Thomas E. Joyner

ALBANY – Thomas E. Joyner, 90, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2015, at St. Peter’s Hospital. Thomas was born in Oxford, Ohio, the son of the late Fred B. and Mae Joyner. He was raised in Miami, Ohio where he played high school football under legendary coach Weeb Ewbank who led the Baltimore Colts to NFL championships in 1958 and 1959 and the New York Jets to victory in Super Bowl III in 1969. He later moved to Plattsburgh, eventually settling in the Albany area. Early in his career Thomas taught political science at the Champlain Valley College in Plattsburgh. He retired as the director of Research at the NYS Public Employees Relations Board. He was a member of the International Association of Torch Clubs and the Industrial Relations Resource Association. Thomas lived a full and rich life. He had a great love of the outdoors, spending much of his time at his camp on Lake Champlain capturing the beauty of nature thru his lens. He also loved the company of his many dogs.

Thomas is predeceased by his beloved wife, Olive Downs Joyner, who he married on June 27, 1953. Thomas is survived by his niece, Cathrine McKee; a nephew, Fr. Phillip Allen and by a number of other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. Interment will be in St. Augustine’s Cemetery in Peru, N.Y. To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit HansFuneralHome.com .