Obituary for Charles J. "Charlie" Ricotta Jr.
HOPEWELL JUNCTION – Charles J. Ricotta, Jr., 87, a resident of Hopewell Junction for over 50 years, passed away at home on September 10, 2022. He previously lived in Rockland County.
Born in Manhattan on October 22, 1934, Charlie was the son of the late Charles and Hattie (Levy) Ricotta. On April 1, 1956 at St. Francis Church in the Bronx, he married Mary Ellen (Skerritt) Ricotta who predeceased him in 2009.
Charlie worked in the plumbing, heating and cooling business for many years. He specialized in oil and gas burner repair work. In his early years, Charlie worked for ESSO until he moved to Hopewell Junction and proudly opened and operated Ricotta Plumbing and Heating, with his sons, who each followed in his footsteps. Charlie worked many long over-nights repairing oil burners to ensure his customers had heat and hot water during the long winter nights. In Charlie's later years, he worked as a plumbing inspector for the City of Newburgh and a building inspector for the Town of Wappinger.
Over the years, Charlie was a volunteer Firefighter and Fire Policeman for the East Fishkill Fire District, where he had served as Past President of the Fire Police. He also belonged to the Dutchess County Fire Police. As part of the East Fishkill Fire District, he was an active member of the Hillside Lake Fire Company, and a former member of Hopewell Hose Fire Company.
He was a parishioner of St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction and a 4th Degree member of the St. Mary’s Council #4065 of the Knights of Columbus. Charlie had also served as Past President of the Joe DiMaggio Lodge #2248 of the Sons of Italy in Wappingers Falls.
He was an obsessive fan of the NY Mets! Charlie was well loved and had many friends. Everywhere Charlie went, he could be found shooting the breeze with someone he knew and he never had a sense of time or punctuality! Charlie filled a room with a bold laughter and you could always find him breaking somebody's chops or asking a waitress if the coffee was fresh!
More than anything, Charlie loved his family dearly; his smile, laughter and love will be sorely missed. He is survived by his children, Kathy Ricotta Palomba and her husband Mauro of Hopewell Junction, Danny Ricotta and his wife Donna of Wappingers Falls, Peggy Ricotta Langer and her husband Greg of Newburgh, John Ricotta and his wife Thyra of Los Angeles, CA, and Phillip Ricotta of Hopewell Junction; his grandchildren, Michael and Courtney Florio, Anthony Ricotta, Amanda Palomba, Mauro and Katie Palomba, Larina Florio, and Cory Ricotta; and his great-granddaughter, Lenora Florio.
In addition to his wife and parents, Charlie was also predeceased by his son, Joseph Ricotta in 2007; and his siblings, Tillie O’Neil, Grace Mehlrose, Edith Zanghi, Richard Ricotta, and Marion Giordani.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 10 am at St. Denis Church, 602 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction followed by burial at St. Denis Cemetery.
Donations may be made in Charlie’s memory to the Hillside Lake Fire Company or the American Heart Association. Please visit Charlie’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
Born in Manhattan on October 22, 1934, Charlie was the son of the late Charles and Hattie (Levy) Ricotta. On April 1, 1956 at St. Francis Church in the Bronx, he married Mary Ellen (Skerritt) Ricotta who predeceased him in 2009.
Charlie worked in the plumbing, heating and cooling business for many years. He specialized in oil and gas burner repair work. In his early years, Charlie worked for ESSO until he moved to Hopewell Junction and proudly opened and operated Ricotta Plumbing and Heating, with his sons, who each followed in his footsteps. Charlie worked many long over-nights repairing oil burners to ensure his customers had heat and hot water during the long winter nights. In Charlie's later years, he worked as a plumbing inspector for the City of Newburgh and a building inspector for the Town of Wappinger.
Over the years, Charlie was a volunteer Firefighter and Fire Policeman for the East Fishkill Fire District, where he had served as Past President of the Fire Police. He also belonged to the Dutchess County Fire Police. As part of the East Fishkill Fire District, he was an active member of the Hillside Lake Fire Company, and a former member of Hopewell Hose Fire Company.
He was a parishioner of St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction and a 4th Degree member of the St. Mary’s Council #4065 of the Knights of Columbus. Charlie had also served as Past President of the Joe DiMaggio Lodge #2248 of the Sons of Italy in Wappingers Falls.
He was an obsessive fan of the NY Mets! Charlie was well loved and had many friends. Everywhere Charlie went, he could be found shooting the breeze with someone he knew and he never had a sense of time or punctuality! Charlie filled a room with a bold laughter and you could always find him breaking somebody's chops or asking a waitress if the coffee was fresh!
More than anything, Charlie loved his family dearly; his smile, laughter and love will be sorely missed. He is survived by his children, Kathy Ricotta Palomba and her husband Mauro of Hopewell Junction, Danny Ricotta and his wife Donna of Wappingers Falls, Peggy Ricotta Langer and her husband Greg of Newburgh, John Ricotta and his wife Thyra of Los Angeles, CA, and Phillip Ricotta of Hopewell Junction; his grandchildren, Michael and Courtney Florio, Anthony Ricotta, Amanda Palomba, Mauro and Katie Palomba, Larina Florio, and Cory Ricotta; and his great-granddaughter, Lenora Florio.
In addition to his wife and parents, Charlie was also predeceased by his son, Joseph Ricotta in 2007; and his siblings, Tillie O’Neil, Grace Mehlrose, Edith Zanghi, Richard Ricotta, and Marion Giordani.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday at 10 am at St. Denis Church, 602 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction followed by burial at St. Denis Cemetery.
Donations may be made in Charlie’s memory to the Hillside Lake Fire Company or the American Heart Association. Please visit Charlie’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.