John Henry Szyikowski

Boonville - John Henry Szyikowski (1951-2013), a native of Boonville and long-time resident of Albion, NY, passed to his eternal reward on Saturday, July 20, after a lengthy battle with cancer. He is survived by his mother, Myra (nee Worden), his wife, Susan (nee Walsh), his daughter, Meghan (Mark) Mambretti and three grandchildren; Joseph, Molly and Alexandra. He is pre-deceased by his father Henry John, and his sister, Susan Jane. John was a graduate of Adirondack Central Schools and Mohawk Valley Community College. Beginning as Assistant Director of Campus Safety at Genesee Community College, John spent his entire career in law enforcement. He worked at SUNY Brockport, where he was the youngest person in the State to rise to the level of lieutenant. He also served as both instructor and Director of the University Police Basic Training at the NYS Police Academy. Ultimately, he rose to the level of Deputy Chief of University Police and Public Safety for SUNY, overseeing state-wide training and other operational issues for the University Police Officers. In his retirement he became a Senior Staff Associate for SUNY Empire State College. His personnel file contains numerous commendations for his police service and three times he was honored by the Campus Presidents for developing and managing safety programs that protected the campus community. John was an active member and past Exulted Ruler of the Boonville Elks Lodge #2158. He was an avid New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills fan. In retirement, he returned to his ancestral Adirondack home to care for his mother. He enjoyed being outdoors and most importantly spending time with his grandchildren to whom he was affectionately known as "Yogi". He will be remembered as a quiet, calm, and intelligent man. The family will be present at the Trainor Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 24 from 2-4 and 6-8. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Christ Our Hope/St. Joseph's Church on Thursday at 10am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in John's name to the Boonville Elk's Lodge #2158, P.O. Box 281, Boonville, to support their charity work or to the American Cancer Society, Oneida/Herkimer Branch Office 100 Lomond Place, Utica, NY 13502.