World War II veteran from Malverne dies at 90

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Joseph P. Biondi, a resident of Malverne for 56 years, died on June 19 in Manhasset. He was 90.
Biondi was born October 11, 1927, to Joseph A. Biondi and Laura Cristino in Brooklyn.
He attended Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and in 1946, he enlisted as a member of the 13th U.S. Army Air Force and the 358th Air Service Group. He spent time in the Philippine Islands until his honorarable discharge. He worked for the East NY Savings Bank where he met the love of his life, Joan Gennosa. The two got married on Oct. 1, 1955 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Brooklyn. They had three children who made them proud: Joseph, Wayne and Jeannine.
Biondi began a career with the in the 77th Precinct with the New York Police Department and then transitioned to the New York Fire Department until his retirement in 1981.
After he retired, Biondi worked part-time for the U.S. Customs Service at Kennedy Airport. In addition, he also worked for several funeral homes in Nassau County as a pallbearer and chauffeur.

Biondi was preceded in death by his wife, “dear Joan,” as he would refer to her. They were married 60 years until she died two years ago.
Biondi enjoyed attending many of Malverne’s functions, ceremonies and remembrance activities at the gazebo. He was also an active member in the American Legion Post 44 and was a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
After his wife died, Biondi continued to tinker around his yard and the neighborhood, smoke a cigar, and give a complaint or two about something innocuous. His favorite pastime was spending time with family.
He is survived by his three children, Joseph, Wayne and Jeannine, and their spouses, Linda (Sforza), Debra (Dykema) and Gary Mancini; grandchildren Joseph, Danielle, Lauren, Christine and Deanna, his sister Florence Palica, wife of Joe’s best man, Brooklyn Dodger, Erv Palica; and many cousins.

–Nakeem Grant