March 2022 Honor A Deceased Veteran Joseph M. Spairana, Sr.

JOSEPH M. SPAIRANA, SR.
1917-2005

FAMILY HISTORY:
Joseph M. Spairana, Sr. was born on August 17, 1917 in Troy, New York to the late John J. and Mary Ann Carnevale Spairana. He was the brother of Michael, Rita and John.

EDUCATION:
Joseph graduated from Catholic Central High School and the Veterans Vocational School (now HVCC), and later went on to attend Russell Sage College Evening Division.

HISTORY:
On April 14, 1942, Joseph was set to report in Albany, New York after being drafted into the United States Army. He went on to serve during World War II in the European Theatre of Operation with General Patton’s Third Army. For his service in the Army, Joseph was awarded the EAME Theater Ribbon and the Good Conduct Ribbon, and on April 5, 1945 he separated from the Army.

PERSONAL:
On March 27, 1942, Joseph married his wife, Josephine Quick Spairana, at St. Rita’s Church in Cohoes, New York. Together they have three loving children: Jeffery, Joseph Jr. and Jan; and grandchildren: Jeffery, Jeanette, Jason, Amy, Lori, Victor and James.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Joseph had a variety of different jobs throughout his career. He was the sales manager for the Charles Dauchy Paint Company in Troy and was a salesman and estimator for the Grimm Building Materials Company in Troy. Joseph then went on become the Director of the Rensselaer County Veterans Service Agency, until he moved on to become the veterans counselor at Hudson Valley Community College, where he retired from at the age of 75.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Joseph was always an active member in his community no matter where he lived. He was a past president of both the United Commercial Travelers and the Lansingburgh Rotary Cub, a member of the VFW and the Disabled American Veterans, the Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Club, Grand Marshall Veterans Day Parade and a neighborhood commissioner for the Uncle Sam Boy Scouts Council for over 15 years.

As an active member of St. Augustine’s Church parish family, Joseph was a longtime member of the Bingo committee, a member of the former bazaar committee and an usher for more than 35 years. After he retired, Joseph and his wife spent their winters down South, where he belonged to the Card and Billiard Clubs. He enjoyed playing cards with the “Monday Night” group of Lansingburgh, and his hobby was growing beautiful roses and delicious tomatoes.

Sadly, on April 28, 2005 Joseph passed away.