Joyce Magnus

Joyce Magnus passed away on October 8, 2022 at the age of 80. She was born in New York City to Alice and Leopold Sutton, parents who she loved dearly. She attended City University of New York where she studied German, but she quickly pivoted to a career in elementary education. Following her graduation, she obtained a teaching certificate in and began her teaching career in 1962.

During her teaching career, Joyce became a union activist, serving as a union chapter leader and in other advocacy roles. Later in her career she served as an Educational Liaison at the Teacher’s Center where she was able to help many teachers resolve work-place issues. She retired from the Board of Education and went to work for the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) as a certification specialist where she again assisted teachers in navigating issues maintaining their teacher licenses. Joyce was very active in the teacher’s union, serving as a convention delegate to the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Joyce was the treasurer for the United Federation of Teachers Retired Teachers Chapter, the political action representative for Retiree Council 17. She also served as the UFT’s Staten Island Retiree Political Action representative and an executive board member for the United Federation of Teachers Retired Teacher Chapter.

In 2019 she was honored with the Retiree Member of the Year award. Click the youtube link to view the video.

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFDioxT8jmY ) She was currently volunteering in the Staten Island union office by coordinating the phone bank and organizing bus trips to Philadelphia for political action. Her passion for political action will be remembered fondly by her friends, family, and colleagues. She was tireless in her efforts to “get out the vote” and to make a difference.

Joyce is survived and will be missed by her long-term partner, Ken Halpern. She also will be missed greatly by her stepdaughter Jackie Hodes and her wife, Mary-Alice Ozechoski. Additionally, she leaves behind two other stepdaughters, Margot Deutsch (Jeff) and Jennifer Myers (Steve) and their children Jessica, Katie, Lindsey, Adam, Marisa, and Zachary. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Robert Hodes and her wonderful parents, Alice and Leopold. She leaves behind many loving friends and fellow travelers. Her colleagues and friends will remember Joyce as a strident advocate for education and teacher rights.

Relatives and friends are invited to her visitation from 11:00 am to 11:45 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10310 followed by her Memorial Service at 11:45 a.m. Burial will be at the Baron Hirsch Cemetery, 1126 Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joyce’s memory may be made to the ALS Association, Greater New York Chapter, http://alsa-newjersey.com/