Bill Text: NY J02642 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Gayle L. Syposs, distinguished citizen, admired public servant, and devoted member of her community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-06-04 - ADOPTED [J02642 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-J02642-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 2642

BY: Senator RYAN

        MOURNING   the   death   of   Gayle   L.   Syposs,
        distinguished citizen, admired public  servant,  and
        devoted member of her community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens  of  the  State  of  New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life  in  their  communities  and  this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  Gayle  L. Syposs of Tonawanda, New York, died on Saturday,
November 11, 2023, at the age of 80; and

  WHEREAS, Gayle L. Syposs distinguished herself in her profession and
by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of
her community; and

  WHEREAS, Born Gayle L. Barr on August 17, 1943, to Ralph L. and Emma
Barr, she was a 1961 graduate of Tonawanda High School, and went  on  to
become a renowned trailblazer in the field of public service; and

  WHEREAS,  Joining  her beloved Chauncey R. Syposs Jr. in marriage in
1962, Gayle L. Syposs enjoyed a loving and admirable 54 years  with  her
husband who passed in 2016; and

  WHEREAS,  Gayle  L.  Syposs  was  an office manager for a local real
estate firm in the 1970s and owned a delicatessen on Broad Street a  few
doors  away  from  her home in the 1980s; in 1989, she began working for
the Erie County Board of Elections and was assistant deputy commissioner
until 1996, when her job was reassigned  during  a  budget  crisis;  she
continued as a network coordinator until 2005; and

  WHEREAS,  Starting her political career in 1973, Gayle L. Syposs ran
for Tonawanda Town Council,  and  was  later  appointed  to  the  city's
Citizens  Advisory  Committee;  two  years  later,  she  won  Democratic
endorsement and claimed one of the two Third Ward seats; and

  WHEREAS, Gayle L. Syposs was a force of change; she spearheaded  the
committee that oversaw the introduction of cable television in the city,
as  well as chaired a study group to unify paramedic services with North
Tonawanda; and

  WHEREAS, In 1979, Gayle L. Syposs was the first  woman  to  run  for
Tonawanda  mayor; after a close but unsuccessful election, she reclaimed
her Third Ward seat in 1981, and went on to serve a total of 12 years as
the first woman elected to the City of Tonawanda Common Council; and

  WHEREAS, During her tenure serving on the  City  Council,  Gayle  L.
Syposs revived a plan to renovate the city's aging water treatment plant
instead of getting water elsewhere at a higher price; she also advocated
for centralizing police and fire dispatching, became a leading critic of
residential development plans for the site of the former Continental Can
Co.  factory  along  the  river, and successfully opposed establishing a
campground in Niawanda Park; and


  WHEREAS,  Returning  to  the  Council  for  a  single  term  in  the
mid-1990s, she became a member of a new city charter revision  committee
and  saw  a  new  charter go into effect in 1998 that shifted day-to-day
responsibility for municipal operations away from the Council; and

  WHEREAS, Gayle L. Syposs  became  vice  chair  of  the  Erie  County
Democratic Committee in 2006, and served a single term as Tonawanda City
Clerk from 2016 to 2018; and

  WHEREAS, Additionally, Gayle L. Syposs was Chairwoman of the City of
Tonawanda  Democratic  Committee for more than 20 years, served as chair
of Erie County Democratic Town Chairs Association and  was  a  New  York
State Democratic Committeewoman; and

  WHEREAS,  Gayle  L.  Syposs's commitment to excellence and spirit of
humanity  carried  over  into  all  fields  of   enterprise,   including
charitable and civic endeavors; and

  WHEREAS, Gayle L. Syposs is survived by two sons, Chauncey R. Syposs
III  and  Derrick  A.  Syposs;  a  sister, Kathleen (Steve) Maguire; two
grandchildren, Dr. Chauncey R. (Jessica) Syposs IV  and  Ariana  Syposs;
daughters-in-law,  Trish, Betsy, and Kat; nephew, James (Kayla) Maguire;
niece, Katie Keegan, and many other nieces and nephews; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion,  Gayle  L.  Syposs  leaves  behind  a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn  the  death  of  Gayle  L.  Syposs, distinguished citizen, admired
public servant, and devoted member of her community; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Gayle L. Syposs.