Joseph Raymond Brostek

He was the beloved husband of Carol for 56 years until she passed away in 2012.

Cherished father of Jeanne Altenau of Eastchester, the late Brian, Carol Benedetto and husband Paul of Massapequa, Gerard and wife Catherine of Merrick, and Annemarie Brostek Martines and husband Peter of Port Washington.

Proud grandfather of Joseph and his boyfriend David, Alyssa, Daniel and his wife Elizabeth, Meghan and her fiancé Vincent, Paul, Emily, and Zachary and his girlfriend Jacqui.

Loved by his extended family, brother-in-law George Heiser and his wife Betty, as well as JohnPaul and Ashlee Martines and their son JohnPaul Jr.

Joe was born in Manhattan on May 12, 1932 to the late Joseph and Mae Brostek, and was predeceased by his brother Ronald.

In 1950, Brostek graduated from Xavier High School, where he learned the Jesuit credo of “Men for Others”. He would live the rest of his life embodying these values. He attended Queens College (Class of 1955 - BA Economics) where he met his future wife, Carol Heiser, at the Catholic Newman Club. He held many roles including Student Body President, Phi Omega Alpha Fraternity President, and Commander of the Campus USAF ROTC unit. Joe was nicknamed Yogi, because he played catcher in baseball and shared a birthday with Yogi Berra.

He had successful tenures in sales, event coordination and public relations at companies such as the Continental Can Company (CCC), RCA and General Electric. Most recently, Joe was assisting with creating a museum to preserve the legacy of CCC. He donated more than 100 pieces of history and memorabilia to the cause. One very special project at CCC was the creation of meal packages for the Apollo 11 mission which carried the first astronaut to the moon.

In 1988, he returned to Queens College as Executive Director of Events and Alumni Affairs. He assumed responsibility for, among other things, planning and organizing the annual commencement ceremonies. He was an advisor to the Silhouette yearbook for 14 years, revitalized the Alumni Affairs department, conducted Homecomings, etc. He retired in 2010 after 22 years of service to Queens College. The Carol and Joe Brostek Scholarship fund was established a few years later, and is presented annually to a graduating senior who is planning to pursue graduate studies and has demonstrated academic excellence while serving in campus leadership positions that have benefited Queens College.

Family Life

Joe spent most of his childhood in Queens Village. After college and marriage, he and Carol lived in Topeka, KS while Joe served in the USAF Strategic Air Command. In 1957, they returned to New York and settled in Flushing to raise their family. Highlights of that time included visiting two World’s Fairs (1939 and 1964) and attending the final game of the NY Mets World Series win in 1969. After the win, fans stormed the field and ripped up the grass. A piece landed near Joe. He took it home and planted it in his front yard. The neighborhood kids would rub their baseball gloves on it for good luck.

The tight-knit Brostek family, including the grandchildren, learned many life lessons from Joe about hard work (“If it was easy, anyone could do it”), and being proud of one’s accomplishments (“sign your work and work your sign”).

Joe received numerous recognitions during his life including “Who’s Who in Corporate TV”, QC Alumni Association Alumni Family of the Year in 1965, and a 2004 Newsday “Everyday Hero”.

Former Borough President Helen Marshall twice declared “Joseph Brostek Day in the Borough of Queens.” He received the honors in 2005, on the 50th anniversary of his college graduation, and in 2010 upon his retirement from Queens College.

Joe was an energetic and enthusiastic leader in his community. Among his many positions were

• Queens Historical Society since 2014 (Member Board of Trustees). Produced the exhibit “Toys and Games from the Attic and Beyond” in 2017.

• Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Association (Executive Committee, Communications Chair, 2nd VP). He created a half-hour TV show about the neighborhood and its history.

• Queens College Retirees Association (Exec Committee, Membership Chair). In 2019, he created a 15-minute presentation about the campus, set to the music of some of its most famous alumni, with photos showing the evolution of QC over time. This was donated to the QC archives.

• NYPD 109th Precinct Community Council member

Joe was a man of tremendous faith who was devoted to St. Andrew Avellino as a parishioner for almost 50 years. He was a Lector, Pastoral Council member, Parish Communications Chair, Editor of the Monthly Andrean bulletin. He served on the 75th Anniversary Committee and the 2014 Centennial Committee. As Parish historian, he prepared the 100-year history of the parish. He was Vice-President of the Friendship Club. He also spearheaded a project to install a plaque honoring Msgr. McGoldrick, former pastor of St. Andrew Avellino and namesake for the Public Library across the street.

The Brostek family is saddened that they are unable to celebrate Joe’s life and legacy with his loved ones and friends, as there will be no services due to the pandemic. A private interment took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Flushing under the direction of Quinn-Fogarty Funeral Home. The family is so grateful to the entire community for all their support.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to any of these three charities.

Carol and Joe Brostek Scholarship

Queens College

Kiely Hall 9th Floor

65-30 Kissena Blvd

Flushing, NY 11367

St. Andrew Avellino RC Church

35-60 158th Street

Flushing, NY 11358

Xavier High School

Office of Advancement

30 West 16th Street

New York, NY 10011