Obituary of Joseph M. Strano

Joseph Michael Strano passed away on November 24, 2025, at Mercy House in Endicott, NY. He was predeceased by his parents, Samuel and Teresa Strano; his sister, Emilie Strano Taylor; his brother, John Strano; and his cousin, Christopher Marsh-Lawrence. He is survived by his wife, Debra Greenberg-Strano; his daughters, Josephine, Juliette (Mike), Sarah (Josh), and Maresa (Alessandro); his grandchildren, Ryan, Nathaniel, and Luna; his sister, Teresa; his brother, Sam; mother-in-law, Eugenia; brother-in-law, Richard (Carmella); many cousins, nieces, and nephews; the Allen–Kaufmann–Priest family; and his very devoted "extended family" of friends. Joe was born on March 12, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Brookville, Pennsylvania. He came from a southern Italian immigrant family that founded a successful produce company, A. Ferraro and Company. After graduating from Brookville High School, where he served as class president and was a star baseball player, he attended Villanova University on an academic scholarship. He earned his bachelor's degree in physics and then served 21 years as a helicopter pilot in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. His military service reinforced his patriotism, sense of duty, and love of hammocks and the open seas, which he later indulged in sailing trips with his dear friend Donald Allen. After the Navy, Joe earned a master's degree in applied mathematics from Binghamton University and went on to build a nearly 40-year career as an engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense. He was a beloved colleague. The date of his retirement party, May 11, 2017, was declared Joseph M. Strano Day by the then–state senator. Joe was a true Renaissance man—equally at home discussing science, politics, opera, baking, sports, or engineering. There were few subjects he didn't find engaging and wouldn't research with enthusiasm, from water dowsing to John Wilkes Booth–related conspiracy theories. His intellectual curiosity was never detached; it came from the heart, full of humor and an eagerness to understand people as much as the world around him. Friends and family knew him as an unparalleled conversationalist and breakfast or dinner companion: never bored, never complaining, quick to laugh, and always ready to meet people where they were. His warmth and affability made him a favorite in every room he entered. Joe taught by doing. From him came lessons in curiosity, the value of family, and the importance of embracing difference and idiosyncrasy. He showed that a sense of humor—especially about oneself—could make life fuller and lighter. He enjoyed the company of strong women (fortunate, given that he had four daughters) and believed deeply in respect, fairness, and justice. He approached facts with an appreciation for the feelings behind them and never hesitated to change his mind when evidence called for it. He loved words, doggerel poetry, debate, gossip, and making short stories long. Before his vision loss, he was a dedicated tennis player, newspaper reader, New York Times crossword puzzler, movie lover, and canoe racer. Joe was frugal in ways that could be maddening, yet endlessly generous where it mattered: with his time, attention, affection, and his friends and family. He always picked up the check for dinner. He always had an article or math problem in his pocket (and later, an email draft ready to send), prepared to share it with whomever he thought would most enjoy it. He was proud of his Italian heritage, his Western Pennsylvania upbringing, and of being left-handed. He found joy in genealogy, family rituals, performing Handel's Messiah with the Downtown Singers, sitting for hours at the Park Diner, and creating connections wherever he went, up to the very end. The family would like to thank the extraordinary staff at Mercy House, who provided loving care to Joe and his family up to and beyond the end. Thanks as well to Dr. Ronald Plotnick and Dr. Bruce Bowling for their compassionate care, and to Joe's wonderful caregivers. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the J.A. McCormack Sons Funeral Home, 141 Main Street, Binghamton. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. The service can be viewed virtually on YouTube at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/feC87QAHsY4?feature=share. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Mercy House of the Southern Tier, 212 N. McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760, WSKG, or your local NPR station in Joe's memory.