Roger J. Sinnott

Roger J. Sinnott
Utica
Roger Sinnott, 95, died at home at Georgian Court Apartments at 3:05 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2009. The cause was an underperforming heart. As per his wishes, there will be no calling hours or public services of any kind. Please consider, in lieu of flowers, a donation to The Central Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, 507 Kent St., Utica, NY 13501. He was born in Utica at home on Miller St. in Cornhill on September 13, 1913, graduating from Clinton High School in 1930, the University of Pennsylvania with a BS Degree in electrical engineering in 1934, and the ABA Graduate School of Banking in 1946. He started working full-time at Bank of Utica (then called The Morris Plan) in 1934, began managing it in the late 1930s, and formally became its President in 1950, a position he held for 50 years until 2000. He was married on January 19, 1942, to the late Marie Znaiden, and is survived by sons, David and Tom of Utica, and daughter, Joan of Mobile, Alabama; and also by grandson, Barry of Shanghai, China, and granddaughters, Laura and Emily, both of New York City. Lt. Colonel Sinnott served in the U.S. Army, Infantry, from November 1940 to October 1945. He was on the General Staff of the 6th Army Group, G-3 Section, under the command of General Jacob (Jake) Devers where his particular function was the study of tactical situations and the supervision of combat operations. His overseas service included North Africa, Italy, England, France, Austria and Germany. He received a number of battle stars and other decorations including the Croixe de Guerre and a special citation by 12th Army Group Commander General Omar Bradley. He was given the honor of representing, as Control Officer, the 6th Army Group to accept on behalf of the Allies the surrender of the 19th German Army under the command of Lt. General Brandstaedter at their HQ in Pfunds, Austria, in May 1945. He had a 50-year record of public service. Professionally, he was a member of the NYS Banking Board and also was involved with regional trade organizations. Civically, most prominently he was Chairman of the Oneida County Citizens for Kennedy, and statewide was a member of the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York and Commissioner of the NYS Insurance Fund. Local charitable service included being the President of the Community Chest (now called the United Way) and decades of board involvement with The Central Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired. Socially, he was very proud of being President of the Fort Schuyler Club. Over his years, his interests included (younger to older) being a horseback rider, pilot, motorcyclist, electronic hobbyist, model railroader, sailor, chess and scrabble player, and crossword puzzle aficionado. Most importantly, he enjoyed drinking and partying immensely throughout the bulk of his life, most famously at Barbara Kellys and the Scoop in NYC and the Savoy in Rome, NY. He enjoyed being known by his nephews as their drinking uncle. Daughter Joan recalls how he was the first person to slalom ski on Otter Lake in 1955.
Roger J. Sinnott