John, Kathleen, & Sharon Syrian / Donald T. Goss Fund


TYPE OF FUND:  Designated

DATE ESTABLISHED:  Established (and amended in memory of Don Goss) Dec. 10, 2003. 

PURPOSE:  Established by Saundra Syrian Goss and family to honor the memory of her parents John & Kathleen Syrian, sister Sharon Syrian and husband, Donald T. Goss.

DISTRIBUTION:  Upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee, and approval of the Board of Directors of TCF funds will be distributed to the following entities on a 3 year rotating basis:

  • Warm the Children – to provide clothing for needy children
  • Knights of Columbus of St. Thomas and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Churches
  • Any public garden project (public park and/or public park board and/or public garden and/or garden club beautification project)

In the event of the disbanding of any of the above named recipients, the TCF Board of Directors may distribute the funds with preference given to:

Like-minded organizations as named above.

Catholic students for continuing education

Our Lady Of Mercy Catholic Church for special occasion flowers or garden projects. 

VARIANCE POWER:  If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.

FUNDING:  Initiated by Saundra Syrian Goss, family members and friends, Aug. 14, 2001. 

BACKGROUND:  John A. Syrian was a first generation Italian / American.  He was an avid and accomplished athlete in high school and the first person in his family to graduate high school.  He was a true patriot and a veteran of WW II and the Korean Conflict.  He was a loving, generous father, husband and friend.  He enjoyed golf all of his life.

Kathleen Gordon Syrian, a devoted daughter and mother, was born and lived the majority of her life in Tucker County.  She was a resourceful homemaker, an avid gardener and an accomplished seamstress.  She was active in PTA and Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, a church that benefited from her tireless energy and fund-raising efforts.  She cared for an aged aunt until her death from cancer and always looked after other family members.

Sharon Syrian was a graduate of Parsons High School and WV Beauty School.  She was the mother of two daughters, Amie and Michelle, and she was very active in their school and the Catholic Church in Martinsburg.  She was a business owner in Martinsburg, WV before her untimely death in 1990 which was a devastating loss to her family, friends and community.

Donald Thomas Goss was a resident of Tucker County for the majority of his life.  He was the younger son of John Francis and Christeen Goss.  He graduated high school in Northville, Michigan and married Saundra Syrian.  They were the parents of 3 sons, Donald, Michael and Shawn.  Don was a Type 1 diabetic for 50 years.  In 1996 he received a heart transplant and embraced that generous gift with joy, thankfulness, dedication, and discipline.

Don worked for the US Postal Service for 36 years and the time of his death he was postmaster in Aurora, WV.  He was very civic minded and active in the PTA and Tucker County Alpine Festival Association.  He was an artist and favored landscapes and linear designs.  He enjoyed gardening and traveling.