Saugerties -Joseph George Defino Sr passed away peacefully on the morning of December 21, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. He was 93 years old.

Born in Yonkers, NY, to George and Alice Defino, Joe was a Korean War veteran, and a graduate of the State University of New York at Cortland, where he met and married Beverly Ann (nee Corrigan). They had nine children--Melissa, Dawn, Joseph Jr., William, Noel, Dean, Nicole, Gabrielle and Vanessa—as well as twenty-five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom survive Joe. Joe was preceded in death by Bev, and by his two younger siblings, Alice and George Jr.

Joe was a beloved teacher at Kingston City Schools for nearly forty years. During that time, he served as both Junior Varsity and Varsity basketball coach; founded an annual elementary school track meet that now bears his name; and endowed a need-based scholarship program to benefit exceptional student athletes.

Joe was a member of, and Eucharistic Minister to, St. John the Evangelist Church in Centerville, NY for more than fifty years; a member and officer of Ulster County Cursillo for more than forty; and volunteer Minister at Benedictine Hospital in Kingston for more than thirty.

Whether known as Joey, Dad, Grandpa, Coach, Mr. D., or Uncle Joe, he dedicated his life to bringing others closer to God, and to helping them to better understand and embrace their worth.

A funeral procession will form 9:15 am Wednesday, December 27th at Buono Funeral Service, Inc, Saugerties and then proceed to St. John the Evangelist Parish Center in Centerville where a 1000 am Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Friends may call Tuesday, December 26, 2023 from 2:00 pm until 4:00pm and 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Buono Funeral Service, Inc. Please offer you condolences for Joe and his family online at wwwBuonoFuneralService.com. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in his memory be made to Hudson Valley Hospice.

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