Joseph J Mukamal

About

New York University

Joseph Mukamal Obituary

1932 - 2022
Joseph J Mukamal was born in Baghdad, the first of 6 children to Jacob and Salima (nee Yona) Mukamal.

He was born on the last day of Hanukkah. When arriving in the United States at age 9, his birthday was determined by the last day of Hanukkah in the year he arrived. Like so many Jewish families in Baghdad, his father, Jacob, decided to emigrate to New York to escape persecution, as Iraq formed alliances with Nazi Germany during WWII. The family was Jacob, Salima, Joseph, Leonie, Suad, Violet, Dais and Sassoon (just a baby at the time). They traveled by land to Palestine and then on a cargo ship from Palestine to NYC by traveling around the Cape of Good Hope. In NY, they settled in Cedarhurst, LI.

Joseph finished high school in 3 years and attended Temple University and New York University where he attained his bachelor's in business. Joseph met his wife, Minna (nee Lapoff) of 65 years when his sisters, Leonie, Suad and Violet met her at Hofstra University Hillel and brought her home to meet him. They were married on December 2, 1956. Joseph served in the armed forces during the Korean War, stationed in Fort Dix, NJ.

Joseph and Minna raised five children: Beth, Caryl (b. 1958), Alan (b. 1963), Daniel (b. 1965), Sheldon (b. 1967) in Massapequa Park on Long Island, NY. After the death of his parents, Joseph was the center of the extended family and beloved uncle and great-uncle.

Joseph worked most of his life in the financial sector, as an equity and bond trader for firms like Glore-Forgan, DuPont, Brown Brothers Harriman, and the City of New York Comptroller's Office, commuting from their home in Massapequa Park. He received a master's in business from NYU attending night school. In 1980, he reinvented himself as a personal financial advisor, working for Bache Halsey (later Prudential) in Massapequa Park. He retired in his early 80's from Merrill Lynch, but not from the stock market, which he followed avidly till his last days.

He is survived by his wife Minna, sisters Leonie, Suad, Violet and Dais and brother Sass and sister in-law Louise, all five children, son-in-law Michael Melasky, daughters-in-law Elizabeth Ernish, Gail Turletsky-Mukamal, and Kiyeon Nam-Mukamal as well as 12 grandchildren (Janna Melasky, Matthew Melasky, and Diane Melasky-Praschil and husband George Praschil, Max DePiro and wife Allison DePiro, Sarah Iadanza, husband Jesse Iadanza and Emma DePiro, Miles Mukamal, Josie Mukamal, Alex Mukamal, Jared Mukamal, Maia Mukamal and Salima Mukamal) and 3 great-grandchildren (Ryan and Evelyn Praschil and Penelope Iadanza).

After a 12-day battle with super-imposed COVID pneumonia, he died at 3:15 pm on January 12, 2022, at Huntington Hospital.

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Published by New York Times from Jan. 14 to Jan. 15, 2022.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph Mukamal

7 Entries

Faiza Solomon

January 9, 2023

We miss you, Joe - your kindness and smile was contagious. My kids and grandkids so enjoyed to be with you and Minna. The older grandkids still remember the afternoon spent knocking nails in a wooden board. It was really a fun afternoon.

Richard Mukamal

January 8, 2023

May his memory be a blessing.

Beth Zinderman

January 8, 2023

I just got a notice that today is the secular date of your Dad's passing. I still feel your pain and sorrow and am sending hugs, it's a tremendous loss. I know. He lives on in your hearts and prayers that his memory is for a blessing!

Richard Mukamal

January 27, 2022

I just learned of my cousin´s passing. I am shocked and very saddened. May all of us who knew him be blessed by his memory.

Retha Sandler

January 17, 2022

My heart is heavy. Sending love and prayers to the entire family. Uncle Joe was a strong and loving soul. I have such fond memories of him in his glory with the family at Shabbat on Sealy Drive. His living example, the very definition of family and faith, were very impactful to me. Missing you all.

Michael Sandler

January 15, 2022

An honor of my lifetime to be graciously granted the precious time to convey this Eulogy at the memorial service:
It amazes me that that Sarah and Jesse's wedding day in late October, 2019 was well over two years ago. It was the last time I would converse, at length with Uncle Joe. As with all of Uncle Joe´s siblings, we would talk. I mean really, really talk. There was a bond, an interest that would hold me to ask further questions, to understand more. It is the closest thing to losing oneself in another. It can only be described as "celestial". Perhaps we spoke for a half hour. I lost track of time. He brought with him an original Iraqi Dinar, circa 1930s. We spoke of the ever- expanding family. And the very recent and tragic loss of "Uncle" Robbie Newman. I noted that Cousin Joey was physically missing, but certainly NOT in spirit. He looked to the ground and nodded. We spoke of Iraq. We spoke of politics. We spoke of his relatively new life in retirement. We sat on a comfortable couch in a side room adjacent to the festivities of the main dining room. It had the feelings of the comforts Sealy Drive. As it is said, "home is where your heart is".

Uncle Joe was the Patriarch of the family. He took to the role very quickly when our venerable grandfather passed away in July of 1983.

Digressing in a few words, Grandpa Jacob embodied a democratic, charitable, family- oriented outlook on life. He was a person of unwavering honor, commitment and character. I saw in my grandfather a magnanimous man living his life embodying the Biblical concept that- A GOOD NAME far exceeds the limits of one´s self.

Very few people could have filled those bigger- than- life shoes. Yet, Uncle Joe did fill those shoes. And he did so with dignity, grace, humility... and much sacrifice. His father is undoubtedly proud.

Uncle Joe was a dedicated and loyal son to our selfless Grandmother, Salima. On virtually every eve of Shabbat, he would dutifully pack up the kids and his wife, Aunt Minna- the consummate vision of eshet chayill . A stronger marriage, a stronger bond, I shall never, ever, in this lifetime witness.

They would drive from Mansfield Drive in Massapequa to Sealy Drive in Cedarhurst. This was no easy task; rush- hour on Long Island after a stressful working day for both.

But that drive, it seemed, was all but forgotten as soon as Shalom Alechem was recited. It was always followed by Yom She- shee. On a good night he might even deliver eschet chayil.

He took pride in dipping the first piece of chala in salt... throwing the rest down the table. He was rooted for the night at the head of the table. When the crowds would dissipate however, he may make his way to an unsuspecting seat. I gleamed with joy if that seat would end up near me. That meant politics would be discussed. Or business. Or Iraq. On a great night, the trifecta!

These memories are lasting.

Uncle Joe was set in his ways; rarely yielding. He was content in a crossword puzzle (which undoubtedly would evoke familial pride if that day´s NY Times Crossword Puzzle was created by Cousin Benjamin Pall), a game of shesh-besh; and joyful among his grandchildren (recently great grandchildren) and great- nephews and great- nieces. He was adventuresome and at peace with how he experienced the world. He was opinionated, and did not mince words. He was generous and kind. He enjoyed food and travel and always found interest in experiencing new and different things.

I loved how he would look into the pot of whatever grandma was cooking, peering down through his bi-focals.

His mannerisms were of a different time, a different culture. It fascinated me.

Uncle Joe mellowed over the years. But it only endeared him more to those who loved him.

He took the time to visit his nieces and nephews and their families. Whether they were in Paris or California or Atlanta or Pennsylvania or New Jersey or Asheville. He was ALWAYS up for the occasion. In the summer of 2005, he and Aunt Minna came to Atlanta. He entertained us in the kitchen and led us in Shabbat. He took the time to play backgammon with both of my children, patiently teaching them the game. Melanie was attached to his hip. He played tirelessly in the pool, and showed them the proper way to dive. I think he was wearing his original swim trunks from Lawrence High School.

He took command of the backyard and provided mist to cool off the Atlanta bake.

I was fortunate to visit Israel with My Dad, Aunt Louise, Uncle Joe and Aunt Minna. It was such a memorable tour, hosted--- so very enthusiastically--- by Cousin Shaul. From the very beginning of the trip, Uncle kept saying how his synagogue sent him- HIM- to bring money for a donation. He took to that responsibility as if the entire synagogue´s life depended on him fulfilling this Mitzvah. Day after day, he would say to himself (and me), "I have to make this donation. The Synagogue´s money MUST be distributed".

This went on for four days.

Then... after a day experiencing the heat of Masada, the Dead Sea and shvitzing from sweat, Shaul decided to make a quick stop into Hadassah Hospital.

Upon entering the Hadassah grounds, we were directed to the Marc Chagall stained- glass exhibit. It was to the right of the hospital, in an auxiliary building. To our dismay, helicopters were flying around the sky. What seemed to be a bastion of security agents in suits, limos´ and fancy cars abound, we were guided, unwillingly, onto a red carpet- and ushered into the foyer of the hospital. Everything was sealed off when Uncle states that he still needs to make a donation. Apparently someone heard him. They proceeded to walk us down the hallway into an office of well dressed dignitaries. We were introduced to the President- Yes the PRESIDENT- of the Hadassah. She greeted us with a firm, authoritative handshake. Her next order of business was to ask Uncle about this donation of his. You could hear a pin drop when he said so very, very proudly that his Synagogue wished to convey $116.36 which he had folded ever so neatly into his billfold. A man of his word, he fumbled for the 36 cents.

Mission Accomplished.

We would later find out that our very own Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was the rightful dignitary.

On the rare occasions of going out to dinner with Uncle, it was always a treat. HIS treat. A table for twenty please! With pride and generosity, he picked up the entire tab. And it was always a feast. Extended- family trips to Jackson Heights, Chinatown or a local diner, Uncle would embrace the adventure. He was the consummate foodie.

Finally, and most importantly, it is the legacy Uncle Joe leaves in our hearts. He was clearly so proud to be a dad, an uncle, a son, a brother, a grandfather and great- grandfather. And in the immortal words of the Tehillim... [He] lived to see his children´s children. His wife, Minna... like a fruitful vine within their home and his children like olive saplings around his table. Hashem blessed Uncle Joe from Zion and he shared [in] the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of his life.

Personally, Uncle Joe leaves this world with an indelible mark on my soul. I am a more enlightened person having witnessed the permanent satisfactions of what good living really, and truly, looks like. You need not look further than his family.

May he Rest In Peace knowing that he left this world- and his family- with a legacy. A legacy of love.

Beth Zinderman

January 14, 2022

I was able to view Joe's service online and want to send you Alan, Beth, Caryl, Sheldon and Daniel and your Mom, Minna my love and sympathy to all your family. I was very touched to see all of you and how close you all remained. As the Rabbi said, you are a wonderful tribe of Joe's and his legacy lives on through all of you and your children's children. I know his memory is for a blessing! I know your hearts are wounded and hope that knowing how much he loved you all so much will help you through this difficult time.

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