Staten Island Advance (New York)
August 10, 2007 Friday
JOSEPH SPILLANE, 85
SECTION: OBITS; Pg. A13
Date of Death: 08/09/2007
Marine aviator, sales engineer Joseph Spillane, 85, a retired U.S. Marine Corps major who fought in World War II and the Korean War and was active in numerous Island associations, died yesterday in Sunrise Assisted Living, Grymes Hill.
Mr. Spillane grew up in New Brighton and resided inCastleton Corners for many years. He moved to Sunnyside about eight years ago, and to Sunrise Assisted Living eight months ago.
After graduating from St. Peter’s High School, he enrolled in the two-year branch of Manhattan College. He was working as a mold loftsman at the former Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Mariners Harbor, helping build an escort aircraft carrier, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, an event which prompted him to become a naval pilot.
He was later commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, stationed in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific.
When the war ended, Mr. Spillane was released to inactive duty, went back to Manhattan College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
He worked as a sales engineer for Westinghouse Electric Corp. until he was called to active duty again to serve overseas during the Korean War.
Mr. Spillane remained on inactive duty with the Marine Corps until 1956, when he retired with the rank of major, and went to work for Sylvania Electric Products as a sales engineer, later becoming a sales manager. He retired in 1988.
His call to duty transcended the military. He was a founding member of the Friends of St. Vincent’s Medical Center, West Brighton, and served as president for eight years. He also served on the hospital’s board of trustees as a member of the fund-raising committee for the Mother Loretta Bernard wing.
Mr. Spillane was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond County, Golden K and served as president for a year. He served as lieutenant governor of the Metropolitan Division of the New York State District of Kiwanis International.
He also was a member of the Marine Corps League and served on the board of directors of the Fountains Co-op Apartments in Sunnyside for three years.
Mr. Spillane was a parishioner of St. Teresa’s R.C. Church, Castleton Corners, where he was a lector.
“He was very active in a lot of people’s lives and touched a lot of people,” said his daughter, Peggy Accordino. When he was not busy with his many clubs and organizations, Mr. Spillane enjoyed playing poker and reciting poetry, especially the poems of Robert W. Service.
“He was a great friend, a great father, a wonderful grandfather,” said Mrs. Accordino. “He was really a very social and fun person to be around, and a great friend.”
Mr. Spillane’s wife of 58 years, the former Mary Minogue, died in 2005.
In addition to his daughter, Peggy, surviving are his son, John; his daughters, Pat Herron and Mimi Spillane; his brothers, Dick and Gene; his sister, Mary Moore; six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be Monday from the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Teresa’s Church. Burial will follow in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Brighton.
LOAD-DATE: August 10, 2007
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