Joseph Ralph Generett, Jr., 76, of Brooklyn, New York was called home by the Lord on Wednesday, August 17, 2016, following 20 years of gravely-ill health.


At seventeen years of age, Joseph left his beloved hometown of Denmark, South Carolina, to further his education at South Carolina State College as a cadet in its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps for the United States Army. Upon graduation, he began his distinguished commission as a First Lieutenant, serving mainly at the US Army Garrison in Stuttgart, Germany. Following that, he relocated to New York, pursued advanced studies at New York and Fordham Universities, and embarked upon his civilian career in the field of social services. He retired with thirty years of service from the City of New York as Deputy Director of its Human Resource Administration, having helped tens of thousands of New York’s most vulnerable residents. An avid photographer, tennis player and home chef, Joseph dreamed of one day buying a red Porsche, traveling the world and opening a small restaurant.


Joseph is survived by his wife of 50 years, Maeve Generett (Finnegan), his daughter Lisa Generette of Columbus, Ohio, his two grandchildren Quinne and Wade Williams, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. He was preceded in death by parents Ruby Generett (Lebby) and Joseph R. Generett, Sr., and his brother Dr. William Osborne Generett.


Family and friends will celebrate his life at John McManus Funeral Home in Brooklyn on Friday, August 26 from 8:00AM ~ 9:30AM. He will then be laid to rest at Calverton National Cemetery on Long Island immediately afterward. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 25 from 2:00pm – 4:30 pm and again from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.