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Joseph Hennessy
Joseph S. Hennessy of Sag Harbor died on October 28, 2022. He was 90.
Born March 25, 1932, in Weehawken, New Jersey, to Joseph A. Hennessy, a police officer, and Katherine Schenck Hennessy, a nurse, he was younger brother by five years to Catherine Marie McMahon, née Hennessy.
Through no fault of his own, Hennessy went through life with an alias. His parents couldn’t agree on a middle name, so while his mother listed him as Joseph Schenck Hennessy on his birth certificate, his father referred to him as Joseph Patrick Hennessy on his Social Security application, neither of which was ever changed.
He graduated from Weehawken High School in 1951. His yearbook noted: “Tall, blond Joe can usually be found in Lutze’s. He is an ardent sports enthusiast. His particular favorites are baseball and basketball. Joe is undecided concerning his future, but his spare moments at the present are spent watching T.V.”
After graduation, he took a job as a teller at the Corn Exchange Bank in Manhattan and the following year he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in Korea with the 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, known as the “Manchus.” He was the recipient of the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.
He transferred from active military service to the Army Reserve in August 1954.
Hennessy served as a firefighter in the Weehawken Fire Department from 1959 until his retirement in 1982.
He never married and lived in the Bay Point area of Sag Harbor for nearly 60 years, commuting back and forth to the fire station on his off days. He loved living in close proximity to Long Beach where he enjoyed daily predawn walks, fishing, and sunsets from his home perched above.
Survivors said he was a doting son and brother who faithfully looked after both his widowed mother and widowed older sister.
He is survived by nieces and a nephew: Kyle McMahon Lach (Joey) of Hampton Bays, Koral McMahon Gregor (Jeff) of Sagaponack and Daniel Hennessy McMahon (Kelly Schaeffer) of Connecticut; 10 great-nieces and great-nephews, and 18 great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews.
A graveside service took place at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Southampton.
Staff Writer on Nov 29, 2022