Obituary of Mr. Joseph McKenna

April 9, 2019

Joseph F. McKenna passed away on April 9, 2019. He was born and raised in Flushing, Queens, the fourth of nine children. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1959, where he maintained electrical systems as part of the crew on blimps on the Atlantic extension of the Distant Early Warning Line. He worked on planes, including Air Force One, for Lockheed at JFK airport and subsequently held several positions at Con Ed over the course of 25 years. During his early work years, he completed his undergraduate degree and earned an MBA from St. John's University.

Joe was a lifelong baseball fan: the Dodgers till they moved, and then the Mets. He was an active volunteer at St. Andrew Avellino parish in Flushing, even after the stroke that caused his early retirement in 1994. Up to that point, he also enjoyed working with his hands—on cars, his home, and more. (His best advice: Use the right tool for the job.)

Joe is survived by his wife, Eleanor; his son, Mike, and daughter-in-law, Liz; his grandsons, Sam and Ben; his daughter, Jean; and four siblings.

A memorial mass will be held on May 18, 2019, at St. Andrew Avellino in Flushing at 10:45 a.m.

Anyone wishing to make a donation in Joe's memory is asked to give to the Alzheimer's Association.

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