In Remembrance of Joe Syrnick
It is with profound sadness that we share that our beloved President and CEO, Joe Syrnick, passed away on January 17. Many of you know that Joe was more than an extraordinary leader; he was a great Philadelphian. His perseverance and commitment to revitalizing the tidal Schuylkill River will continue to enhance the lives of residents and visitors for generations.
Joe came to SRDC in 2005 after a 34-year career with the Philadelphia Department of Streets where he had been chief engineer and surveyor. During his last few years with the Department of Streets, Joe helped build the first Schuylkill Banks trail section from MLK Jr. Drive to Locust Street, which officially opened in 2000. His ability to engage diverse civic partners to revive the Schuylkill riverfront is embedded in all of SRDC’s projects, most notably the iconic Boardwalk and Christian to Crescent trail sections and the soon-to-be iconic Schuylkill Crossing trail section. Joe’s unwavering commitment and vision of making Schuylkill Banks a premier riverfront destination went well beyond SRDC’s capital projects. He enjoyed being out on the trail with our amazing volunteers, talking with trail users, and being a gracious host at our seasonal events. Joe’s legacy of ingenuity, optimism, and service will continue to inspire SRDC and the Schuylkill Banks community. We will bring the same dedication and passion Joe exemplified while we continue to build the trail along the tidal river and connect more people to Schuylkill Banks.
Joe’s lasting legacy is eloquently described in his obituary, which is linked below and includes details for upcoming gatherings to honor Joe.