Denis Synan

Denis Synan passed away on February 19, 2023 at the age of 72. As he would say, “The eagle has landed.” He is survived by his loving daughter Deirdre Irene Synan, his sister Rita Langan Sauer, née Synan, his former wife and close friend Wendy Synan. He will be missed by many friends, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friend Amparo Perez. He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Irene Synan, and his brothers Pat, Harry, Ed and Joe.

He was born on April 6, 1950 in Bronx, N.Y., the youngest of six children. After graduating from St. Raymond’s High School for Boys, he attended Westchester Community College and hitchhiked back and forth from The Bronx each day to attend classes. He ultimately received his B.A. from Richmond College in Staten Island. 

After college he worked with residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities at WARC (now The Arc, Westchester), where he met his wife Wendy and made a group of lifelong friends. He then went on to a career as an installer in the telecommunications industry.

Denis enjoyed an early retirement and spent his leisure time reading the paper, grabbing a beer at the local pub and attending countless concerts. He was a serious music fan from an early age and even attended Woodstock. He discovered many bands before they hit it big, such as U2 and The Talking Heads. He helped many family and friends expand their musical knowledge with his eclectic taste and impressive record collection. He kept up with the latest in the rock, folk and indie scenes, even in his later years. Denis and his daughter Deirdre enjoyed attending concerts together including The Pogues, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and The Fab Faux. 

Denis was a lifelong New Yorker, save for a brief stint in San Francisco in the late 1970s. He grew up in The Bronx, hanging out at his father’s luncheonette and loitering around Yankee Stadium to collect players’ autographs. He was a diehard Yankees fan and often celebrated his birthday by attending opening day. While living in Greenwich Village in the early 1980s, he was a New York City taxi driver and maintained those driving skills for his whole life, much to the distress of his passengers. 

Denis felt a close tie to Ireland, his father’s homeland, and he inherited the “rebel Cork” spirit. He kept up with the latest in Irish news and politics by listening to “radical Irish radio” every Sunday on his favorite station, WFUV. Denis had a great sense of Irish humor and was always ready with a smart joke or sarcastic quip. He looked forward to his daughter’s homemade Irish soda bread every St. Patrick’s Day.

Although his later years were marked with health struggles, he never lost his sharp sense of humor and his independent streak left a strong impression those surrounding him. 

At the request of the Synan family, please wear a high quality, well-fitting mask that covers your mouth and nose while attending the visitation and funeral mass.

Donations can be made to one of the many organizations Denis supported:  

Denis’ favorite radio station, WFUV (90.7 FM, wfuv.org), New York’s source for music discovery, has been a noncommercial, member-supported public media service of Fordham University for more than 75 years. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  https://wfuv.org/membership

TRA (formerly WestFair Rides) provided Denis with many free rides to medical appointments. He even did a photo shoot with them and is still featured in photos across their website and social media pages. TRA is a dynamic nonprofit organization which promotes the independence, safety, and mobility of older adults and adults with disabilities in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  https://my-tra.org/donate/ 

St. Jude Children’s Hospital, of which Denis was a lifelong supporter. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.htm

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