Joseph P. McCann

February 25, 1956 to August 14, 2021

Joseph P. McCann was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Joseph and Ann McCann (deceased) on February 25, 1956. The family moved to Floral Park, NY in 1957, when Joe was just one year old.

Joe passed away unexpectedly at his home in West Hempstead, NY on Saturday, August 14. He will be greatly missed by many.

He was born the 5th child in a family of 11 children. He is survived by his wife Sherry Singer Klaum McCann, his sons: Joseph, Brian (fiancé Lynne Vu) and his daughter Amanda McCann Grzan (and her spouse John), and the light of his life: his granddaughter Layla May Grzan. He cherished the time spent with his step-daughter, Amanda Santangelo, her husband, Michael and their daughters Emma and Rachel who called him ‘Papa Joe’. He was loved by his siblings and their spouses: Jeanne Marie Ost (and her spouse Jim), Neil, deceased (and his spouse Eve), Sean (and his spouse Sabine), Dan (and his spouse Deirdre McCormick), Nancy Nielsen (and her spouse Robert), Ann McCann Oakley (and her spouse Gilbert/ Bim), Brian (and his spouse Margaret/ Peg), Brendan (and his spouse Tae), Donna Biggs and Mary McLaughlin (and her spouse Jeff). Joe will also be greatly missed by his long time friend and brother-in-law David/Dave Singer(and his spouse Kathy) Howard/Howie Singer (and his spouse Barrie) and Robert/ Bob Singer (and his spouse Josette). He was also loved by his many nieces and nephews, as well as his great-nieces and great-nephews and his many cousins. Joe loved and admired his uncle, Peter McCann and his aunt, Carolyn McCann. We all want to live as long as they have!

Joe grew up in Floral Park and graduated from Sewanhaka High School. He was a hard worker who found a position as a driver with the Teamsters. He made a switch in jobs late in life and started working with and was still employed by the NYC Sanitation Department when he passed away.

We always knew Joe was nearby when we heard his raucous laugh. It was quite singular. It was a contagious laugh and you would have to join in the merriment, even if you didn’t know what caused the original outburst. One of his long standing hobbies was supporting the Lottery System. He was a long time player and sometimes won large. That’s when he reinvested, hoping to win more!

He liked to travel in the United States and recently shared and compared some of his road trip memories with his son Joe. He really had a good memory! One of his happiest adventures happened more recently when he went to Ireland with two of his children and their spouses. He and Sherry were hoping to travel a bit more.

Joe was pretty handy around the house too: he especially liked to cook and work in the garden. He and Sherry grew super large zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes. The good news was that he shared the fruits of his labor!

Joe loved his wife, he was proud of his children, he enjoyed his large family and was looking forward to retiring to enjoy more time with his new grandchild. His face lit up when he talked about Layla. He was also devoted to his church and would often work in the background to set up for services or to help out in general. He sometimes volunteered to take a shift as a Roman guard outside a closed “tomb” on the church grounds at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Emmet Place at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. He really looked magnificent as a Roman soldier!

Joe has left this world too soon. He will be remembered well and missed by many. If you close your eyes you can picture his great smile and twinkling eyes and if you try hard, you just might hear that wonderful laugh!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.rstutzmannandsonfuneralhome.com for the McCann family.