Lester J. Bishop

Lester J. Bishop, 75, of Syracuse, NY, passed away peacefully last Friday night after a courageous battle with throat cancer. Born and raised in Syracuse, Lester was a proud graduate of Corcoran High School. He made lifelong Deaf friends from Percy Hughes in his younger years. He continued his education at SUNY Morrisville, studying mechanics, which led him to a fulfilling career.

Lester dedicated 25 years to working as a mechanic before joining the New York State Department of Transportation, where he served for another 25 years before retiring. His passion for classic cars was evident in his commitment to attending the Syracuse Nationals for 24 consecutive years. He was also a familiar face at the Deaf Chat gatherings at Panera Bread and was an active member of the Syracuse Deaf Club.

He is survived by his beloved fiancée, Mary Ann Meeks; and his stepdaughters, Lisa Alfieri and Jennie Sivak (Eric); six cherished grandchildren, Jordan, Gabrielle, Jonathan, Nicholas, Jazlyn and Jed; family friends, Carol Allen, Brad Allen and Grace Cogan; and a beloved pet rabbit, Ford who was a source of joy and companionship. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Lester G. and Catherine Bishop. 

Lester valued the friendships made through his involvement in the classic car show and Salt City Vans. He was an avid fan of Ford trucks and enjoyed going to junk yards. Lester will be remembered for quick wit with his sense of humor, dedication, and the joy he found in his passions and friendships. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

There will be a memorial service at New Comer Cremations and Funerals in North Syracuse on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 6PM. All who knew Lester, are welcome to attend and celebrate Lester’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Central New York Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society, Salt City Vans, Whole Me Inc. Senior Citizen, Aurora of Central New York Inc., or the Throat Cancer Foundation.

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