Joseph Van de Wetering of Baiting Hollow died Oct. 20, 2022 after an 11-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Born April 25, 1936 in Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, he was the son of Catherine and Anton Van de Wetering.
Joseph worked as an engineering director at Grumman for 33 years. He retired to his dream house in Baiting Hollow and poured himself into serving his community. He led a task force to revitalize Riverhead, served as Chairman of the board of Central Suffolk Hospital and was pivotal in the transformation to Peconic Bay Medical Center. He helped establish the Grumman Memorial Park in Calverton and served as an active member of the Calverton Civic Association. He worked tirelessly to attempt to establish a YMCA in our community. He was an active Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St. John the Baptist RC Church in Wading River, where he and his wife were faithful parishioners.
Survived by the love of his life, Patricia, to whom he was married 57 memorable years, his four daughters, Terry (Greg), Kathleen (Vito), Carolyn (Greg) and Christine (Chris) and ten grandchildren, Rebecca (John), Thomas, Kaitlin, Eric, Luke, Stephen, Joseph, Natalie, Jack and Madison, and his great grandson, Guy. His grandchildren were his most treasured loved ones, and they all loved and adored their Opa. He is survived by his siblings: Trudy, Tina and his best friend Jack, and many nieces and nephews who all loved their Uncle Joe. He is pre-deceased by his brothers Peter and Ted and sisters Martha and Elly.
Joseph was an idealist and an eternal optimist, his family said in a statement. He traveled the world with his wife by his side. He is a role model to his family and his community of what a loyal, faithful, selfless, philanthropic, outstanding citizen should be. We should all learn from his shining example of how to live a purposeful life.
Visitation will take place at the Alexander-Rothwell Funeral Home, 6447 Route 25A, Wading River, NY 11792, on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29 at St. John the Baptist RC Church at 10a.m. Interment will follow at Wading River Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at: michaeljfox.org.
