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Latin American History from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1981. As a student at UMASS, he traveled to Guatemala, with his young son (Eli) in tow, to contribute to efforts in economic and agricultural development. He worked as a family daycare licensing inspector and then a weatherization specialist at what is now the Community Action Assistance Program before settling into a long career as a sales manager for carbon footprint reduction projects. With a focus on energy conservation, Andrew led executive sales for a number of large utility companies such as Exxon, CES-Way Engineering in Texas, Chevron Corporation, and Constellation Energy. Most recently he co-owned and operated Long Island Energy Partners and G & L Energy Partners with an emphasis on local and smaller power production and electrical lighting projects.
As an athlete, Andrew accomplished marathons and recreational racquetball and boating. Most passionately, he cycled thousands of miles, enjoying the hills and scenery of the Pioneer Valley, New York and Vermont in the warm months, and riding indoors while watching Tour de France tapes in the winter. He was not only a long distance and a competitive cyclist; he encouraged many people to simply enjoy riding their bicycles. Andrew was known as the only guy to go to if you needed a repair on your Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub.
Andrew hailed from a family rich in service and grit. Born in Bellflower, California to a military family, Andrew spent his childhood in San Diego, then Oahu, Hawaii, and Bolton, MA. Andrew’s father, James Henry Glace was a Naval Officer, flying fighter jets for 22 years, and in retirement became an engineer, designing guided surface-to-air missile systems with the Raytheon Corp defense industry contracts. Andrew’s mother, Anne Elizabeth Higbee-Glace, served in the Coast Guard during WWII and became an Intelligence Officer in charge of logistics, plotting troop movements at sea around the globe, and held degrees in Political Science, Culinary Arts, and in retirement earned another accolade from Harvard Ecumenical Divinity School.
Andrew told of memorable visits with his grandparents in Los Angeles. His grandfather, Frank David Higbee, Coast Guard Rear Admiral, was a decorated veteran of World Wars I and II. He served as warden of the Port of Los Angeles for nearly twenty years. Andrew’s grandmother, Joan Amphlett Corfield Higbee of Cardiff, Wales, was the daughter of Captain William Reginald Corfield, a legendary sea captain and friend of William Cody, known as Buffalo Bill Cody with a Wild West Show that performed for Queen Victoria. A young Joan rode one of the horses on her father's grounds when the Wild West Show was headquartered nearby. Captain Corfield also had business interests with Cody in Wyoming.
Andrew is survived by his loving wife, Marian C. Hartblay, daughters Mya M. Hartblay Glace of Amherst, MA and Jesse Erwin-Glace of San Diego, CA, and son Eli Malcom Higbee-Glace of Belchertown, MA. Andrew also leaves behind step-daughters Cassandra Hartblay of Toronto, and Amber Hartblay Brammer of San Antonio, Texas and their respective families. Andrew was honored to be a grandfather, step-grandfather, and godfather, and cherished his time in this life with Galileo (child of Jesse and Miguel Hart), Dina and Jed (children of Amber and Jerry Brammer), Theo (child of Cassandra and Sara Schroeder), Roberto (son of Sucel and Eli), and Sonya Trust. Andrew will be missed by his nephews Obadiah Savage of Albany, NY and Morgan Spring-Glace of Kansas. He leaves some of his dearest friends, Terry and Julie Culhane of Northampton, MA, Pete Sarafin and Charles Healy of Albany, NY, David and Mary Jo Burton of NY, Sam Skillings and Heather Miller of Amherst, MA, and former wife Kelly Erwin of Amherst, MA. One of five children, Andrew was predeceased by three siblings: David Randolph Glace recently of Amherst, MA, Peter Lawrence Glace of New Jersey, and sister Joan Louise Glace of Avery Park, NY. He is survived by brother Malcom Edward Glace. Andrew and Marian are very grateful for the loving support of family and friends in recent months, particularly Sid and Randy Smith, Jen and Don Wells, and Connie Feldman.
To honor Andrew’s loving and lively spirit, please consider one of the following; plant a tree, invest in renewable energy and energy-efficient lighting, enjoy a bike ride, or make a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center https://www.splcenter.org/. Think of those (once) red curls, warm blue eyes and gentle voice. A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00 a.m. on March 8, 2025 at Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, MA.