Joseph L. Sindelar passed away on May 10, 2026, surrounded by his family.

For Joe, it was never about himself — his family always came first. Extraordinarily driven and self-taught, he rose from humble beginnings; he was literally born in a chicken coop in Horseheads, New York. Whatever he set his mind to, he was intent on mastering it.

That selflessness and drive led him to work two jobs: as a mailman in the Windsor Gardens area of Horseheads, walking an 11-mile route, and as a meticulous installer of roofing and siding on evenings and weekends. He chose to drive a dilapidated station wagon he affectionately named his “Lemonsine” so that each of his kids could have more dependable transportation.

Joe and his wife Kris collaborated to create the Stick to Golf school golf program, funded by a grant through BOCES. That effort led to additional grants that brought The First Tee junior golf program to the area, giving hundreds of kids the opportunity to learn golf and its associated life skills. He also personally constructed dozens of forward tees at Soaring Eagles Golf Course as part of the “Tee It Forward” program, which encourages people to play a distance-appropriate round. Some thought he built those tees so Kris could reach more greens! In reality, he wanted everyone who could no longer hit the long ball to keep enjoying the game they loved. The many letters he received from players who had rarely experienced a birdie putt or a par gave him tremendous joy. Additional joy was provided by the Soaring Eagles ladies’ golf league players, who always looked up and waved as Joe watched and cheered from his deck.

As for Joe’s expertise in golf, he was regarded by many of today’s finest teachers — Bob Toski, Jim Flick, Jim McLean, Mike Bender, and Mike Bennett, among others — as incredibly bright, observant and inventive. He was the single driving force in preparing his son Joey for success on the PGA Tour.

Joe and Kris were part of the “Wednesday Morning Breakfast Group” for over 15 years, and they shared a love of sports. Both were avid fans of Syracuse Men’s Basketball and the WNBA Indiana Fever, and they enjoyed following PGA and LPGA golf together.

His daughter Jill warmly remembers how much Joe loved to mow his lawn. It was his joy. In summer you could often find him working outside and his lawn was always perfect. His love of landscaping and lawn care carried down through the generations. His backyard became a reflection of that passion — a charming collection of birdhouses and squirrel feeders that delighted his family, a space so welcoming to wildlife that it even attracted the occasional black bear. Plenty of golf practice areas and training aids rounded out the backyard experience.

Joe’s dedication to learning about treatment for Parkinson’s disease earned him the honorary title of “Dr. Joe” given by the professional caregivers who oversaw the well- being of Joanne Sindelar, whose quality of life was immensely improved by his decades of devoted, day-by-day caregiving.

He was an incredible grandfather to 6 and great-grandfather to 8 — soon to be 10 — that brought him immense joy. He closely followed their golf accomplishments, collegiate careers, and all the day-to-day happenings of their busy lives. His grandchildren called him “Opie” and he was known for his unforgettable “Opie-isms” — countless twisted and funny sayings that made everyone around him smile. He kept his sense of humor and made the family laugh until his final days.

Opie hosted several “Ungvarsky” New Year’s Eve sledding parties, complete with carefully made trails and an iced sledding hill, always accompanied by food, laughter, and fun that lasted until the ball dropped at midnight. His grandchildren also had the privilege of attending “Opie Golf Camp” every summer. Under his patient guidance, that annual tradition became much more than practice — it helped shape their character as well as their game. The stories from those days are legendary.

He is survived by his loving wife, Kristine Sindelar; his children, Joseph (Amanda) Sindelar, Julie (Gene) Ungvarsky, Jill Sindelar, and beloved granddog Amber; stepchildren, Mark (Colleen) Reuland and Katie (Dwayne Groth) Reuland; his grandchildren, Aaron (Meredith) Ungvarsky, Jordan (Sandra) Ungvarsky, Zack (Alicia) Ungvarsky, Aubrey (Eric) Lunt, Jamison (Shelby) Sindelar, and Ryan (Heather) Sindelar; and his great-grandchildren.

A private celebration of Joe’s life will be held on June 6th. The family wishes to thank the incredible medical staff at Arnot Medical Center, Dr. Akila and Lacey. Donations in Joe’s memory can be made to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier.