Joseph William Lucca

Joseph W Lucca, Sr., dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend - passed away peacefully at home in New York City on Monday, February 19, 2024, at age 100.

Joe was a lifelong New Yorker, born October 31, 1923, the first of five children to William Joseph Lucca, Sr., and Mary Eva (Bershefsky) Lucca. His father founded the Colonial Beef Company at 204 9th Avenue in Chelsea, and his grandfather, Guisseppe Cimilluca, a first-generation Italian, ran his grocery across the street.

The Lucca family first lived in Hell's Kitchen but eventually moved to the Bronx, where they remained. Joe attended Fordham Prep, an all-boys Catholic school in the Bronx, as a boy. 

Joe enlisted in the United States Army during World War II and proudly served his country from 1943 to 1946. After an honorable discharge, he took advantage of the G.I. bill and attended Fordham University, where he received his Bachelor's degree in 1949. Joe went on to New York University School of Law, where, in 1960, he received his J.D. degree.

Joe married Diana Marie-Louise Fava on Saturday, June 24, 1950, at St. Paul's Church in Congers, New York. The two families were old friends. Diana's father, Dante, was a CPA who managed the books for the Colonial Beef Company. Joe and Diana were happily married for 60 years until Diana's passing in 2010. 

While attending Law School at night, Joe worked investigative assignments as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1951 to 1962. 

Joe joined Bristol Myers Squibb in 1962 as Vice President of Corporate Security. He directed investigative programs at home and abroad for the next twenty-seven years, reporting to the Vice Chairman and General Counsel. 

In 1988, Joe was appointed by then Secretary of State George Schultz to the Overseas Advisory Council and the State Department Accountability Review Board, mandated to investigate the attack on the United States Embassy in Honduras.

He was a member of the American Bar Association, The New York State Bar Association, The International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the American Society for Industrial Security.   

He retired from Bristol Myers Squibb in 1989. 

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Diana, their son Paul, his brothers, Bill and Donald, and his sister, Marianne. 

Joe is survived by his children, Maria and Joseph, and his wife, Maya Dollarhide. He has five Grandchildren (Christopher, Lili, Sarah, Griffin, and Miles) and one Great-Grandchild (Jack). His sister Concetta and her daughter Marybeth Donovan, whom he called his angels, were by his side in his final days. 

Joe's wit and grace touched the lives of many in his 100 years. 

We will miss you, Joe - Magari ci vediamo dopo.

Donations can be made to The Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as an alternative to flowers - https://childrensinn.org/

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on March 16, 2024 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Loretto Church, 24 Fair Street, Cold Spring, New York 10516

Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Clinton Funeral Home- Cold Spring.