Obituary of Joseph J. Pergolizzi

Joe Pergolizzi, 89, of Staten Island, passed away in his sleep on February 6, 2023 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Lea, of over 60 years, children Laura, Joseph and Lisa, grandchildren Elizabeth, Salvatore, Serafina and Poppy, as well as his brother Anthony and several nieces and nephews. Joe was born in Brooklyn, where the family grew grapes for wine on their rooftop and where he formed several life-long and boisterous friendships. He enlisted in the Army Reserves during the Korean War and eventually focused his career path on the world of industrial parts, where he became a long-term manager. His kids fondly recall his many work-related phone calls from home. He was known to alert the party on the other end of the line that it was “Joe Perk!, Joe Perk! - like when you perk up in the morning,”. He never lost his gregarious nature and the phone was always the way he liked to communicate with people. Later in life, he found contentment in his solitary work as a painter; it suited his introspective nature. Joe loved tinkering with cars, reading the newspaper, napping wherever he could, as well as racquetball, visits to museums, and puttering around the house. He liked to be busy. Joe was known for his willingness to help people and did a lot of charitable work. He was always enthusiastic and passionate in his volunteer work, full of ideas that on occasion had his fellow committee members teasingly yell “No more Joe! No more!” Above all else, Joe was devoted to the people he loved, always trying to do small things for them. One memory of those who knew him that they’re likely remember for some time was his fixation on making sure you were equipped with not 1, not 2, but at least 5 or 6 handy flashlights; if you saw Joe with a plastic bag in his hand, there was probably some new flashlights coming your way. The wake will take place at Matthew Funeral Home, 2508 Victory Blvd on February 8th from 2-4 pm and 6-9 pm. The funeral mass will be held at St. Adalbert Church on Morningstar Road on February 9th at 11:15 am, and then Joe will journey to his final resting place in Brooklyn at Green-Wood Cemetery.