Joseph S. Moniz

Joseph Souza Moniz (Joe), 97, of Delmar passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Albany Medical Center. The family is planning for a private ceremony and burial in Bethlehem Cemetery, near his beloved wife Agnes (Aggie).

Born in East Providence, RI on March 28, 1928, Joe was the son of the late Antonio and Maria Moniz. His parents both emigrated to the United States in the early 20th century from São Miguel Island in the Azores, which is an autonomous region of Portugal.

Joe served in the United States Army, working in Newfoundland as a radio mechanic, between March 1946 and March 1949. He received a good conduct medal and the World War II Victory Medal for his service.

Joe married Aggie Castanho in 1951. They had 67 wonderful years together at the time of her passing in 2018. They had three children together, who survive them both. Sons Joseph Moniz, Jr.  (Cynthia Cajobe) and Mitchell A. Moniz; and daughter, Karen A. Wilson (Jeffrey). Joe is also survived by grandson, Bryan J. Wilson, and his son Hayden; and granddaughter Jennifer R. Wilson-Koch (Ted), and their daughter Kahlia.  

After his discharge from the Army,  Joe worked as a forklift operator for Rumford Chemical Works in East Providence, Rhode Island, which, at the time, was one of the primary producers of baking powder in the United States. After leaving Rumford, Joe worked for years as a wedding photographer. Because of this work, Joe refused all pasta dishes until his dying day.

Soon after Amtrak's founding in 1971, Joe took a job as a carman, maintaining all parts of Amtrak passenger coaches. This was physically demanding work, but Joe was a powerful man. In 1975 Amtrak moved the Moniz family from East Providence, Rhode Island to Delmar, New York. This was a significant event in the life of the family, since they moved from an urban Portuguese enclave, to an affluent suburb. They had years of happiness at their home on Elsmere Avenue, and their children had opportunities that they would not have had, if they'd stayed in Rhode Island.

 Joe and Aggie made a bold decision to move their family to New York, and Joe was an incredibly strong man who always put his family first. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Northeast Regional Food Bank, 965 Albany Shaker Rd, Latham, NY 12110.