Former Rensselaer Mayor Joseph Kapp was killed in an explosion Wednesday at a Schenectady business.
Authorities say Kapp was killed when a high-pressure food processor exploded. Two other people were injured. Kapp, a Republican, served on the Hudson Valley Community College board of trustees for two decades.
He was a Rensselaer city council president who stepped in as mayor for about a year in the late 1990's after John Ryan resigned due to medical concerns. Current Mayor Mike Stammell:
"I served under Joe back in the 90's. Joe was the council president and I was a member of the Common Council for the city of Rensselaer. Exceptionally smart man, brilliant. He was on my transition team when I became mayor of the city of Rensselaer."
Kapp was 67. HVCC president Roger Ramsammy said Kapp was "a true friend, a remarkable leader, and the longest serving trustee on our board."
