Edward M. Cupoli, Ph.D., a longtime resident of Guilderland, died peacefully on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, at the Teresian House Nursing Home in Albany surrounded by his family. He was 72.

The son of the late Anthony and Nina Cupoli, he was born in Syracuse, New York.

Ed received his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public affairs and his bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from LeMoyne College in Syracuse.

“He was proud of his time at both schools,” his family wrote in a tribute, “and was always willing to give back his time, talent, and resources to their respective students. 

“Ed retired from the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee where he was the chief economist and director of research. He felt public service was the place for him as he could give back to people and leave the world a better place whether it was working on legislation to end spring borrowing, creating the deferred compensation for state employees, or other public-finance issues. 

“‘Ask Dr. Ed’ was his mantra and if he did not have an answer for you, he could get one soon. He would remind everyone, ‘The only constant is change and the only variable is the rate of change.’

“Ed served as the Assembly’s member of the board of trustees for Cornell University, advisor and then member of the Deferred Compensation Board, member of the Board of Economic Advisors, committees to restore New York City after 9/11and Start-Up New York.

“After 23 legislative sessions, Ed left the Assembly to become the head of the new Nanoeconomics Constellation at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the State University of New York at Albany. He developed the new curriculum, taught and advised master’s and Ph.D. candidates. Ed had also taught economics at Michigan State University, The Rockefeller School of Public Affairs in Albany, The College of St. Rose in Albany, and was guest lecturer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy.

“When not working, he could be found traveling with his wife to many parts of the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and overseas to Italy, Sicily, England, Wales, Slovakia, Hungary, China, Thailand, Greece, France, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, and the Caribbean.

“Spending time with family was so important to Ed. Having no children, his nieces and nephews and then great-niece and great-nephews were his focus. Uncle Eddie was the fun uncle who would play games, take you for rides, cheer you on at games, go for ice cream, or just laugh with you. His great joy was seeing their accomplishments.

“Ed was a communicant of The Church of Christ the King in Westmere. He was a founding member of the Christ the King’s Finance Committee where he served many years. Ed was a member of the 4th degree and 3rd degree Knights of Columbus at Christ the King, serving as both Faithful Navigator and Grand Knight. Anytime the Knights had events, Ed could be found helping.

“Ed was a man who could talk with anybody and was always there to help. He just wanted to leave the world a better place for all, especially the young. He leaves us with his huge smile and great laugh and a request to do for others. He also loved to wear crocs, the more colorful the better, and loved to show them off. In his honor, the family will be wearing crocs at the funeral and ask all who knew him to do the same.”

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Edward M. Cupoli is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharon L. Cupoli; brother, Richard R. Cupoli of Syracuse, New York; brothers-in-law, Andrew F. Hmiel (Karen) of Glenside, Pennsylvania, Daniel J. Hmiel (Sandy) of Liverpool, New York, Gregory L. Hmiel of Syracuse; and sisters-in-law, Deborah L. Hmiel, Deborah J. Bowers Hmiel, and Rosemarie Hmiel, all of Syracuse.

He is also survived by his uncle, David G. Hmiel (Christine Knowles) of Hood River, Oregon; nieces, Michelle L. Cupoli, Tina Marie Stewart (Matthew), Sherry L. Hmiel; nephews, Antonio R. Cupoli (Christina), Michael A. Cupoli, Abraham L. Hmiel, Benjamin I. Hmiel; great niece, Natalie Stewart; great nephews, Fred Bradshaw, Jason Cupoli Stewart, Cooper Stewart; and several cousins.

His brother and sister-in-law, Anthony L. and Patricia Dymkar Cupoli, died before him, as did his sister-in-law, Roberta S. “Robin” Cupoli; and brothers-in-law, Douglas E. and Michael D. Hmiel.

“The family would like to thank the staff in Teresian House’s Carmel Gardens West,” the tribute said. “They provided such loving care to Ed during the advancement of his Alzheimer’s disease.”

A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 at Thomas J. Pirro Jr. Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Pompei/St Peter Church at 301 Ash St, in Syracuse, New York at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Assumption Cemetery in Syracuse.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home at 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Road) in North Syracuse on Wednesday, Nov. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Heart Association, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

A Memorial Mass will be held in Guilderland at The Church of Christ the King, 20 Sumter Ave. Westmere, NY at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5.