I am deeply saddened with Cousin Syl’s passing. Syl and I spend much time together when we were growing up. Many memories. Our families were always together during holidays, our annual large family picnic with our aunts, uncles, and cousins, or occasions when Syl and I would go crabbing, his father would get corn on the cob (which he loved), and our families would have a feast. We ended up going to college together. Sharing many adventures and fun times. We even hitched hiked back to school in the middle of winter.  An experience not to be forgotten. After college we both enlisted in the military. Syl joined the Air Force and I the Army.  We always stayed in touch.  Afterwards we both traveled a little going to places like Lake Placid for the two man bobsled races in 30 below temperature, the Army / Navy game, etc. It was during the Placid trip when I really saw his passion for running. He ran in the 30 below weather. A quote I’ll always remember after his run. “Don’t make me laugh, my face will crack”.  We both purchased corvette’s, cleaning them together, “cruising “ together and attending corvette club events. Fun times and to many more to mention.  We kept in touch over the years talking sports, politics and family either texting or calling. Also with both of us having medical issues, he the cancer and I kidney failure we both supported each other with ongoing positive encouragement and advice. A “best friend “ who I miss very much.

I was deeply saddened to hear of Syl’s passing. He was a great friend for almost 50 years. I considered him a brother and was so happy we maintained this friendship over the years.

Sometimes in life, the stars align and you connect with someone who shares your passion, drive and

commitment. That was the case with Syl. He loved the outdoors, running and competing. We shared so many long runs over the years. We ran at Peekskill, Beacon, West Point, New Platz, Rockies Estate in White Plains and loads of races at Central Park over the years. We ran hundreds of races together and loved talking about running, training and our next upcoming races. We ran hard a lot, pushing each other to greater levels but always in the context of helping each other get better. There was never any jealously or disagreements. We ran in the heat, the cold and strived for excellence, every day. Sometimes injuries took us off for a bit but Syl maintained a running streak for in excess of 20+ years. He was also impressive when he switched over to cycling 400-500+ miles a week. Syl had loads and loads of friends. He was genuine, sincere, funny and had a great laugh.

Syl always followed his own path. It was being outdoors, in nature & being curious. I always enjoyed hearing about his many passions from music, mountain climbing, snow shoeing, skiing, skating, weightlifting, cycling and the books he was reading. As I read between 50+ books a year myself, we often swapped ideas on great books we had recently read. I remember visiting at his home in Peekskill, his sister, brother, mom & dad, prior to setting off for runs in Blue Hills or surrounding roads near Peekskill. My uncle Joe was a friend of Syl’s father and they were both retired & often talked. Syl’s mom was a great cook.

I remember driving out to California with him in the early 1980’s with all his stuff. Syl in the Porsche and me following in an overstuffed U-Hall Truck. He was excited to get married to Mary & start a family. He often spoke to me about all of you & you could tell how proud he was of his family. How do you sum up a life well lived? I would venture to say, when you have followed your passions, have a loving family with loads of friends and you can reflect back without regrets you might be on the right path. Having the Giants finally win the super bowl twice also helped! My father & Syl absolutely loved the Giants. However, there were many, many bad years to endure with the NE Giants Football team.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Book of Timothy.

Neil Young

We've been through some things together

With trunks of memories still to come

We found things to do in stormy weather

Long may you run

Long may you run

Long may you run

Until these changes have come

With your chrome heart shining in the sun

Long may you run

Best,

John O’Leary

From the 11/9/80 edition of the Peekskill Sunday Star. It cracks me up that they listed Syl’s height, weight and marital status. They got the hom address wrong. We lived on Homestead Ave; not Maplewood.

I meet Syl August 1971. He was running around the base perimeter at the GRIFF (Griffiss AFB, NY).  He was training for the Boston marathon the following year. I ran in high school and junior college. So I followed in his foot steps. However I didn't train very much because it was cold and snowy and I had an excuse, I grew up in San Diego for 19 years. But Syl trained consistently through the bitter winter. He finished Boston under 2:50 and I finished in 4:45. The next year we both finished in the 2:40 range. It was through Syl I learned so much about running and his love for life. Syl left the Air Force after 4 years. I made a career of it for 25 years. Syl and his brother Charles visitrd my family in Vandenberg AFB, CA in 1976. Later he wrote me that he meet the love of his life (Mary) getting married and moving to California. I meet Syl family in Peekskill NY. They were a warm loving family and treated me with kindness. I will always be grateful for the friendship I had with Syl. Every day I run I feel Syl along my side pushing each other for the mile. Wait for me Syl,  I'll see you on  the running roads of heaven.

Thanks all for the thoughtful notes and cards

Updated video for Syl ! 

https://youtu.be/v7asr7pkt2c?…

The guys with Syl at IBM — with All the guys who worked with Syl in the 80s at IBM and all gathered around the IBM system 320. Great team and always having points of Baskin and Robbin’s ice cream.

We all worked at IBM together with Bertram, Jimmy and the rest of the guys. Syl and us would have pints of Baskin and Robbins in the computer room and had a great friendship. I am with brown sweater. Jimmy Lawson says it all. He was mister Fitness and Health along with Syl. 

I was sorry to hear the news about Syl. Any day I saw Syl riding on Lower Colfax, or anywhere else, we would say hi. Any day I said hi to Syl was a good day. He was a special person and he will be missed.

A little video I hope you can share :   https://youtu.be/i2tqbKoaANI

In 1976 I started working for IBM in upstate New York.  On my first day on the job there was a long haired guy sitting on the conveyor belt.  His head was flat against his knees and he was touching his toes!  I had to approach him and ask for his secret of flexibility.  That was the start of a friendship that lasted over 50 years!  At the time I was running three miles a day with my brother and Syl asked if I wanted to join him for a run that weekend.  I obliged and after a very hilly ten miler  I was so exhausted  that I thought I would need to tie my hands to the steering wheel to get home!  I stuck with it and with Syl we ran a  thousand miles over the years.  Boulder Colorado, Yosemite Valley and everywhere in between was an opportunity to share a great run with one of the most interesting and nice guys I ever met. 

In 1982 Cathy and I got married in Yosemite Valley and I sent an invitation to Syl who was still living in New York.  Syl accepted and I vividly remember him nudging me from my bed on my wedding day.  Still half asleep I heard , "Hey buddy, we need to run now in case there's no chance later!"  Typical Syl, he was getting that 10 mile run in come hell or high water!  Later on that day he met my sister Mary and they shared the next 42 years together!  Mary is an incredible cook and on more than one occasion I would tell Syl how lucky he was to have such a crazy good chef for his meals and his answer was always the same -  "Oh Mary, she's a gem, she's a real gem!"!!! 

I miss Syl a lot now but I feel so fortunate to have shared so many great times with him.  

Hey Buddy, we will see each other again for as you liked to say and as Chuck pointed out earlier - Nobody beats Father Time!  

Syl's 1996 Western States run, p.2

Syl's 1996 Western States run

I first met Syl during his ultra trail running days in the mid-1990s. We ran together on the local trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and especially at Edgewood County Park, which was Syl's go to training venue back then. We were training to run in our first Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, which we both successfully completed in 1996. We even made it into the local San Mateo County newspaper after that Western States run, and of course the photo shoot needed to be at Edgewood (see attached photos). Syl had an infectious, exuberant love for running and for life, and I learned so much from him about running, friendship and living a good life during those long runs. Even now, three decades later, there are local trails that I think of as "Syl's trails". He will be greatly, greatly missed. 

I had the pleasure of first meeting Syl when I moved to San Carlos in 2000.  Riding my bike around 5am every day I never expected to meet anyone at such an hour, and yet there he was pretty much every time, always so friendly and enthusiastic.  He transformed the morning cycling experience into something so much more joyful.  

Over the years and miles I met so many other cyclists through Syl, who stood out amongst us with his immaculate appearance, spotless bicycles and ability with the bike.  It’s a rare thing for such a person to be so warm and have time for others, and he sure did.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to call him my friend, to have shared the beauty of our roads, conversations on all sorts, to have heard his cycling and running stories and how very proud he was of his family.  A very unique and special man who shared his passion and his warmth with his community.  Rest in Peace Syl, and thank you for being you.  

I remember growing up and visiting my Nana, which was also Syl's home.  I was skinny and awkward but had longer legs than I probably should have for my height, and Syl always told me I should be a runner. He seemed to always be practicing his running,  and when he wasn't he was working on his car. You could see your reflection in that green Vette  as much as he polished it LOL.  We lost touch over the years but I was so happy to get to catch up with him a couple of summers ago and spend some wonderful time with him and his lovely wife.  Mary, (and all of the family) I am so sorry for your loss, Syl will be missed.  

What can I say about my cousin Syl? We grew up together in a three family house Our grandfather built in Peekskill New York. I was there when my aunt Connie brought him home from the hospital also, his sister, Susan and brother Charles. We all grew up together and a wonderful family environment. Syl moved across country and we didn’t get to see each other often. In August 2023 I did get to see his beautiful home. We had a wonderful visit with him and Mary.

Syl was more than a brother. He was my buddy. Syl worked with some Jamaican guys at IBM and they called each other and others Buddy. We adopted the same practice and called each other Buddy for the last 40+ years. 

I have so many memories thanks to Syl. We traveled cross country from NY during the summers of 1976,77 & 78 for 4-5 weeks each time and saw many special places in the western US and the Canadian Rockies. On these trips we drove to the summit of Pikes Peak and hiked to the summits of Half Dome, Lassen, Angel’s Landing in Zion and Longs Peak (the highest mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park). We also hiked up a glacier on Mount Rainer. We really pushed ourselves on some of these hikes/climbs; summitting Longs in a snowstorm in August and found ourselves in a thunderstorm crossing a rock field on our descent. We also hiked to the summit of Mount Marcy (the highest peak in NY) the day after Thanksgiving 1981 and sometimes fell through the snow up to our hips. We didn’t have snowshoes but we pushed on anyway. Syl said a number of times last year that there’s no way we could do these hikes at our age. As Syl would say Father Time is undefeated. 

One winter when it was too icy to run outside Syl and I ran laps in our basement. I’m guessing each lap was about 100 feet. We ran a lot of laps that day but Syl kept his streak alive!

In recent years Syl and I would text everyday and talk regularly; mostly about sports and the New York Yankees and New York Giants. We would regularly text each other while watching games. I now regularly wonder what Syl would think about sports news. Following sports just isn’t the same without Syl. 

I miss Syl so much. I know many others do as well. He was a very good Buddy. 

Love you Buddy. 

Chuck

I will never forget the unconditional love of my dad and the warm embrace of his hugs making me feel safe. His sweet smile, and pure gentle heart. I always looked forward to the next time I could visit and go on our long walks to catch up. No matter how much time we spent together, I would always learn something new about him. Everywhere we went, there would be someone he knew and he could spark a conversation with anyone. His strength was admirable in every outlet of life but especially through the hundreds of miles of running and biking he did. When I was 10 years old, I asked my dad if I should join the cross country team and I’m pretty sure that was one of the best days of his life. His love for running was contagious to me and because of that I not only got the best coach but we got to spend so much time together training and traveling around the country for races. I always strived to make my dad proud and he never stopped reminding me how proud he was of me. My dad was so incredibly special to me, I will cherish all of our memories together. I love you so much dad ♥️

Wow...

The amazing Syl Pascale...

We met actually at the old Nike Berkeley store in late 1984. Syl remembered me from a previous New York City Marathon we had both run. We reminisced and soon became fairly regular training partners, often meeting at lunchtime for a run on the Stanford University campus or on the roads and trails near his (then) San Carlos, California home. I eventually moved from California to Pennsylvania, and one of my fondest memories was the Father's Day in 1986 when Syl invited me to spend the day with him and his very large family in upstate New York. Of course, we first went for a 20-plus mile run on the Rockefeller Estate, then spent the remainder of the day feasting on a sumptuous multi-course Italian meal, celebrating his father and all of the fathers in attendance!

We eventually fell out of touch for several years (I have a habit of "disappearing"), but Syl reached out to me again via social media, and we began regularly texting and occasionally talking on the phone (Syl much preferred texting!), mainly talking about running. I was fortunate enough to visit Syl and Mary in California one summer, and the three of us included a lovely hike in the surrounding forest. Syl and Mary were the perfect hosts, anf for a couple of years we continued our regular texting and "catching up" routine. I am so sorry to say that I once again "disappeared" during the last few months of Syl's life. I was deeply saddened to hear of his passing and I shall forever cherish the memories of our friendship. Syl was a devoted husband, father, friend, and amazing athlete. The world is quite a bit emptier without Syl, but Heaven is so much brighter with him there!

I love you, Syl! Rest in peace, Buddy!

🙏❤️🙏

Sincerely,

Kim Wrinkle

Syl was the love of my life. We spent 42 years together and were an amazing team. We enjoyed doing so many things together, especially working on projects. We did everything from putting together a tricycle to building a goat barn. Syl loved his family so much and enjoyed sharing his love of hiking with them. Some of his favorite places to travel to for hikes were Yosemite and Lake Tahoe. Syl and I were able to go on some really amazing trips and as much as we enjoyed those, we truly loved being in our home we built together. We loved a good routine which usually consisted of having delicious meals together and watching a movie every evening. We found comfort in our routines and enjoyed how relaxing our home was. You truly never realize how much someone does until they are gone, and for Syl it was taking care of the cars, the house and our finances. I especially miss his hugs and how he was always there for me, his presence, his warmth and his smile. I am so grateful for our relationship and all of the memories we shared together. He lived a full and happy life, and really got to see the world when he traveled cross country multiple times. He was the best tour guide on our adventures and it was so enjoyable not having to worry about a thing because he had it covered. Syl truly had such a good heart and would do anything for his family. I miss you and I love you Syl, you will forever be in my heart.