My father, Joseph G Zingone, was born Giuseppe Gennaro on December 16, 1942 in Praiano, Italy, a small fishing village on the southern coast of Italy to Rosa and Rafaele. Although his family was poor, my father remembers never realizing it as he was always happy and felt loved. At the age of 16, my father moved from this fishing village to New York City in 1958 along with his mother, brother Gennaro, and sisters Anna and Rachele to join their father and big brother Angelo, who had come years previously to earn the money to bring the rest of the family.

In America, Joe entered Benjamin Franklin High School for Printing. He was drafted into the Vietnam War after graduation and served his time in Korea at Camp Red Cloud. He served as a supply sergeant and later continued his military service as a national guard. Upon his return to the US, Joe began to work as a pressman and started college on the GI Bill. He would eventually earn his degree from Nyack College.

By this time, the Zingone family had purchased a home in the North Bronx and it was here in this borough that my father met my mother at a social club on Williamsbridge Road. Elizabeth and Joe were devoted to each other and inseparable from that moment on. They married in May of 1970 and 10 months later in March, they were proud to announce the birth of their first child, Rosangela. I was born a few years later in December of 1973 and shortly after that, our family purchased a home and moved to Yonkers. In 1976, Joe began to work at General Foods Corporation in White Plains, New York and remained with the company until his retirement in March of 1996.

In 1980, the family made a major move to East Fishkill, NY. It was here that Joe and Liz decided to put down their roots and became pillars of their community for the next fifty years. Joe had many hobbies including gardening and golf. Joe was always very involved with his children and he served as a soccer coach for many of my youth teams, a sport that connected him to his Italian roots.

This Italian pride led him to become involved with the Sons of Italy where he served in numerous positions including President of the Joe DiMaggio Lodge. He also served as the chairman of the state scholarship fund for many years. Preserving the Italian Language was something that was important to Joe. He and friends petitioned for the creation of an Italian Language program in Wappingers Central School. To date, this program has become one of the most successful Italian Language programs in New York State. The Italian National Honors Society at John Jay High School was named in his honor.

If I counted all of the awards and honors that my father has earned in his lifetime, this obituary would go on for pages. It was always so inspiring to me to see my father's success and the recognition that came with his achievements. But what brought Joe the most joy however was his grandchildren; Gianna and Nicholas DeFalco and Ava and Giulia Zingone. He was always proud to share tales of life with them. Joe was loved by many and will be remembered with affection by his family and friends. I love and miss you Dad.

Joe passed peacefully on January 12, 2025 and is survived by his wife Elizabeth, daughter Rosangela DeFalco, son and daughter-in-law Joseph and Enza Zingone, his grandchildren Ava, Gianna, Giulia, and Nicholas, his siblings Gennaro, Angelo, and Rachele, and his many god children, nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be reunited with his parents and sister Anna in Heaven.

Services for Joe will be Wednesday from 2-4pm and 6-8pm at McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. and Mass will be Thursday at 12pm at St. Columba Church followed by interment in St. Denis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hudson Valley Hospice House in Joe's honor. www.hvhospice.org

Written by Joseph C. Zingone