My Dad, Joseph, was born at the dawn of the Great Depression to parents who immigrated from war-torn Poland. His youth was active in many sports especially baseball and football. He loved to regale his children with stories of the hapless Cardinals baseball team from East Hempstead, and how he scored six touchdowns in one football game in which the final score was 36 to nothing. He was a corporal in the United States Army during the Korean War era. At the end of this time in service met his wife Edith with whom he enjoyed a marriage of 40 years until her passing at age 61 in 1995. Together they raised five children. A softy at heart, he cried at his children’s parades, concerts, school events, and weddings. He was especially proud to be the first person on either side of the family to obtain a college degree which he obtained with the assistance of the G.I. Bill. He was also extremely proud that all five of his children were college educated and earned post-graduate professional degrees. His own professional life consisted of a 40 year career working for Grumman Aerospace. At first, he worked on the shop floor in airplane assembly. After obtaining his degree as a draftsman, he moved on to the tool design department where he earned the nickname “Bulkhead Joe” for his work designing bulkheads for military aircraft. He advanced to becoming a manufacturing engineer where he was instrumental in Grumman’s creation of the F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. He retired from Grumman Aerospace in 1989 at the age of 60. Joseph married again in 1998 to Josephine Arnold. He was accepted into her family and had a wonderful 22 year marriage during which Joseph and Josephine could count on each other for support and comfort. Another accomplishment of which Joseph was extremely proud was obtaining and maintaining sobriety. He struggled with alcoholism for most of two decades. However, at the age of 61 he managed to regain his sobriety and became an active member of AA. He was often a speaker at various AA meetings and gatherings. His effort to follow the 12 step program was admirable and inspirational. Maintaining his sobriety may have been the most difficult challenge is life. He had managed 29 years of sobriety at the time of his passing. And in times of difficulty he always referred to the serenity prayer. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference. There were many things that Joseph could not change, but not for wont of trying. He did change a lot of things for the better, for very many people. And we are all wiser because of him.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.