Obituary

Longtime Valley Streamer ‘Captain Pat’ dies at 76

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Patrick “Captain Pat” Anthony Focazio, longtime resident of Valley Stream, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Sept. 10 at Medical City Dallas Hospital in Texas. He was 76.

Born in Mineola on October 25, 1939, he was the son of the late Joseph Focazio and Mary (Demasco) Focazio. He was a 1957 graduate of Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park.

Focazio served briefly in the U.S. Army upon graduation and was a long time active member of the Elmont Volunteer Fire Department Engine 3 and served as first and second lieutenant as well as Captain.

Focazio was a shop steward at Certified Concrete from 1960 to 1980 as part of Local 282 and worked on many projects in the metropolitan area of New York, but his favorite was construction of the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

Focazio retired from Certified Concrete in 1980 and started his second career exploring his entrepreneurial side by pursuing his passion for fishing and building a fleet of Lady J charter fishing boats. He was probably best known on Long Island as “Captain Pat,” as he enjoyed fishing and sailing with generations of Long Islanders. Tuna trips, bay fishing, seal watching, weddings and other charter events kept him busy for the rest of his working career. He was a long-term member and past President of the Freeport Boatmen's Association. In 2008, he decided to retire once again from his beloved second career at sea so that he and his wife Judith of 55 years could join their daughter, son in law and granddaughters in Dallas, Texas. Focazio embraced his new adopted home and became active in his local homeowners association serving as a board member.

Focazio is survived by his wife, Judith; daughter, Gina Knight and son-in-law John, of Dallas, TX; and his two grandchildren, Donna and Victoria Knight. He was preceded in death by his daughter Donna Marie Focazio.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Association for Help of Retarded Children Nassau County Chapter located at 189 Wheatley Rd. in Brookville, N.Y.