Obituary of Joseph M. Albright

New Scotland - Joseph M. Albright, Jr. - Joseph always had a strong will to survive!  He left us on February 3, 2024 to rest in heaven with his wife of sixty years, his beloved Shirley.  He was born June 10, 1926 to Louise (Altier) Albright and Joseph Milton Albright, Sr.  Both of his parents had Tuberculosis and his mother died three months after he was born.. He began life at St. Margaret’s Baby Hospital in Albany.  When he was two, he was placed in The Albany Orphan Asylum on New Scotland Ave., where he was listed as an inmate.  He grew up during the years of The Great Depression.  His family consisted of the other orphans and caregivers, of what was called by 1934, The Albany Home for Children.  He could never be adopted because his father was still alive but could not be found to sign the papers.  He attended School 19, Hackett and Schuyler High School in Albany.  At age 17, in 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  The recruiters commented “He was just the kind of recruit they were looking for - no one will miss him!”  He was assigned to the USS Rocky Mount and saw combat in the South Pacific.  Under battle conditions he was a sightseer on a 5 inch gun.  The Rocky Mount received a commendation for exceptionally meritorious service in action against enemy Japanese aircraft, shore batteries, submarines and mines in the Pacific Campaign during The Marshall Islands Operations, The Marianas Operation, The Leyte Landings and The Lingayan Landings.  He also served on the USS Adirondack and was honorably discharged as Yeoman 3rd Class in June of 1946.

During the war his father was located and they met for the first time while Joseph was on leave to the States.  After the war he finished High School and took night classes at Siena College while working days.  In 1948 he married Phyllis Macalister and they had a daughter named Vivian.  Unfortunately they divorced and Vivian lived with her mother.  Joseph had jobs selling insurance, beer and Edison batteries, etc.  The job that brought success was at Albany Public Markets where he became Vice President of the company.  In 1957 he married Shirley Elizabeth Sample.  They raised four children on their farm in Voorheesville.  Later in the 1970’s, he was General Manager of Glen & Mohawk Dairy.  He always enjoyed his company Cadillacs.  He was a very hard worker, teaching his children a good work ethic since he had to work hard to get ahead, having no family support while growing up.  Joseph and Shirley took the family on many vacations in their RV’s.  They always celebrated the holidays with joy and had many picnics at home.  They travelled all over the country and abroad.  He had a great memory and loved to tell jokes and sing humorous songs.  He had a laugh that could start the whole room laughing.  He enjoyed a good cigar and Rusty Nail cocktail. He was a “Mans Man” and a “Ladies Man”.  A man with a strong presence, he was well respected!  Final decades of his career were managing Meat Packing Co’s, Hardware store and School Bus Driver for Voorheesville.  He stopped working as a school bus monitor at the age of 91.  After living alone since 2017, he moved to the Teresian House Nursing Home in 2021.

His wife Shirley predeceased him in 2017.  He had six children, Vivian Macalister (predeceased in 2006), Christopher Albright (Kelly), Timothy Albright (Susan), David Albright (Karen), Debbie Neocleus and Kelly Mucci.  He also had 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

His family would like extend their thanks and gratitude to the Teresian House Nursing Home staff and special caregivers on the 6th floor, A wing…They are Angels!  Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Reilly & Son Funeral Home, Voorheesville on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with a service being held at 11 o’clock. There willl be a graveside service in the spring at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in New Salem.   Donations in his memory may be sent to The Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menards, NY 12204.