ALBANY – Joseph M. Lapetina, 95, of Albany, passed away on Friday, March 15, 2019, after a lengthy illness. Joe was born in New York City, but lived most of his life in Albany. Joseph was the son of the late Mauro and Rosa Lapetina.
Joe was predeceased by his cherished wife of 63 years, Mary Gaffney Lapetina. He was also predeceased by his son Joseph P. Lapetina, and by his brother in law James “Sid” Rovelli.
He is survived by his children Mauro (Susan) Lapetina, Mary (Christopher) Bartkowski, Rose (James) Sherin, and Katherine (Cammy) Better; his sister Angelina Rovelli ; his ten grandchildren: Elizabeth (James Huang) Lapetina, Michael Lapetina,, and Andrew(Sarah Willis) Lapetina, Mary (Scott) Doehla and Eric(Kerri) Meister, Christopher (Claire) Sherin and Laura (Patrick)Tucker , and Joseph Better, Samuel Better, and Kate Better; his 11 great grandchildren as well as his niece and nephew and their families.
Joe graduated from Philip Schuyler High School in 1941 and worked for the General Electric Company in Schenectady New York before attending college. After graduation from Siena College in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics, he began his teaching career at the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Joe taught mathematics and physics at the College, eventually became a full professor, as well as earning his master’s degree in Physics from SUNYA and a Doctorate in Computer Science awarded to him for his accomplishments in the field by the College. He served as the Dean of Academics from 1982 until his retirement in 1993. During Joe’s 47 years of service to the College he was instrumental in modernizing and expanding the physics and mathematics department as well as designing and implementing a model drug information tracking system for pharmacists. Joe served for many years on the Pharmacy College Board of Trustees as well as the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York.
Joe had a great love of music, especially Italian opera. In his youth he played in the high school orchestra as well as local Italian bands with his father. He was a talented oboist, and after his retirement, he began playing in the Albany Area Senior Orchestra until his health issues forced him to leave in his early 90’s. He also loved cars, over the years owning several Corvettes, a Porsche, and his treasured Cadillacs. He became a boating enthusiast, and belonged to the Albany Yacht Club, serving as Vice Commodore during his active years with the club. Always interested in electronics and mechanical items, Joe earned his ham radio license and was a member of the Ham and Radio Club of Albany. His love of Siena College remained strong throughout his lifetime, and until his illness forced him to stop, he was a season ticket holder to Siena basketball games.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to June, Elizabeth, Callie, Tammie and Arabia for all their devoted care to our father over the past few years.
Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m., and from there to the Parish of Mater Christi, Hurst Ave. & Hopewell St., Albany at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Monday from 4-7 p.m. Interment will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Colonie. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Siena College Scholarship Fund established by Joseph Lapetina or a charity of your choice. To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Janice and Michael Better
Your Father was a wonderful man. Keep all those great times that you had with him in your heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Ken Kennedy
My sincerest condolences to the Lapetina family. As a rookie police officer walking the beat I was welcomed into the Lapetina home on many a cold snowy day. As a young Irish American kid Mr. Lapetina gave me my first taste of espresso coffee. Mr. Lapetina and his family were very kind to me and I always remembered their warm hospitality. RIP
Dorothy Johnson, President
Joe will be missed by his Albany Senior Orchestra family. We send our sincere condolences to his family.
Don Robertshaw
Joe was a true friend. Joe Dan and I enjoyed talking and looking at cars. We also enjoyed lunch together. We will all miss him.
Daniel and Barbara Luizzi
Joe was a great friend and mentor. I will miss our frequent luncheons along with checking out all the latest performance autos. Barbara and I offer our sincere condolences to all of Joe’s wonderful family.
Don Charles
My thoughts and prayers are with Professor Delta Joe’s family, and friends. He was a great professor at ACP then ACPHS for decades and had a great mind and personality. I believe that he was the final professor of our 5 years at ACP to pass. The end of an era.
Don Charles, ACP ’67
Kim and Rosemary Cross Demers
Our sincere prayers to all of Professor Lapentina’s family.
We were in the class of 1975 and appreciated his understanding and caring for his students.
Hugh A. Hoadley
As a student of Joseph Lapetina @ ACP class 1957, I enjoyed his classes and good humor.
William V Hastings (ACP- 1962)
It was very sad to learn of the passing of Professor Lapetina. I always admired Joe and his teaching service, He was one of the excellent dedicated professors I found encouraging. I will remember Joe fondly. Please convey my sympathy to his family.
Jack Bernas
Condolences to the Lapetina Family.
Having grown up on the Eastside of Elmira, I had never seen nor met a college professor. As a freshman in 1952 the professionalism & intelligence of the ACP professors was evident immediately.. Of course Professor Lapetina fit right in like a glove. Think of all the students whose lives he influenced with his intelligent dedication to the profession of teaching & with his unique style. Professor Lapetina will be missed but not forgotten.
With sympathy, Jack Bernas,
Paul Murphy
My condolences to the Lapetina family. Fifty years ago this year Dr Lapetina was my calculus professor at ACP and I have always remembered him through the years as my favorite instructor.
Our thought and prayers are are with you and may he Rest In Peace.
Dennis O'Grady
Joe was our Fraternity advisor and a great teacher. Anyone who could get me through Physics was a miracle worker.
Great sense of humor, we need more like him.
Steve Corson
Hello, I am so sorry to have read that Professor Lapetina has passed. I was a student of his at ACP . He taught me more then Math . In my mind he was a role model for all the student at ACP. I enjoyed his courses and I remember him with great esteem. I am sorry for your loss. Stephen C Corson RPh/retired ACP class of ’79
Brian and Jill Thornton
Mauro, Sue and Family,
Just heard of your Dads passing.
So sorry for your loss.
Looks like he had a long and full life.
A lucky man was he.
Jim Gozzo
To the family of Joe Lapetina, Both Lorraine and I would like to offer our deepest sympathies for your loss. Joe was responsible for my hiring as president of the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and from day one of joining the College he remained a dear friend and advisor and will remain in my thoughts forever, I am also certain that he will be remembered by thousands of students, faculty members, administrators and friends of the College that he thought and mentored over the years. Many have achieved great successes because of him. So in many ways his spirit lives on. May he rest in peace
Francis (Frank) Lapetina
My cousin Joe. A very fine man who influenced my life more than he knew. Ten years my senior, gave me great direction when I was entering high school long ago. This resulted in my own successful college career. We shared some wonderful diners together on Cape Cod in the 90’s
Pat Tamburr
Rose and family. Joe and I want to offer our sincere condolences. I just heard of your father’s passing yesterday.
I am sorry that I missed his services.
He enjoyed a long accomplished and colorful life.
Mary Ann [Dempsey] Godlewski, BS RPh
Dear Family of Professor Lapetina:
I was a student of your dad’s as well as a Lab Monitor for him. He offered me an out-of-town student the opportunity to have some money coming in although I do not think he knew originally of my family’s 3 kids in college scenario. It was a blessing. Right after Christmas vacation my second year, my father died suddenly. I returned to school about a week later& Prof called me into his office. We sat down-never had done that before-. He offered his condolences and asked if I would be able to continue at school.He was willing to help in any way he could even with tuition money. I told him thank you so and cried right there. It seems that although I lost a father I had also gained one. I was able to continue through school with loans, Social Security assistance, my in-school job & a summer/vacation job in my home town.
I learned much from your dad regarding how to teach as well as “coach” his students. I have been practicing since graduation in 1972. I have had 6 state licenses although only 3 are active now. I am preparing to retire as I am approaching the age of 70. I hope to keep active in the profession as well as broaden my interests.
I want to thank you for sharing your dad with me and all the other students at ACP. As a parent, I know that there may have been times he gave his time to us and not you. I appreciate his gift.
I need to obtain the address to send to his scholarship fund. I am sure that I will be able to do that. He will live on in my memory.