Joseph Sweedler

Joseph Sweedler, 92

April 6, 1930 - October 27, 2022

Joe Sweedler, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, fisherman, avid rider, golfer, and larger-than-life entrepreneur died peacefully at 92 years old on October 27th.

Joe was born on the upper west side of Manhattan to Rose Steinholz and William W. Sweedler. Joe grew up with his older sister Lorraine Sweedler Richman, who predeceased him. As a young entrepreneur, 10-year-old Joe assumed a local paper route that included, most notably, Babe Ruth himself. During high school and college summers, Joe began teaching horseback riding at Camp Mahogi in the Catskills and the Claremont Riding Academy in Central Park. He was an accomplished rider who showed at Madison Square Garden.

Joe graduated from Franklin High School and went to Adelphi University, where he played basketball. While attending college, Joe would spend time visiting Belmont and Aqueduct racetracks in his free time. His love of horses and racing became a passion. Years later, Joe owned his own stable of thoroughbred racehorses under the name Double S Stables. After graduating from Adelphi, in 1956, he joined the Navy and served as a Lieutenant Commander on the CV-32 Leyte aircraft carrier.

After proudly serving his country Joe left the Navy and took a job in sales at Embassy Shirt Makers. This started his long and successful career in the men's apparel industry. Shortly after taking the job at Embassy, Joe was recruited by Hathaway Shirt Company and began serving as their VP of Sales.

In 1963, Joe met the love of his life. Through a mutual acquaintance, Joe was introduced to Joan ("Jaye") Thomas, a New York City runway model. Two years later, Joe and Jaye, married on July 2, 1965 in Kew Gardens, Queens. Jaye had three children of her own, but it wasn't long before they expanded the family from three to five children.

After settling down with his family and continuing his career in the men's apparel industry, in 1976, Joe was hired as the President of Gant Shirtmakers. He decided to part ways with Gant in 1981 to start his own business. Considered a pioneer in the men's import and manufacturing businesses, he expanded the company into a family business, where his sons Bill and David Sweedler, and son-in-law Alan Rummelsburg joined in the venture.

In 2006, Joe retired from the apparel industry as a menswear icon. However, Joe's proudest achievement was being a father. He will be remembered by his wife of 57 years, Jaye and his five children and their spouses: Scott Lopinto, Dorian Lopinto-Meehan and Charles ("Chip") Meehan, Kimberley Sweedler Rummelsburg and Alan Rummelsburg, William Sweedler and Amber Flanagan Sweedler, David Sweedler and Elora Montrose Sweedler and by his beloved 13 grandchildren and great-grandchild.

Joe had an unrelenting charitable heart and taught his children and grandchildren to believe in themselves and inspired them to live life to the fullest. He will truly be missed.

Services will be held at Abraham L. Green Funeral Home on Wednesday November, 2nd 2022 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program Inc. (https://www.take2tbreds.com/about-take-the-lead/,) or Norwalk Hospital/Nuvance Health (https://www.nuvancehealth.org/giving/support-your-community-hospital).