Leogrande, Sr. – Joseph, a longtime resident of South Huntington, formerly of New Hyde Park, New York, and The Villages, Florida, passed peacefully on February 27 at the age of 98, after battling multiple health issues.
He was born on June 25, 1927, to Dominic and Maria Leogrande in New Hyde Park, one of six children. His father died when he was nine years old. He took on various jobs, such as ice deliveryman and plumbing apprentice, to help the family. Joe was a WWII Navy veteran and a volunteer fireman for New Hyde Park FD. After leaving the Navy, he met his wife of 65 years, Antoinette Leogrande, who predeceased him in 2020.
They settled down in South Huntington. He was active in his church, St. Elizabeth of Hungary R. C. Church in Melville, as an usher and a member of Knights of Columbus. He worked as a union plumber for years prior to becoming a Master Plumber. He served the community as owner and operator of Leogrande Plumbing & Heating for many years. After he retired, he was a Huntington Town Plumbing Inspector.
In 2001, he and his wife purchased a vacation home in The Villages, Florida. They enjoyed 15 years of being snowbirds, making new friends and traveling the East Coast. Joe had an interest in horticulture and gardening and in the past had a commercial greenhouse and large garden where he would putter for hours. He also loved animals. Throughout the years, he owned many dogs, horse and ponies, chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, geese, and homing pigeons when his son took an interest them.
He is survived by his loving children, Rosemarie (Peggy) and Joseph (Elizabeth); his loving grandchildren, Joseph, Nicholas, Christopher and Jaclyn (Kas) Stanton; his dear sister, Rose Knight; sister-in-law, Dorothy Leogrande; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Mike; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann D’Angelo (Paul), Josephine Wurm (Bob), Margaret Dickinson (Bill); and brother-in-law Ed (Rose). He will be deeply missed by all his family and friends. Visitation will be held, Friday, March 6, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM, at A. L. Jacobsen Funeral Home, 1380 New York Ave, Huntington Station.
Funeral Mass, Saturday, March 7, 10:30 a.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary R. C. Church, 175 Wolf Hill Road, Melville. Interment at Queen of Peace Cemetery, 321 Jericho Tpke, Old Westbury. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Tunnel to Towers, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, or St. Elizabeth of Hungary R. C Church.