Joseph D. Iannielo

Ianniello, Joseph D. MECHANICVILLE Joseph Dominic Ianniello, of Mechanicville, died Friday, December 7, 2007 at the home of his son Louis, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Mechanic-ville on January 25, 1931 at the Grove Street home of his parents C. Louis Ianniello and Antonette Ianniello. A lifelong resident of Mechanicville, he served as an altar boy at Church of the Assumption in his youth. In high school, he was a scholar athlete, setting the record in pole vaulting which he held for nearly four decades. As a young photographer, he experimented with the new technique of available light photography and entered his work in a Life Magazine competition, where he received recognition. As with many of his generation, he was called to serve his country before he could pursue his ambitions. He served in the Korean War in the Army and advanced to the rank of corporal. He brought back a portfolio of black and white images of the war. Captured using his techniques of available lighting, the dark, haunting images of Korean refugees, rural life, children and endless rice paddies captured the story of the war from his perspective. As a returning veteran, he worked for General Electric Company as a photographer in the laboratory at the Schenectady Main Plant. Under the GI Bill, he entered Columbia University to study the emerging field of industrial labor relations. While pursuing his degree, he met his future beloved wife Asunta (Susan). After graduation, Susan and Joe married and made their lives in Mechanicville. Joe managed personnel for Korrell Corporation located in Mechanicville. Together, they had five boys. He was a long time active rotarian, helped to organize the original Tenan-daho White Water Derby and served as the president of the Rotary Club. He was a member of the Mechanicville Chamber of Commerce. In the 1970s, his zeal for photography was realized when he bought Black Studio in Schenectady. He ran the studio for many years until the late 1980s. As his sons grew, he became involved in the quality of their education, and ran successfully for the school board. Over time, the community responded to his leadership and he was elected president of the board by the widest margin ever. He was also a member of the B.O.C.E.S. school board. Joe finished his career in photography, and saw his five sons marry and give him grandchildren. His beloved wife passed away in 2006 after 48 years of marriage. He was a communicant of Corpus Christi Church in Ushers (Clifton Park). He is survived by his Mother Antonette (Mechanicville); his brother Anthony (Clifton Park); sons, Joseph Jr. (Karen) of San Diego, Calif. and their three children Angie, Joey and Louie; Michael (Kate) of Richmond, Va. and their three children Dan, Paul, and Amy; Louis (Michele) of Rexford and their children Allie and Mikaela; Jules of Rexford (Becky) and their two children Domiano and Santino; and Peter (Mary) of Havre de Grace, Md. and their three children Martine, Bella and AJ. His family would like to thank the doctors of Glens Falls Hospital - Charles Wood Cancer Center, doctors of Johns Hopkins University, Schenectady County Hospice, Father Marty, his neighbors in Mechanicville who helped him throughout his life, and his friends. Funeral will be held on Tuesday morning at 8:15 from the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Route 9 in Clifton Park, thence to Corpus Christi Church in Ushers where at 9:00 a.m. the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Monday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interment with military honors will be held in the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville. In lieu of flowers, the family desires that contributions be made to Johns Hopkins University and mailed to Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, c/o Ralph H. Hruban, M.D., 401 North Broadway, Weinberg 2242, Baltimore, MD 21231-2410.