Joseph A. Buccellato

Joseph A. Buccellato, 69 of Howell, NJ passed away on May 15, 2021 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune, NJ. Born on August 21,1951 in Brooklyn, NY. Joseph grew up in Woodhaven, NY with his parents, big sister, aunts, uncles and cousins. He worked at Macys in Jamaica and every Thanksgiving would proudly volunteer for the parade – he loved it! As a young man he was destined to become a chef, working at the Le Cordon Bleu Hall with his father John, Uncle Tony and cousin Martin. His father also taught him how to fish, hunt, maintain a car (he would “never pay for an oil change”), and also that hard work and extra side jobs were a way to get ahead and he never shyed away from working. In High School, he worked at Woolworths and met his sweetheart, Kathleen whom he took to the prom and then married five years later. He graduated from Richmond Hill in 1970 and then NYC Community College, where he studied culinary arts and hospitality management. In 1973, he started his career as Food Service Director at a private school and worked as a pastry chef on the side. He won many awards for his cake designs and ability to carve fruit and vegetables into various things. Shortly after, they bought their first home in New Milford, CT, where they resided for 10 years and had two daughters, Kerribeth and Katilynn. His eldest, Kerribeth was born on his birthday and ever since then they celebrated together, even sometimes forgetting to serve him his is own “dad” cake. They enjoyed living near Candlewood Lake, boating and fishing with friends. In 1987, the family moved to Howell, NJ after a job transfer. They wanted to live close to the water and loved to take the boat out on nights and weekends. Joe would enjoy tubing, fishing and crabbing with his family in the Manasquan River and Pleasure Bay. He loved to anchor the boat by Treasure (Osborn) Island and go to the F-Cove, grill up some shrimp and feed everyone. Over the course of his career, Joe was the head chef at many schools, hospitals and corporations, but his most favorite place to work was at the NJ National Guard & State Policy Academy in Sea Girt. He spent nearly nine years waking up at 3am to prep breakfast, lunch and dinner, feeding the army soldiers and law enforcement personnel. The kitchen was his 2nd home. This is where he would bring his daughters to learn the value of hard work, and teach them how to use a knife, crack eggs and wash dishes. After work, he would relax by the ocean with a cold soda, sneak a “7 and 7” or black zambucca. At night, Joe would drive his daughters to many parties and dances. He loved to sneak a nap in the car, but also enjoyed the 1:1 bonding time and car conversations with them. Joe was a dedicated husband, father and friend. He was modest and liked to fix everything on his own. In the past year, he spent his time doing the things he loved to do – traveled to visit family and friends, go out on the boat, relax at home and spend time with his grandchildren – being out and about as much as possible, despite these unprecedented times. He is survived by his daughters, Katilynn Buccellato and Kerribeth McKenna, her husband Andrew McKenna and three grandchildren, Dylan, Audrey and Kayleigh McKenna; his sister Maria Buccellato-Fulkerson and husband George Fulkerson; his nieces Christina Sobocinski and Deborah Sobocinski-Nasierowski and her husband Brandon Nasierowksi; great-nephews Justin Stenn and Magnus Nasierowski, the Devito cousins and many extended family members, dear friends and colleagues. He is predeceased by his parents, John and Frances Buccellato and his wife, Kathleen H. Buccellato nee Stingo. Funeral Mass is Thursday, May 20th at 10:30am at St. Veronica’s Church in Howell, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://www.lls.org/.