Joseph T. O'Brien

Westerleigh resident Joseph T. O'Brien, 82, died on July 13, 2025. The lifelong Staten Islander was born in Stapleton, where he lived with his parents, Mildred and Charles, and siblings Jimmy, Ginger, Patricia and John. The graduate of New Dorp HS and Pace University moved to Westerleigh with his late wife Gail (Carullo) O’Brien. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in August 2020. Joe and Gail shared a love for cruising and enjoyed over 18 cruises together. Joe fondly called Gail, "his advisor on everything." Joe served in the US Navy and then worked in the shipping industry until he retired. Even during retirement, Joe rarely sat still. He enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen and working in the garden where he planted flowers, fruits and vegetables. He planted his own fig trees and loved to share figs with his family and friends - he even delivered them! When he wasn’t in the garden, Joe was enjoying a cup of coffee with a neighbor or friend - every visit included a cup of coffee! Over coffee, he would discuss his favorite people, his grandchildren. He was very proud of his granddaughters, Callie, Ashley, Kate, Amanda and Addison. He spent many years playing uno and cheering them on at basketball games. Joseph is survived by his son, Scott (Stacie); his daughter Keri (Ralph); his granddaughters, Callie and Kate O'Brien and Ashley, Amanda and Addison Marrocco. Joe is also survived by his siblings, Ginger, Patti and John (Joyce), his sisters-in-law Sr. Carol Carullo, Nancy Gardella and Marguerite O’Brien; his brother-in-law Donald Carullo (Lydia) and his nieces and nephews.