In his honor, an annual scholarship will be given to an individual entering the automotive field. Gage Oscar Black, 26, a lifelong resident of Delanson, NY, passed away tragically on August 2, 2025. A beloved son and friend, Gage changed the lives of all who knew him. Kind, accepting, and patient, he had a great sense of humor and a love for adventure, traveling the world with his mom. He lived hi
s dream of riding motorcycles, fishing, and spending time with friends. Solving mechanical issues as a Mechanic at Mason’s Auto Service in Rotterdam was the start of his career, and he truly loved his work. Gage’s sudden passing has left his loved ones heartbroken. His giant smile and quick laugh made everyone feel welcome, and friends said they “instantly felt like more than a friend” in his presence. Genuine, kind, and full of life, he “always kept the vibe going good” and “never said a bad thing about anyone.” Loved by so many, Gage changed lives simply through his kindness, and his memory will forever be a light in the hearts he touched. He is survived by his mother Joy (Tetreault) Black, father Steve Black, stepmother Mary Lindner, and his half-sister Heather Black. Also surviving are his maternal aunt Lynn Bundy; first cousins Shannon Bundy, Danielle Bundy, Ericka Redic, Todd Tetreault, and Tamara Jaques; paternal uncles Greg Black (Linda) and Robert Arthur Black; and cousins Paul Black, Sarah Smallwood, and Lauren Black. He was predeceased by maternal grandparents Arlene and Eugene Tetreault; maternal uncle Bruce Tetreault; and paternal grandparents Robert Oscar Black and Louella Mae Black. Visiting hours were Friday, August 15, and Services were Saturday, August 16, at Bond Funeral Home. Gage is buried at the Grove Cemetery in Delanson, NY. Please consider making a donation to the Gage Oscar Black Memorial Fund, which will provide an annual scholarship for an individual pursuing a career in automotive mechanics. Please make checks out to Gage Oscar Memorial Fund and send to PO Box 104, Duanesburg, NY 12056. Service link. https://youtube.com/live/FFfwVvc363w?feature=share
Eulogy read by his mom Joy Black. I want to thank all of you for your love and support. I don’t know how I would function without each one of you as I start my healing journey. I know I’m not alone in my grief, and I hope you, too, are surrounded by love and support as we move forward with our lives without Gage. Gage had so many positive qualities. He was kind and always willing to go the extra mile to help others. One of his coworkers at Hannaford recently shared a story about having car troubles, and Gage didn't just offer advice - he went to her house and helped fix the problem for her and her husband. At home, I noticed Gage did random acts of kindness by taking care of little things without ever being asked. There are so many more stories of his thoughtfulness that can be shared. He loved his family, and especially his sister Heather. They had many fun times together. When Gage was a pr***en, I will never forget watching him teach a younger child how to play badminton while visiting family in Vermont. Gage was so patient and gentle as he helped this small child. It was touching to see. He was also very gentle to our animal family. When Gage would drive his loud motorcycle into the barn to park, it would scare Onyx the pony. One of these times, she ran outside of her stall, and from the house, I could see Gage go out and give her a pat on the neck and a treat to calm her. A dad recently told me that Gage would wait patiently outside in his car for his friend to wake up so they could start the day on some adventure. The dad would offer to wake up Gage’s friend, but Gage would say no, that’s ok & patiently waited. The same dad told me that Gage was the rock of the group of friends, a voice of reason, and the designated driver on nights out. These are just some of the memories that will be forever imprinted in my heart. Gage was smart and observant. One of his high school teachers once told me that he felt Gage was the smartest student in the school. The teachers loved him because he was 100% present during class by participating in thoughtful discussions, and he was always willing to help other students. Gage was not a believer in homework, and I do not think I ever saw him study for a test despite my encouragement. He still passed everything! Gage’s first car was a retired state police car with 180,000 miles on it. We were all concerned about the high miles & how long it would last. He loved that car and took meticulous care of it. He paid off the loan, and when it started to fail, Gage, in one long weekend with the help of friends, especially Dan, put in a new engine, and it’s still going strong. I was so proud of him for his sense of responsibility in maintaining and doing everything for it. Gage had an adventurous spirit, and I was fortunate that he was willing to go on trips with me. We traveled to Europe, the Middle East, and throughout the US. We had some amazing adventures together as mom and son & I will cherish these times. He lucked out by having a dad who likes to travel too, so he got a lot of traveling experiences in his lifetime. I will never forget his trip to Michigan with his friends. He was so excited. He asked me to cosign on a truck rental since they were not 25 yet, and I said “no”, but they found a sister willing to sign (thank you, sister!!), and off they went dirt bike riding for an adventure of their lives. He had so many wonderful experiences with family & friends, as you will see as you watch the slide show. Gage’s passion for motorcycles led him to hundreds of cruising miles ridden with his friends around the state. Between college and 2 part-time jobs at Mason’s and Hannaford Deli, he was working 7 days a week, and by summer, he finally had weekends off. I enjoyed seeing him have a great summer with friends new and old after working so hard. Just about every night, he would go out with his friends to ride, fish, eat out, work out, play games, or cook on the grill at someone’s house. Gage also spent special times with his girlfriend, Morgan, and when I met her, I knew she would be someone important in his life. I’m so glad they had this time together. Gage’s life was really rich and full. He truly embraced the spirit of exploration and valued shared experiences with his loved ones. I am blessed that 3 of Gage’s best friends, since childhood (Chris, Nick, & John), have named me their 2nd mom and have been checking in to see how I’m doing and to help me with anything I need. I cherish their thoughtfulness and love. I want to give a special thanks to James, a newer close friend to Gage, who initiated the candle vigils where there was a tremendous outpouring of support for Gage. Gage and James had many fun times this summer. Gage had so many wonderful friends who shared his loving, compassionate nature. I cherished Gage from day 1 and know from my work as a PA that life can change in a second and it’s important to accept and love one another and live life to the fullest. I am blessed that I worked on myself to be the best mom and person I could be, and we had a good mother-son relationship. His passing is excruciating, but I am blessed knowing he could feel my love and that we had a peaceful time together on this earth. I have no regrets. Someone recently told me that we’re forgotten after three generations, but I believe that we can go on for generations to come by contributing who we are as a person. I know that who Gage was as a person, and how he affected others in such a positive way, will last for generations to come by the collective goodness he brought to the world. Perhaps our message from Gage is to accept and love each other fully and take advantage of every moment. I will close by thanking you again for being here to share in the grief of the loss of Gage. I would welcome any stories you would like to share at this time as we all start our healing journey. There is also a scrapbook where you can write your stories or words in remembrance of Gage.
