James Francis Symula

children Laurie (John), Lisa (Charlie) and Jamie. He found great joy in his grandchildren, Zachary, William, Joshua, Kaitlin, James, Meredith, Mason and his great-grand-daughter Meia. He is survived by his brother David (Rose) and his sister

Cheryl. He was pre-deceased by his parents Stanley and Elizabeth Symula as well as his brother-in-law Gary. Jim was a lifelong teacher, spending most of his career as a college professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia.

He obtained his undergraduate degree at the State University of New York College at Cortland and his Doctorate in Education at

the State University of New York at Buffalo. Jim retired from Fredonia with the rank of Distinguished Service Professor. He was responsible for the establishment of 13 migrant tutorial centers across New York State and developed tutorial programs of excellence for Western New York schools. He spearheaded migrant

parent family networks, parent advisory groups, academic programs for inmates in jails and prisons and numerous other funded programs that reached many underserved populations. He retired to Michigan to be with his family, In addition to his family, Jim’s passions included the New York Yankees and the

Buffalo Bills. Lifelong fans of both. If you didn’t find Jim with a good book, you would find him on the golf course. Jim will be missed by his family and all he touched.There will be a memorial mass celebrating Jim’s life at St. Thomas Moore Church in Troy, MI on Tuesday, September 4, 2018. The family will greet guests at 10:30 am with the mass to begin at 11 am.

There will be a luncheon to follow at Picano’s Restaurant also in Troy. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to:Fredonia College Fund272 Central Ave Fredonia NY 14063

http://home.fredonia.edu /foundation