Andy Gilpin

Residence: Alplaus
Hometown: Hanover, Pa.
Primary Sports: Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Mountaineering
Occupation: Executive Director, CAPTAIN Community Human Services
Family: Partner, Danette Capron and children, Degan (14) and Kylie Capron (12)
Age: 54
Favorite Quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world” –Mahatma Gandhi

By Meg Wert

As Mahatma Gandhi reminds us, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” These simple words hold immense weight when looking at one person, one group, or what one community can do when they set their sights on a greater purpose. Andy Gilpin demonstrates this every day. As a resident of the Capital Region area for decades, Andy has been an avid outdoor enthusiast, taking lessons learned from his life as an athlete, and has applied them to every endeavor as a passionate advocate for helping others. 

Growing up, Andy was surrounded by sports. His father coached football and tennis for the local high school, and he started at a young age playing baseball, football, basketball, and tennis, but his true passion awakened a bit down the road. “I didn’t really appreciate the role athletics played in my life until I found rock climbing and triathlons. Once I started climbing and training for triathlons, I discovered a whole new side of myself I never knew. The focus required for training was life-changing, and the harder I worked, the stronger I got and experienced amazing results. Climbing and mountaineering took me to the most beautiful places around the country and even to Europe. I would have never experienced those amazing adventures without climbing.” 

In 2001, with the help of his friend and climbing partner, Andy moved to the Capital Region to become the owner/operator of Electric City Rock Gym in Schenectady. “The community that formed around and within the climbing gym was incredibly special and supportive. The gym brought people together, created numerous adventures, had a lot of fun, and brought so many people to the wonderful sport of rock climbing. The best thing that came out of the gym was the community that was formed.”

In 2010, Andy was introduced to a local organization called CAPTAIN Community Human Services. A friend of his needed some help with the annual Gala: An Unbridled Affair. Here, he helped support the planning and organizing of this event, which, each year, honors members of the community who have made a difference and raises funds for all of the ongoing work.

Feeling a real resonance with the people, the work, and the community CAPTAIN CHS supported, Andy welcomed change by taking a full-time position at the Runaway and Homeless Youth Emergency Shelter for CAPTAIN CHS. Since then, his commitment and journey with this organization have included adding responsibilities and changing roles, as he now holds the position of executive director. “I fell in love with the mission, purpose, and the people who were a part of this great organization, and I’ve been here for 14 years.”

 CAPTAIN Community Human Services, which runs out of Saratoga County, provides support for over 30 programs and services that make a difference in the lives of residents today. The main areas of focus are homelessness, hunger, economic crisis, and community support. Their website, provides extensive information on supporting needs and volunteering opportunities: captaincares.org.

In 2015, while giving a presentation on behalf of CAPTAIN CHS at the Family Counseling Center (which is another human services agency), Andy met his partner, Danette Capron. “We started dating six months later and never stopped loving each other since then.” As he was recalling memories, this one stood out. “We did our first winter hike up Buck Mountain near Lake George. I was an avid outdoor enthusiast, especially in winter, and she was an avid hiker. I introduced her to winter hiking, and we had a magical time on a beautiful winter day with a light coating of snow on everything. It was a great day all around, and I remember saying that I could see myself spending the rest of my life with Danette.”  

Today, Andy, his partner Danette, step kids, Degan, and Kylie share their home with their two dogs, Max and Bo. “Max is a Jack Russell terrier and Bo is a German shorthair pointer, Australian Sheppard, and Greyhound.” Andy’s parents still live in Hanover, Pa., and his brother and family live near Boston.

Degan has been doing sports since he was seven years old and currently plays modified baseball, basketball, and football for Niskayuna. Kylie, as well as Danette, are artists and incredibly creative. They all live in Alplaus, but as Andy clarifies, “We actually live right on the county line between Saratoga and Schenectady, and part of my property is in Clifton Park.” 

Here, they keep involved in the Alplaus Residents Association, the Alplaus Runaround 5K, and the Alplaus Fire Company. “I enjoy volunteer work. I volunteer for the Alplaus Residents Association, serve as a fire commissioner for the Alplaus Fire Department, and serve as a board member for the Coalition for Homeless Youth.” 

Andy thrives in community. He also thrives while being in service, bringing strength and compassion to every part of his path. Having grown up in Pennsylvania and getting his bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he has always been an avid outdoor enthusiast. He loved rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, flyfishing, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing, hiking, and golfing. He was also a runner and found himself coming up to the Capital Region several times a year to enjoy the area and all that the Adirondacks had to offer.

It was in 2022 that Andy was thrown a curve. He started noticing issues with his speech, and in October, he was diagnosed with the onset of Bulbar Guset ALS. “It has taken me a while to acknowledge the diagnosis as I’ve had conflicting opinions for some time, but I can’t deny the way it is affecting me, my voice, and other physical aspects of my body and movement. ”  

As he continued to share, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ALS, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nervous system and nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS causes loss of muscle control. The disease gets worse over time and is typically fatal. The cause of ALS is unknown, and currently, there is no cure.”

When asked about treatment and what he had learned, he continued on. “I have been going to St. Peter’s Regional ALS Center for a few months and learning more about the disease, its progression, and how to manage it. I’m hopeful with what they are telling me, and there are a variety of forms of the disease. They have several patients who have been with them for over 10 years and are still doing well with daily activities, so I’m hopeful. ALS affects the physical aspects of an individual, but not their mental faculties. I’m grateful for this and feel that I’m still as mentally engaged as I’ve always been.” 

“ALS has helped me grow in a lot of new ways; teaching me patience, grace, humility, and being open and willing to ask for help.” As Andy continues getting up, being in a family, volunteering in the community, and going to work each day, fulfilling his role as executive director of CAPTAIN CHS, he chooses to show up to life with resilience, strength, service, and compassion.

When asked what attributes helped him to be a thriving athlete, and what aspects of the athlete he uses in how he lives now? Andy shared, “Although I’m not much of an athlete anymore, when I was athletic and pursuing my passion of rock climbing, mountaineering, and doing triathlons, determination played a huge role. Having a singular focus on seeing the activity through and being determined to finish what I started was what helped me succeed and reach my goals. A lot of those same traits translate to my daily life. At work, I’ve had the great fortune to work for an amazing nonprofit at CAPTAIN Community Human Services and surrounded by amazing people who support me in my goals. I need the focus and determination I learned as an athlete to deal with the new everyday challenges of ALS. A lot of days I want to give up, but I know I need to keep pushing through. Having the background of an athlete has helped me find the strength and courage to overcome the challenges.”  

As he ruminated, Andy went on. “For sure, grit and determination carry over, but the most important thing is having a strong will and heart. My family is what drives me every day. Not only do they provide me with incredible support, but I also wouldn’t be able to be working or doing as much as I’m able to without them. They are my inspiration and what motivates me to do my best.”  

We ended with this question: Fitness makes a great athlete, but what makes a great human? Can you share some of your insights? “Tough question, but the best humans have compassion, kindness for their fellow humans, and treat everyone with dignity and respect. We all have one life, and we should do our very best to live it to the fullest and leave the world a better place through meaningful actions, and live intentionally.”

Meg Wert is a writer for several publications and a healing practitioner who supports wellness in mind, body, and spirit. She offers shamanic energy medicine, self-growth coaching, and guided meditations. A mom of three, she’s also a master gardener, hiker, and animal lover who loves cooking, learning, laughing, and traveling.