Halstead, J. Preston Jr.

J. Preston Halstead, 55, formerly of East Aurora, NY unexpectedly yet peacefully passed away at his home in Albany, NY on August 29, 2012. Preston was born July 16, 1957 to Dr. John and Susan (McClintock) Halstead of Orchard Park, NY. Surviving in addition to his parents are his brother Andrew (Suzanne) of Dunedin, FL and their children Kelley and Corey; his sister Victoria of East Aurora, NY and her children Kimberly and William; and his brother Benjamin of Little Rock AK.

A graduate of East Aurora High School in 1975, Preston married his high school sweetheart, Victoria Grace, of Elma, NY in 1978. They were blessed with a full and abundant life together lasting over 34 years, and raised a family of three children. Preston will be forever loved by his children and their partners: Katherine Elspeth (Kyle Pritchard) of Corvallis, OR; John Preston (Zairita Penaherrera) of Albany; and Justin Edward (Samantha Dekoskie) of Albany.

Preston was the nephew of Andrew McClintock, Joan (William) Black, and Jimi Halstead. He was predeceased by his Uncle Cutler (Jimi) and his niece Janet Gonzalez. Preston will be dearly missed by his numerous cousins. Preston was loved by his recently deceased mother-in-law, Jacqueline Grace, his father-in-law Edward Grace, aunt Audrey Fulmer, his sister-in-law Meredith Grace, and her son Jarrod Gonzalez, and his niece Andrea Crosley. After graduating from University of New Hampshire with his Masters of Engineering, he served our country as a Captain of the US Army in Germany where he and Vicki started raising their children. They settled in New Ipswich, NH in 1983 where Preston started his professional career as a Civil Engineer at Andrews and Clark and later at VHB, Inc. The family moved to Elma, NY in 1995 where Preston worked at TVGA Engineering for 10 years. Preston and Vicki moved to Albany in 2005 where he continued his career at CHA Engineering. In 2009, Preston was rehired by VHB as the Regional Manager of the Albany office.

Community service was a priority for Preston. He coached his children