Joseph "John" Seider, Jr.

Joseph “John” Seider, Jr.

August 12, 1949

April 30, 2025

When I must leave you for a little while,

Please do not grieve and shed wild tears,

And hug your sorrow to you through the

years, But start out bravely with a gallant smile;

And for my sake and in my name, Live on and do all

things the same, Feed not your loneliness on empty days,

but fill each waking hour in useful ways, reach out your hand

in comfort and in cheer, And I in turn will comfort you

and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die,

For I am waiting for you in the sky!

John passed away peacefully on April 30, 2025. He was born to Joseph Seider, Sr. and Adelia Seider (Colone) on August 12, 1949 at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital. He grew up in Oneonta among his many Seider and Colone aunts, uncles and cousins. He enjoyed baseball, football, basketball and many high jinks with his brother, cousins and schoolmates. In High School, John excelled in the sport of Tennis and helped take the team to the State Finals in his senior year. He was a member of the Drama Club and won roles in many plays under the direction of John Chamard, at Oneonta High School. John and Linda Chamard have been beloved friends of the Seider family ever since. John earned a Certificate of Recognition in May of 1967 by The National Thespian Society for his roles in Come Blow Your Horn and Oklahoma! After graduating in 1967, John earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from SUNY-Oneonta in 1971. He spent several years in New York City pursing the theater arts, and won roles in several plays to rave reviews. He landed the lead role of Little Chap in his favorite play, Stop The World-I Want To Get Off. John grew homesick, and returned to Oneonta and continued acting in many plays with the SUCO Summer Theater group and various theater groups in and around the area.

John became an avid golfer. He quickly mastered that sport and was the Manager of the College Association golf course in Delhi, NY. He hit his first Hole-In-One on the 13th hole of 75 yards at Cee Jay Golf Links and earned a Johnnie Walker International Hole-In-One award. After ten years in the industry, his other love, German-engineered automobiles landed him as an Audi-VW Brand Specialist at Audi-VW of Oneonta until their closure in October 2018. Before the Corona pandemic hit the country, John joined the team at Dick's Sporting Goods and was successful in the Golf Department from August, 2019 until his retirement in 2023. John was especially known for his compassion, strong work ethic, generally positive outlook, and his clever and constant sense of humor.

He and his wife, Susanna Isbell, met in October of 1991. They soon became best of friends, sharing meals entertaining, outings and long talks. They realized they were falling in love in September of 1992. John popped the question in 1995. After a visit to her beloved Uncle Johnny and Aunt Linda in Memphis, TN, when they asked her “WHEN are you going to finally marry that man!” The couple wed September 4, 2006. John and Susanna have lived, laughed and loved during good times, great times and not so great times. Their shared love of animals, preserving wildlife, domestic animals, environmental protections and support were ever present. Together, they raised and rescued a plethora of felines and three beloved dogs, the last one, being “Tuesday” in 2019. She became Daddy's girl, and he cherished her. Tuesday now misses him on walks, hikes, and play time in the Park.

John is survived by his wife and Tuesday,his brother, Michael Seider and wife, Anna, of Cohoes, NY, Nephew Bryan Isbell and his wife, Laura, of Hannacroix, NY; Nieces, Kristen and husband, Paolo Gottardi, of Brooklyn, NY, Sofia Isbell of Niskayuna, NY, and Sister-in-Law, Susan Isbell, of Niskayuna, NY. He is also survived by many cherished cousins-in-law on the Isbell side of the family. His Colone cousins who were always special to him throughout his life; Armida Colone, Francis and Sharon Colone and Patrick Colone, of Oneonta, NY, and so many others in and around NY too numerous to name. Many lifelong friends, especially, Miriam “Penny” Vedder of Oneonta, NY. The love, good times, wonderful memories, and tremendous support of family and dear friends, past and present neighbors, have all been a joy and comfort to both John and Susanna for many years.

John will remain forever in our hearts and be remembered with an abundance of love