Richard J. Sinnott

ALBANY - Richard James Sinnott, 76, of Albany concluded a life well-lived on February 3, 2026, surrounded by his family. Born on May 30, 1949 to Richard and Ruth (Hazlewood) Sinnott, Rich grew up in Queens, NY. He attended St. Teresa’s Grammar School and was in the first graduating class of Christ the King High School in 1966.

Rich went on to Manhattan College where he majored in philosophy and was a member of the drama club. Finding the job prospects for a philosopher to be a bit dim, he attended Cornell Law School, earning his JD in 1973. 

Rich met the love of his life, Janice Morris, in 1970 while they were both working at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Westchester. They married at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Latham on August 19, 1972 and he began working for New York State the following year. Over the course of his career, he worked for Tax & Finance, the State Comptroller, and the Office of Real Property Services, from which he retired as counsel in 2006. He later worked for the NYS Conference of Mayors until 2020. 

Rich and Jan raised four children in Albany, and spent many wonderful summer vacations on Cape Cod, where his favorite place to visit was Mayflower Beach. He was an active volunteer at Holy Cross Parish and became a well-known emcee for church and school events around the Capital District. He coached  basketball at Holy Cross and baseball and softball at Westland Hills Little League. He was a dedicated blood donor, giving 26.5 gallons to the Red Cross over the course of many years, and was especially proud that his blood contained a protein beneficial to newborns.

Rich was a true Renaissance man: he loved Broadway, rock and folk music, and smooth jazz. He read history books, biographies, and the New York Post. He could complete the New York Times Saturday crossword in ink and loved a good pun. He was a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, Manhattan College basketball, and the New York Mets, who brought him joy and frustration in equal measure. 

Rich always lived life with a sense of wonder and was genuinely interested in everyone he met. He was an incredible storyteller and a coach, mentor, and friend to many. He and Jan enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean several times before he became ill. Rich’s family was the most important thing to him – his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. Nothing made him happier than spending time with his grandchildren, reading them stories, playing games, making them laugh, and sneaking them sweets. 

In addition to his devoted wife of 53 years, Richard leaves behind his children and their spouses: Gregory and Caitlin Sinnott, Stephanie and Matthew Boland, Michael Sinnott, and Melanie and Michael Carroll. He was the proud Pop-pop of Annie, Brooks, Alice, and Samuel Boland, Emerson and Eleanor Carroll, and Addison and William Sinnott. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Rosemary and Lawrence Kelty, in-laws Peggy and Neil Calhoun and Marcia and Brian Hart, several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. 

Rich’s family is grateful for the compassionate care he received from the staff of the Teresian House, where he lived the final year of his life. Though Alzheimer’s stole his memories, we are so thankful for the beautiful life he lived and we’ll always remember the love, joy, and laughter he shared.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday morning, February 11th, at 9:00 a.m. in All Saints Catholic Church, 16 Homestead St., Albany.  Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany on Tuesday, February 10th from 4-8 p.m.  Gifts in Rich’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Red Cross. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.