Kenneth Bobis

Kenneth Barry Bobis, 74, passed away at midnight on Sunday, April 7 at his home on Otisco lake in Marietta, NY surrounded by family.   He was born in Brooklyn on August 23, 1949 and grew up in Jericho, Long Island. His childhood home was near the Long Island Railroad and the Long Island Sound, which influenced his love of model trains and boating. Ken enjoyed basketball as a longtime SU fan, and for many years he participated in and organized a local basketball league with his friends. He also loved gardening, his NY Times crossword puzzles, and endeavoring to make others laugh and feel valued. Ken loved his family pets over the years, “Scamp”, “Ferley”, and “Otis” to name a few.

 Over his lifetime, he had a passion for architecture, design and sustainable building practices. He became a New York State licensed Architect after graduating from the Syracuse University School of Architecture in 1973. Ken was a full professor of architecture, technology, and interior design at Onondaga Community College (OCC) where he worked from 1979 to 2015. As a passionate teacher devoted to the inspiration and growth of his students, he helped nurture the minds and careers of countless individuals. This enthusiasm for lifelong learning with his students and colleagues led to many accolades and achievements throughout his long career. He was a prominent member of the US Green Building Council and member of the SUNY ESF advisory committee of the annual Green Building Conference. Ken also served on the board of directors at Greening USA where he received a member of the year award in 2007. He was the faculty advisor to the ESF-SU-OCC student design competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy, which won the grand prize in 2014. His unrelenting commitment to environmental advocacy resulted in being inducted into the Jericho High School Hall of Fame in 2019.

 Despite his busy and fruitful career Ken also managed to design and build two family homes in Syracuse and at Otisco lake. He is survived by his wife Cathy, daughters Laura and Carrie (Kit), sons Daniel and Aaron, granddaughter Violet, brother Richard (Rhoda), aunt Clarice, several cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Colleen’s Compassionate Care, and Hospice of CNY and the Fingerlakes.

Calling hours will be on Friday April 19th from 4-7pm at Burns Garfield Funeral Home 3175 East Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13224 

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, April 20th at 1pm at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society3800 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY 13214