Joseph A. Maloney, 54

Joseph A. Maloney, 54, affectionately known as Joey, passed away Jan. 6, 2024, in New Orleans alongside his wife of 12 years, Jeanne Ruffo Maloney.

The Maloney family lost its best joke teller weekend before last. Even though Joe's father suggested he take his comedic talents to the stage, Joe reserved his finest jokes for the family, always the one to laugh the loudest. Every year, the annual Maloney Family Reunion coincided with Joe’s July 26 birthday, where he inevitably took center stage.

Joe was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, to Anna (Montanaro) and Robert E. Maloney. During his childhood, he developed a passion for fishing and camping in the Adirondacks, enjoying memorable trips with his dad and Boy Scouts troop. His love for the outdoors persisted throughout his life, highlighted by two recent fishing expeditions to Canada with his father. Joe attended high school in New Fairfield, Connecticut, and later found a calling in the food service industry, gaining expertise creating delicious soups and other culinary delights in various kitchens. At one point, he owned a breakfast/lunch shop named "Saratoga Joe’s" in Fort Myers, Florida, which became a family emblem on T-shirts and baseball caps.

In addition to his culinary pursuits, Joe explored diverse career paths, including a stint as a truck driver, where he refined his storytelling skills. He also worked in construction, and it was this work that brought him and his wife, Jeanne, to New Orleans.

Joe is survived by his father and stepmother, Bob Maloney and Bonnie Hunt of Holderness. He is also survived by his extensive family centered around the Troy, New York, area, including Shawn and Jean Maloney, Kevin Maloney, Tracy and Tom Oligney and Victoria Gettings, as well as a multitude of cousins spanning from Florida to Texas, Colorado to Missouri. Additionally, he leaves behind a younger generation of beloved kids. They all were his favorites.

He was predeceased by his dearly loved grandparents, Robert and Frances Maloney, Frank and Marjorie Montanaro; his mother, Anna Montanaro; his beloved uncle Mike Maloney, and his stepsister, Alexandra Engler.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Wynantskill Funeral Home in Wynantskill, New York. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Squam Lakes Conservation Society, P.O. Box 696, Holderness, NH 03245.