Obituary of Jack Sissman

JACK SISSMAN 1932-2011 LATHAM, NY Jack J. Sissman, of Forts Ferry Road in Latham, died peacefully on the evening of Friday, January 21st, 2011 after enduring a number of long illnesses. At the time of his death, he was a resident of the Rosewood Gardens nursing facility. Born on July 1st, 1932 in The Bronx to his father Dr. Louis Sissman and his mother Minnie Vernick Sissman, he attended the Schools of the New York City Public School System and graduated from James Monroe High School in the Bronx. After a short enrollment at New York University which did not lead to a completed degree, Jack dropped out and enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served his President and Country during The Korean War as a signalman aboard the USS Samuel N. Moore. During his service, the ship saw active combat action and survived being torpedoed. Upon his completion of his tour of duty, Jack was honorably discharged from the United States Navy and resumed civilian life. Using his rights and privileges under the G.I. Bill, Jack resumed his academic career, re-enrolling at New York University, ultimately graduating from the law school and earning his JD degree. On July 31, 1959, he married C. Edna Rios, a union that produced two sons, Matthew David of Latham, who is employed at the New York State Bill Drafting Commission in Albany, and Daniel Michael of Albany, who is employed in the New York State Department of Correctional Services. At the time of their marriage, Edna was employed as a school teacher in the New York City Public School System and retired in as an employee of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 2000. Upon his admission to the bar, Jack began his legal career with his own law practice in which he served the needs of the people of the streets in New York City. He represented tenants in landlord/tenant disputes, real estate closings and other matters. During his courtship with Edna, they would sometimes meet at night court where Jack was pursuing his interest in the law by viewing the proceedings. Jack's work for the clients that he met during his career brought him into contact with a wide variety of characters. Jack then served as a counselor to the New York City Youth Board, and then as the clerk to a New York City Court Judge. Jack then took a job as an attorney with the American Federation of Teachers, protecting the rights of unionized teachers. When the teaching unions merged to form New York State United Teachers, Jack took a job with the office located on Wolf Road and the family moved from New York City to Albany in December of 1973. After remaining in the employ of NYSUT, Jack returned to a private practice which concentrated on the areas of employment law. In his private practice, Jack represented both individuals and management on a case-by-case basis. On one occasion, his advocacy for a client in a high-profile case resulted in his appearance on the "Donahue" program. He also handled other matters for individuals like real estate closings, wills, and bankruptcies. Jack continued in private practice until illness forced him to close his office and retire in 2005. In addition to his practice of law, Jack was a man who also had numerous other passions and interests which he pursued. He was an avid outdoorsman, who took great pleasure in fishing, camping and hiking until illness made these pursuits impossible; As a youth, he was a boy scout who was chosen to join the Order of the Arrow. This interest in scouting continued through his entire life, and at one time he was the Scoutmaster of Troop 277 in Latham. In this capacity he led his son Daniel and the other boys of Troop 277 on numerous adventures and trips in the Adirondacks and elsewhere. In 1986, he and Daniel participated in an extended canoe trip in celebration of Albany's tricentennial, canoeing from Lachine on the island of Montreal down to Albany, following the historic fur trade routes used by French-Canadian voyageurs and Native Americans 300 years earlier. He was a Rotarian and in this capacity he was host to international Rotarians when they visited the Capital Region. Jack was a member of the Masonic Temple Washington Lodge in Albany; Jack was extremely interested in history, and enjoyed the fact that being a Mason was something that he shared in common with many of the founders of the republic. Jack was a member of the Anti-Defamation League of the B'Nai B'rith, and in this capacity appeared frequently on the local airwaves as an advocate against bigotry. Jack was also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Since moving to the Albany area in 1973, Jack was a member of Congregation Beth-Emeth in Albany. He served on its board and at one time was the Chairman of the Social Action Committee. It was in that capacity that he began the Congregation Beth Emeth Soup Kitchen in 1985. At that time, the city of Albany had no soup kitchen that was operating on Sundays--the only day of the week for which that was the case. Jack saw that need, and immediately moved to fill it. At the start, working completely by himself he took the steps needed to assemble the food necessary to feed people on Sundays. He then also took the steps necessary to prepare that food. As he lead the way, more and more volunteers became involved in the various aspects of the effort. The soup kitchen today has been going strong for 25 years feeding the needy of Albany every Sunday. No person of any faith, or station in life has ever been turned away. Throughout his life, Jack was never comfortable with this act being celebrated as anything other than behavior expected of a reasonable human being. Throughout his life, Jack enjoyed participating in the political arena as well. He ran several times unsuccessfully for political office. The first time, he ran for the New York City Council in 1969 on the Liberal Party line. After his move to Albany, he ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for Town Judge in the Town of Colonie in 1975. He also ran in 1976 as a delegate supporting the presidential candidacy of Senator Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson. It was one of the great thrills of his life, that following these three unsuccessful attempts to win public office, he lived to see the Democratic Party win control of the Colonie Town government in the elections of 2007. At the time of his death, Jack was a proud member of the Albany County and Colonie Democratic Committees. He was predeceased by his sister Betty and his parents Louis and Minnie. He leaves behind his wife of 51 years Edna, and sons Matthew and Daniel, and daughter- in- law Megan. The funeral will be held at Congregation Beth Emeth, 100 Academy Road in Albany, NY on Monday, January 24th at 1 PM. Burial will be in the Gerald B.H.Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery at a later date. Following the service friends are invited to visit the home of Daniel and Megan Sissman at 1 Gaskill Avenue, Albany starting at 5 PM. Donations in Jack's memory may be made to the Congregation Beth Emeth Soup Kitchen.