Joseph R. Syrnick

Joseph R. Syrnick, an accomplished civil engineer and devoted family man, passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 79. Born on December 19, 1946, in Philadelphia, PA, he leaves behind a legacy marked by his professional talents, devout faith, and loving family.

Joe shared 55 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Mary Beth (nee Stenn) Syrnick. He was a devoted father to Genevieve Drake, Amy Sadowski, and Megan Clayton, and a loving father-in-law to Brian, Greg, and Chris. He took great pride in being a grandfather to Courtney, Twine, Jack, Ava, Brooke, Katie, and Connor.

As the oldest son of the late Joseph and Esther (nee Gilmour) Syrnick, he enjoyed a wholesome childhood in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, spending his days with his brothers and neighborhood friends riding bikes on Dupont Street and playing pick-up games at North Light. After marriage, Joe and Mary Beth moved "up the hill" to Roxborough where they settled in and raised their family. He is survived by his beloved brother Blaise (Sue) and many cherished nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Mark and Timmy.

A graduate of the class of '64 of Roman Catholic High School, he went on to earn both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Civil Engineering from Drexel University, which lead to a distinguished 34 -year career with the Philadelphia Streets Department, where he ultimately rose to the role of Chief Engineer and Surveyor. Following his retirement from the City, he served as CEO for the Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC) for the past 20 years, leading the mission to revitalize the lower Schuylkill River corridor-now known as Schuylkill Banks. His work with SRDC was motivated by his strong desire to bring access to Philadelphia's "hidden river" for all to enjoy. When he wasn't advocating to elected leaders for trail development or advancing capital projects, you could expect to find him on the Banks setting up movie nights, helping kayakers off the docks, and narrating riverboat tours where he enthusiastically shared the rich history of the tidal Schuylkill.

Beyond his day job, Joe served in numerous capacities within his professional and local communities. He served for decades as president of the Board of Surveyors, as a Commissioner of Fairmount Park, and as a member as of Philadelphia's City Planning Commission, rising to position of Vice Chairman. He was also active with ASCE, The Engineers' Club of Philadelphia, and many other local engineering organizations. He was honored with many awards over the course of his career, but he especially cherished the honor bestowed on him by Drexel University in June 2024 awarding him an Honorary Doctorate for his visionary leadership in engaging diverse civic partners to revive the promise of a waterfront jewel in Philadelphia.

Outside his professional career, Joe enjoyed sports - especially baseball, football and golf. He played baseball for his teams at Roman and Drexel, serving as captain of Drexel's 1968 team, and also played in the Penn Del semipro league. He remained a regular in Roxborough's local touchfootball league well into adulthood and in his rare down time, he enjoyed perfecting his golf swing.

Joe's most important role was that as a husband and father. When his girls were young, he could be found building massive sandcastles on the beach, behind the plate umpiring softball games, helping with homework, and on the sidelines of sporting events and dance recitals cheering them on. After the girls were grown, Joe and Mary Beth enjoyed traveling together, embarking on many adventures to countless countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

He continued his role as his family's greatest cheerleader with his seven grandchildren, always making time to attend their recitals, sports games, art shows, and plays, encouraging each to pursue their passions.

A devout Catholic, Joe instilled a deep sense of faith in his family. He was well known within the parish communities of Saint Mary's of the Assumption and Holy Family Church, where he attended grade school, served as an altar boy, and remained an active parishioner throughout his life.

Family and friends will gather to honor Joseph at a public viewing on January 23, 2026, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Koller Funeral Home, followed by another viewing on January 24, 2026, at 9:30 AM at Holy Family Church. A Mass celebrating his life will be held at Holy Family Church on January 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM. Interment in Westminster Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to The Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Germantown or to Holy Family Parish, located at 234 Hermitage Street.

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