Joseph A. Degnan, a three-year resident of Fishkill, formerly of Yorktown Heights and Yonkers, died at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. He was 76.
Son of the late Joseph A. and Elsie (Kovacs) Degnan, he was born on October 19, 1937. He was raised in the Bronx and attended Iona Prep & Manhattan College. At the age of 19, Joseph enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. During his military service, he was stationed in Germany and was honorably discharged in 1960.
He dedicated his career to education. He served as a teacher and administrator for New York City Schools at Junior High School 113 in the Bronx, retiring in 1996.
Joseph was a parishioner of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill, and formerly of St. Patrick’s Church in Yorktown Heights. He had many hobbies, including golfing and reading. He enjoyed watching baseball and football games, especially his favorite teams, the NY Yankees and NY Giants.
On December 26, 1964, he married Helen Reilly at St. Mary’s Church in the Bronx. Mrs. Degnan survives at home.
Joseph is also survived by his son, Michael Degnan & his wife Ellen of Milton, GA; his daughter, Laura Peterson & her husband Phil of Saratoga, CA; his daughter, Jennifer Cole & her husband Thomas of Fishkill; his grandchildren, Ryan, Maggie, & Erin Degnan, Spencer & Claire Peterson, and Alexandra, Julianna, & Noelle Cole; his brother, Brian Degnan of The Villages, FL; also many nieces, nephews and other loving relatives & friends.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 15 at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 16 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org.
For directions, online condolences, and memorial donations, please visit Joseph’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.

Affiliations

US Air Force