Joseph A. Amato Jr.

Joseph A. Amato Jr. of Highland Mills passed away Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. He was 81 years old.
The son of Joseph A. Amato, Sr. and the late Camille L. Peronti Amato Stout, he was born April 16, 1935 in Brooklyn.
Joseph was a veteran of the U.S. Army and both an attorney and a real estate developer. He founded Kent Companies of Highland Mills in 1965. He was a founding board member of the Orange County Community Foundation, a director of the Hudson Valley Builder's Association, a trustee of the Saint Luke's Cornwall Hospital and of Tuxedo Park School, to name a few.
He was an active member of many local organizations and a pillar of the community.
He loved life; he was an avid golfer, sailor and skier and relished spending time with his family and friends.
He was a very generous, big-hearted man who touched many lives.
Survivors include his wife Deborah E. DeClerck Amato at home; his sons Michael M. Amato of Highland Mills and Joseph A. Amato III of Los Angeles, California; his daughters Danielle M. Amato of Highland Mills, Christina E. Amato of Newburgh, Jackie Stephanides and her husband Gregory of Wall, N.J., and Janice Amato Raikhovski and her husband Nikita Raikhovski of Larchmont; and his grandchildren: Anya, Natasha and Katya.
Joseph was predeceased by his sister Arlene Amato.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 18 at St. Patrick’s Church in Highland Mills.
Interment followed in Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
Memorial donations may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.
Arrangements by Smith, Seaman & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home (845-782-8185 www.ssqfuneralhome.com).