Joseph S. Cozz

Cozz, Joseph S. EAST GREENBUSH Joseph S. Cozz, 88, of East Greenbush, died Friday, August 22, 2008 at Stratton VA Medical Center Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was born in Albany and had lived in the Guilderland area for 41 years before moving to East Greenbush in 1991. Joseph attended Albany High School and Albany Business College. He retired in 1975 from NYS Thruway Authority after 25 years as a purchasing agent, and previously at the Knolls Atomic Power Lab in Niskayuna as an expeditor and buyer, and for two years was a tax examiner with NYS Department of Taxation & Finance. He was a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post 7062 of Altamont and member of the Battle of the Bulge Chapter 49, and Disabled American Veterans. Joseph was a World War II veteran serving with the 750th Tank Battalion from France to Holland with the British 1st Army and attached to the 101st Airborne Division. He fought across Holland on the Battle of Market Basket, and served with the 104th Infantry Division in the Ruhr Valley where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart, and then to Belgium for the Battle of the Bulge, attached with Recon and Intelligence Platoon, captured Cologne, crossed Rhine River and then on to the occupation of Berlin. Joseph was also a member of St. Margaret Mary's Church in Albany. Predeceased by a sister, Frances Hotaling; two brothers, Stephen and Francis Kozakiewicz. Survivors include his loving wife, Nancy (Schmitt) Cozz, married for 62 years; daughter, Linda Bernstein and her husband Bob of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; grandson, Adam of Fla.; daughter, Joanne Cozz, Peter Wood of East Greenbush and Coyle Wood, who has been like a granddaughter to Joe; a sister, Florence Yanko of Albany and a brother, Thomas Kozakiewicz of Schenectady; and many nieces and nephews. The Cozz family would like to express thanks and appreciation to all those involved in Joe's care over the years at the Stratton VA especially the medical staff on Victory Lane 9C and to Dan McIntyre and Ron Garcia of Rensselaer County Van Drivers. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Church of St. Mary, Clinton Heights where the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be celebrated. There will be no calling hours. Interment will be in Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville following the Mass, with full military honors. It is requested that those who wish to remember Joseph make memorials to Disabled American Veterans c/o Stratton VA Hospital, 113 Holland Ave., Albany, NY 12208 or Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Hudson Valley Chapter #49, c/o Gregory Welanin, PO Box 38001, Albany, NY 12203.