Joseph A. Harty

Joseph A. Harty, age 95, of Babylon, New York passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Joseph Alloysius Harty was born to John F Harty and Sarah A (Spurr) Harty on July 3rd, 1928, in Methuen Mass. He was the youngest of six wonderful siblings, brothers Vincent and James, and sisters Marie, Veronica, and Anna (all deceased).

Joe worked on Sheepshead Bay fishing boats in Brooklyn NY as a teen. He obtained an unrestricted captain’s license that he faithfully renewed and proudly carried with him throughout his life. In 1945, at age seventeen, he entered the U.S. Navy. The war ended and he was mustered-out in 1946 but called back into the U.S. Army in 1950 as the Korean conflict heated up. He served stateside in the Combat Engineers from 1950-1953 in Fort Belvoir Virginia. He told hundreds of colorful and humorous stories about ocean fishing and his time in BOTH services.

Joe fell in love with and married Patricia Malley in Brooklyn at St Brendan’s Catholic Church in1950. They had four children, Richard 1951, Peter 1953, Veronica (Ronnie) 1956, and Kevin in1958. Despite never working less than two jobs at a time, Joe always made time for family. Trailering and camping up and down the eastern states were the most frequent vacation activities, and the children loved it. Joe and Pat in later years enjoyed cruise ship vacations.

Joe was a N.Y.C. Fireman from 1956 until retiring in 1978. He loved being a Firefighter. It also provided another treasure trove of the remarkable stories Joe was famous for telling. He worked on various other jobs including at Detecto Scale Co. and Miami hotels in the early years between tours in the military. He earned money as an independent bayman/fisherman and worked at various mechanical and construction skilled-trades as second jobs all during his Fire Dept. service. Then Joe became head of maintenance at the Babylon Public Library for about ten years. He enjoyed building library themed floats for Babylon’s Memorial Day Parade. There was nothing he couldn’t build or fix, and he’d generously use his talents to help everybody he could.

About twenty-six years ago Joe and Pat moved from the family home in Babylon NY to Micco Florida and embraced the lifestyle of the Sunshine State. Hurricanes were the only bumps in the road, but fortunately they “weathered” the storms. They played golf, joined clubs, took bargain cruises, and made many friends. Joe continued to pursue his love of fishing, and his special fondness for garage sales, both as a hunter-gatherer and for hosting them himself. The mild weather made them a year-round activity.

Pat passed away six years ago after a couple of years of declining health. They had been blissfully married for 68 years. Joe was lonely but frequent visits from loving family and friends helped him cope with missing her. Everyone loved him and he loved everyone. It is not an exaggeration. You never heard him utter a negative comment about anyone.

Joe was still driving into his early nineties. Then, despite being a cancer & heart-attack survivor with bad knees, failing vision and severe hearing loss, he still lived almost independently. After Pat died, he had help-aides coming over three to four times a week for an hour or two each visit to take him shopping and assist in household needs. The family visited often. Around Christmas Joe’s condition started to decline and his daughter Ronnie was with him day and night. A few weeks ago, that decline accelerated due to heart issues. Joe passed away peacefully in his own home February 22nd at age 95 with Ronnie at his bedside.

Joseph is survived by son Richard and his wife Susan (Lynch) Harty, son Peter Harty, daughter Veronica (Harty) Longo and her husband Joseph Longo, son Kevin Harty and his wife Susan (Paolino) Harty, grandsons Kevin Longo and Michael Longo, grandson Jason Harty and his wife Nancy (Stein) Harty, granddaughter Jennifer (Harty) Guardado and her husband Juan Guardado, granddaughter Rachael Harty, three great grandchildren Royal Longo, Harper Guardado, Grayson Guardado and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Service was a defining characteristic of Joe’s nature. The beloved veteran, firefighter, fisherman, garage-sale wizard, and master-storyteller Joe Harty will be greatly missed by everyone who ever knew and loved him. He will always be a true hero to his family.

A visitation for Joseph will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. A visitation will occur Thursday, March 7, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A funeral mass will occur Friday, March 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM at St Joseph's RC Church, 39 North Carll Ave, Babylon, New York 11702. An interment will occur Friday, March 8, 2024 at 10:45 AM at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Old Farmingdale Road, Just west of Livingston Ave., Babylon, New York 11702.