Joseph E. Monico

Joseph Edward Monico Sr.  (Joe) passed away on Sunday 12/29/24.  He was 85 years old. Joe was born on Staten Island to Gabrielle (née Baron) and Sam Monico.  Joe grew up in New Dorp with his parents and 7 siblings, Jeanine, Muriel, Denice, Sam, Frank, Richard and the baby, Odette.  He was the last surviving member of his original family.

Joe went to the Academy of St. Dorothy and then to New Dorp High School. He would often speak of how he suffered with dyslexia and how nobody knew what it was back then. He liked to joke that he was dyslexic before it was fashionable. Joe played football for New Dorp High School from 1954 to 1958. He was asked to play football for North Carolina University. Plans changed after he was in a terrible car accident.  One leg was injured so badly the doctors even considered amputation. Thankfully they were able to perform surgery and save the leg. 

Joe met his beautiful wife Marie (Paluello) in High School. She spotted him on the football field. It was love at first sight. He couldn’t believe Marie fell  for him. He felt like the luckiest guy in the world. Joe and Marie married on 11/3/62.  They had four children, Lou-Anne Barbaro (Thomas), Joseph Monico Jr., Melissa Ryan (James), Christopher Monico (Sharon).  They had 9 grandchildren,  Samantha Barbaro (Andrew Triska), Gemma Barbaro (Nicholas Pietrantonio), Thomas Barbaro, Joseph Ryan, James Ryan, Lily Monico and Ava Monico. 

Joe was a loving and supportive Husband, father and grandfather.  He was patient and easy going with a sense of humor like no other.  Some of his catch phrases were , “Yes my love”  said to his wife, whenever she said anything! And to his family, jokingly,  when taking them out to dinner, “Go easy on me”. 

Joe could fix anything. It might take time and it might not happen right away, but he never gave up. He was surprisingly tech savvy for a man of his age. He credited his sons for teaching him. Joe worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier. He began in 1961 in Downtown Brooklyn but spent most of his career in the St. George Post Office.  He worked part time as an Auto Mechanic. He also served in the Naval Reserves.  

Services for Joseph will be held at Martín Hughes Funeral Home, Thursday, January 2, from 5pm to 9pm.  Mass will be said on Friday, January 3, 11AM at Saint Sylvester Church.

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