October 9, 2011  

SACKETS HARBOR, N.Y.  —  Joanne M. Novak, 64, a resident of Sackets Harbor, died Oct. 9, surrounded by her close family.              

Born April 3, 1947, in Binghamton, New York, the daughter of James C. Martin and Anne T. Martin, she received a bachelor of arts degree in Political Science from Binghamton University (formerly Harpur College) in 1969 and a master's in the Arts of Teaching from Binghamton University in 1970. Thereafter, she taught high school social studies at East Islip Union Free School District in Long Island for three years, receiving tenure in that position.   

She married Bradford J. Novak on Nov. 21, 1970, in Binghamton.

In 1973, she relocated to Canton, Ohio with her husband, Bradford. Ms. Novak attended the University of Akron School of Law, receiving her Doctorate in Jurisprudence in 1976. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1976 and the New York Bar in 1982. 

During her 35-year career as a lawyer, she worked in both government and private practice, including the Stark County Prosecutor’s Office in Canton, Ohio and the law firm of Hinman, Howard and Katell, LLP in Binghamton, New York. Upon relocation to the North Country in 1993, she was a lawyer for Conboy, McKay, Bachman and Kendall, LLP.  Ms. Novak recently retired from practicing education and labor law in the Office of Employer/Employee Relations for Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. She is a past member of the New York State Bar Association.              

During her career, Ms. Novak was active in community affairs. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA in Binghamton, New York. While living in Canton, New York she was on the Board of Directors of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce from 1994 to 2001, serving as the president of the St. Lawrence Chamber of Commerce from 1999 to 2001. She also served on the Board of Directors of the St. Lawrence County Workforce Investment Board for several years. From 2008 to 2010, Ms. Novak was also on the Board of Trustees of the Sackets Harbor Battlefield Alliance.              

Surviving besides her husband are her beloved daughter, Jessica Marie Novak, a son-in-law, Binyamin Cohen; two bothers, Richard J. Martin and James G. Martin, and their respective partners, Eileen Burke Martin and Nancy Hill; her devoted friend of 50 years, Cheryl Malone Krissel and her spouse, Thomas Krissel; several nieces and nephews, including Melissa Martin Faruqi, Joseph Martin, Nicole Martin, Jason Novak, and Kathryn Hirsch and one grandniece, Zara Lily Faruqi.              

An open house will be held at the family residence at 405 Dodge Ave, Sackets Harbor, for friends and family 4:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, October 10. A funeral mass will be held 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at St. Cyril’s Church, Alexandria Bay. Interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Johnson City, New York.   

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Country Library System.  

Information provided by Costello Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown