Obituary of Kalixt S. Synakowski

Kalixt S. Synakowski New Hartford Kalixt S. (Kal) Synakowski, of New Hartford, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2015, at the Kingsway Community in Schenectady, New York. Born on August 4, 1924, Kal was born and raised in a Polish enclave in Riverhead, Long Island, the eldest son of immigrants Mary (née Mack) and Kalixt S. Synakowski. He was a hard working student and developed a passion for music, including playing orchestral trombone as well as piano works of Chopin and Beethoven. He joined the Army and was to be trained as a meteorologist in World War II until health issues prompted an honorable discharged. His early church life ignited and informed a lifelong interest in philosophical questions, and he pursued the study of philosophy, earning his BA at Hamilton College in 1947. He continued his studies at Harvard. In Boston he met Alma Gaylord, whom he quickly came to adore. They were married for over 65 years, from 1949 until her passing just over one year ago. After Harvard, Kal taught at Hamilton and, in 1955, joined the Utica College faculty. It was in Clinton and then New Hartford where they raised their four children. He was an exceptional teacher, sharing the excitement of ideas with thousands of students for over three decades, some of whom went on to teach his children. He was awarded the college’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1976. His teaching didn’t stop at the lectern. His kids’ eyes would roll when he would mirthfully introduce Plato’s “Theory of Forms” at the dinner table, often when friends were joining them. He might ask, “How do we know a frog is a frog? What is frogness?” Sometimes he would get a reply from a son, “How about those Mets?” in an awkward and smiling effort to deflect the lesson. In his retirement community, he was known as “Professor.” For all his classroom strengths, however, to many he seemed at his best when he stepped outside of it. At their summer home on the St. Lawrence River, he led anyone who would board his boat in trolling for hours with Daredevil lures. He delighted in sharing with river friends his landing (or missing) a lunker pike or a rare muskie, and when his friends would do the same. He could create with intensity, designing and building an HO train layout that was the neighborhood’s envy, its four hamlets named after his children. To them, he could hit a baseball unbelievably far. He loved Gene Kelly splashing in puddles, laughed hard during “Get Smart” episodes, and never turned down rhubarb pie. And maybe contrary to his professional image, but to the delight of at least some of his children, for several years he drove a state trooper car, a 1969 Plymouth Fury III. It was unmatched at country road passing and trailer towing. Kal had a strong sense of fair play. He could burst out laughing in the face of life’s oddities, but was humble to its difficulties, to what he could not understand, and to his own limits. His proudest legacy was his family and children. He loved deeply his daughter and three sons that survive him, and took a special delight in beholding and supporting their children and step children: Stephen Synakowski (Brooklyn,NY) and wife Carol Pierce (Princeton, NJ) and grandsons Mitchell and Sean; Jan and her husband John Carstens (Northville, NY) and grandsons Michael and Andrew; Richard and Melanie Synakowski (Cleveland, SC) and grandsons Alec and Stuart; and Edmund and Ellen Synakowski (Chevy Chase, MD) and Ellen’s children Audrey and Byron. He is also survived by and had a deep love and affection for his sister Theodosius “Teddy” Sobotka (Camillus), his brother Tony and his wife Betty (Fayetteville), and his brother-in-law David Gaylord and wife Carol (Burlington, Vermont). In addition to his loving wife Alma, he was predeceased by his half-sister Irene and sister Theresa, affectionately known as “Puci.” His family is particularly grateful for the extraordinary, loving care provided by Jan in his final years. They are also grateful to the thoughtful care of the staff of the Kingsway Community and of Community Hospice in Schenectady. The neighborly ways in recent years of the Freiberger and the Trapanick families are also greatly appreciated. There will be no calling hours. The family would appreciate any charitable donations to be directed to Community Hospice, the American Cancer Society or the Disabled American Veterans. Services will be private. Interment will take place in Northfield, VT. Share condolences with the family on this everlasting memorial tribute.