SCHUCHMAN, Joseph Charles, 92, passed away on December 28, beloved husband, father and grandfather. Joe possessed a devout faith, a quiet calm, and a deep love of family. His love will live on in all those who knew him
Born February 6, 1930, the fifth of eight children to George and Marguerite (Durring) Schuchman in St. Albans, Queens. Joe was a devoted husband to the late Patricia (Ewald), and is survived by their children, Elizabeth (Michael) Gialanella, Margaret (Christopher) Still, Joseph (Patricia) Schuchman, Anne (James) Berrettini, John (Christine) Ritter, and Peter (Amy) Schuchman. He is also survived by sisters Helen and Anne, and sister-in-law Madeleine (Sandy), as well as many nieces and nephews. He loved all babies and children, but especially his grandchildren: Leigh, Christopher, Aaron, Matthew, Samuel, Mary, Joseph, Stella, Madeleine, Augustine, Erin, Veronica, Eric, James, Vanessa, and June. He is predeceased by his parents; brothers George, Gerard, Richard, and Paul, and sister Dolores; a daughter, Mary Veronica; and his beloved Pat—their reunion in heaven will be a blessing.
After graduating high school, Joe worked in several machine shops, before enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1951. He received intensive instruction in Russian language at Syracuse University for a year, and then served for three years at Misawa air base in Japan monitoring Soviet radio transmissions during the Korean War, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. On his return to civilian life, he pursued an education in engineering, earning a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Hofstra University, an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brooklyn Polytechnic, and later an M.A. from SUNY Stony Brook. While in college he attended a Newman Club dance where he met the love of his life, Patricia Ewald. They were married in 1961 and settled on Long Island, first in Wyandanch, and then Setauket, where they made their home for over fifty years. Joe was employed by Brookhaven National Laboratory for over twenty-five years as a specialist in vacuum systems, including work on the National Synchrotron Light Source project.
Joe was a longtime parishioner of St. James RC Church in Setauket, repaired and donated used bicycles to Our Daily Bread soup kitchen, and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels. He loved working with his hands, built his own wooden boat, designed wooden duck decoys, and made bird houses with his grandchildren. Joe was an avid runner, running five miles a day well into his sixties and taking home many race medals for his age category, and when a severe foot injury put an end to running, he took up cycling. Joe loved nature and birdwatching, but was happiest on or near the water, preferably fishing, but also sipping a coffee and just watching the boats in Port Jeff or Stony Brook harbors.
Friends and family are welcome to gather to remember and celebrate Joe’s life on Monday, January 2, with viewings at Bryant Funeral Home, 2-4pm and 7-9pm, and Mass of Christian Burial at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Setauket on Tuesday, January 3, at 9:30am, with military burial to follow at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale