Obituary of David S. Symula

David (Dave) S. Symula of Voorheesville, NY died peacefully on March 11, 2026 after a long illness. Dave was born June 18, 1939 in Union Springs, NY to son of the late Stanley and Elizabeth Symula. He was the brother of James F. Symula and Cheryl (Symula) Gresock. He studied at Cornell University and SUNY Albany. At SUNY, he was a member of the Sigma Lambda Sigma Fraternity. He earned his Bachelors and master’s in mathematics at SUNY Albany.

Family and friends were always Dave's priorities. He was married to his wife, Rosemarie, for 60 years. He was actively involved with his children's youth activities serving as the President and Vice President of Guilderland and New Scotland Pop Warner, respectively, and happily traveled to visit them as they moved throughout the country. He welcomed an exchange student, Ekaterina (Kate) Chernoknizhnaya, from Russia into his family in 1990 and maintained a relationship with her throughout his life. He always encouraged adding long-time friends to his family providing his kids with a variety of local Aunts and Uncles.

Dave was a revered and respected math teacher at Bethlehem Central High School from 1962-2000. He was frequently recognized by students as the educator who made a difference in their lives and by whom they felt inspired through the Scholars' Recognition Program Achievement Award and through Who's Who Among American Teachers.

Music was one of his most beloved hobbies. He was a horn player in two Drum Corps, the Interstatesmen and the Apple Knockers. He sang with the Capitol Hill Choral Society and opened the 1966 season of SPAC alongside the Philadelphia Orchestra at the opening of SPAC in 1966. In his later years, he sang with the Mendelssohn Club of Albany in which he performed in numerous events including a performance at the Mormon Tabernacle. 

He is survived by his wife, Rosemarie Symula; his sons, David (Wife Lisa Chainyk and children John and Philip Chainyk) and Andrew (wife Jody and son Nickolas); his daughter, Rebecca Symula (Ryan Garrick); his sister Cheryl (Symula) Gresock; his nephews, Doug and Alan Gresock and his nieces Laurie (Symula) Parmely and Lisa (Symula) Langton (Detroit, MI). He was predeceased by his brother, James and his wife Angela and his nephew Jamie.

His visiting hours will be 4 - 7 p.m. at the Reilly & Son Funeral Home in Voorheesville on April 10, 2026 and a mass will be said at St. Matthew's Church, 25 Mountainview St., Voorheesville at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Flowers can be sent to the funeral home for the service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Michael J Fox Foundation, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741.