Obituary of Joseph Ingrassia

Joseph Ingrassia

Town of Wallkill, N.Y.

July 8, 1928-October 14, 2018

Joseph died on October 14th at the age of 90. A lifelong resident of the area, he was born on the Ingrassia farm, Ingrassia Road, in the Town of Wallkill on July 8th, 1928, the son of the late Joseph Ingrassia and Maryann Ingrassia. He attended school in the one-room schoolhouse, District #10, on Maples Road and graduated from Middletown High School in 1945. From early childhood all seven of the Ingrassia children worked on the farm.

In 1946 he attended SUNY Morrisville and graduated in 1948 with an Associates Degree in Automotive Technology. In 1951, he served his County honorably during the Korean War and was discharged in 1953. He returned to the family farm until 1972 when he began working in a local auto dealership, and began teaching Adult Education at Orange- Ulster BOCES at night, where he taught for 22 years. At the age of 52 he returned to New Paltz College and took night courses, obtaining his teaching degree. In 1980 he began working for the New York State Correctional Department at Otisville as a Vocational Welding Instructor. In 1983 he received permanent certification in Automotive Technology, Small Gas Engine Repair and Welding. He retired in 1994.

While Joe worked on the Ingrassia & LaScala Farms, he built many machines. One was a 68-foot long celery harvester called a Mule Train.

After retirement Joe became a gardener extraordinaire. No one ever left his immaculate garden without tokens of his patience and perseverance. (It was said that not a weed dared to grow in his garden!) He started many of the plants from seed and when they were large enough he gave many to friends and even strangers who stopped by to admire his garden. 

Joe was a communicant to St. Joseph’s Church, Middletown.

Joe was a 50+ year member of the Howells Fire Company and Past Fire Company Commissioner. He is a member of the Middletown BPOE #1097; a member of the Veteran Firemen’s Association and American Legion Post #151. In April of 2018, Joe was honored and humbled to be apart of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight Mission #19. His nephew Louis Ingrassia accompanied him.

Joe is survived by his loving, devoted wife, Dorothy Hunt- Ingrassia; his son Kevin of Middletown; his daughter Niala of Ferndale, NY; his step-son Frank E. Nutt Jr., his wife Maryethel and children, son, Frank E. Nutt III, wife Lauren and child on the way, son, Andrew and daughter Dominique of Montgomery, N.Y.; step-daughter Lorna Aguilar, her husband, Sergio, daughter Danielle Nutt and her daughters Natalia and Aaliyah of Hawley, Pa; step-son Brian Nutt, his son Tyler and daughter Ashley of Glen Spey, N.Y. His brother, Tony Ingrassia of Virginia, sister, Marion Smith and husband Roger of Colorado also survive him along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe was predeceased by his sisters, Grace Costanzo, Nancy Ahrens; and brothers Angelo Ingrassia and Andrew Ingrassia; sisters-in-law Rose Ingrassia and Billie Ingrassia; and cousins Louis Ingrassia and Hon. Angelo Ingrassia.

Visitation hours will be held on Wednesday October 17, 2018 from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. at the Ralston-Lippincott-Hasbrouck-Ingrassia Funeral Home, Inc. 72 West Main St. Middletown, N.Y.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday October 18, 2018 at 11 A.M. at the Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Scotchtown Cemetery Town of Wallkill, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Howells Fire Company  P.O. Box 115 Howells, N.Y. 10932 or the American Legion Post #151 185 Wawayanda Ave, Middletown, N.Y. 10940.

Arrangements by Ralston-Lippincott-Hasbrouck-Ingrassia Funeral Home, Inc. Middletown, New York 845-343-6023 or www.ocfuneralhomes.com