Joseph C. Sarnoff
POTSDAM — Joseph C. Sarnoff, 63, of Potsdam, N.Y., died suddenly at his home on Feb. 2, 2010.
Graveside services will be held at Cedar Park Cemetery, Westwood, N.J. at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010. A local memorial service will be held on April 26, 2010 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Barrington Student Union's Multipurpose Room at SUNY Potsdam.
Joseph is survived by his three children, Allison Sarnoff of Troy, N.Y., Philip Sarnoff of Salt Lake City, Utah and Julie Sarnoff-Clark of Memphis, Tenn.; a son-in-law, John B. Clark III, also of Memphis, Tenn.; a sister and brother-in-law, Gladys and Mitchell Wenzel of Monroe, N.Y.; three nieces, Maura Liberopoulos of Garden City, N.Y., Rachel Caplan of Highland Mills, N.Y. and Heather Sznol of Plainview, N.Y.; their husbands, George Liberopoulos, Jay Caplan, and Ron Sznol; and six grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Michael, Jessica, Gwen and Matthew Liberopoulos, Joshua Caplan and Leah Sznol.
Joseph was born on April 3, 1946 in Manhattan, N.Y., the younger child of Jeanette and Philip Sarnoff. He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in the Bronx, N.Y.; Northland College in Ashland, Wisc.; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and Clarkson University.
Joseph worked at SUNY Potsdam for more than 40 years, the second longest tenure of any current employee, serving as Director of the Student Union, in Student Affairs, in Student Activities and Volunteerism, and as Director of Retention Services. He was recognized by the SUNY Potsdam Student Government Association as advisor emeritus in 2006 for years of service as the advisor to the Executive Committee and the Student Assembly.
His years of public service go back to the 1970's and include the Town of Potsdam Zoning Board, the Town of Potsdam Planning Board, more than ten years as Acting Justice for the Village of Potsdam and serving on the 2006 Town of Potsdam Bicentennial Committee.
As part of his work at SUNY Potsdam, he coordinated efforts to create a Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and organized service trips for students to work with Habitat for Humanity. In addition to his professional and volunteer work, Joseph was an avid reader and an enthusiastic biker and runner. He finished the New York City Marathon in 1988.
Joseph was a devoted father, brother and uncle. He had an enormous impact on countless students over his years and will be greatly missed by the college and alumni communities. He was always available to help anyone in need, which included service work in Costa Rica bringing safe drinking water to a small village and work on behalf of local migrant farm workers.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joseph Sarnoff can be made to the Potsdam College Foundation, the American Heart Association, Habitat for Humanity, or Doctors Without Borders.
Arrangements for cremation are with the Seymour Funeral Home, Potsdam, N.Y.
