Joseph W. Sciumeca

On December 6, 2020, Joe passed away at age 94. He is survived by his four loving children, Mark, Gail (Bill) LaVigne, Scott, and Beth (Dale) Willman; four grandchildren, Tim (Elyse) LaVigne, Matt (Melissa) LaVigne, Adam, and Elana Willman; and two great grandchildren, Mary and Leah LaVigne. Joe was the son of Mary and Phillip Sciumeca of Buffalo and brother to Theresa (Lattuca). Joe served as a radio operator in the U.S. Air Force at the end of WWII. Following his discharge he attended Buffalo State College on the GI Bill and obtained his BS in Industrial Arts. In 1950 he married his beloved wife of 56 years, Nancy (Bressette), who passed away in 2006. Joe retired from General Motors as an engineer after 36 years at the Tonawanda Forge plant. He was well liked by both supervision and union employees, especially the guys that worked in the tool and die room where he enjoyed troubleshooting problems and helping with the set up with new jobs that he had designed. He was an avid gardener and was known throughout the plant, if not by name, as the guy with the potted tomato plant on the window sill held up with string tied to the blinds; available for all to see as they walked into the main entrance. During the growing season he walked into the backyard upon returning home from work, checking his crop of vegetables before doing anything else. Joe was the first in his family to attend college and he made sure his four children secured degrees as well. He worked a second job teaching night school at Erie Community College for several years and never turned down overtime at GM to help pay for little extras for his family. For many years he took his family on camping trips, first in a tent trailer, later in a travel trailer, seeing the sights along the East Coast along the way. When Joe retired he focused his attention on woodworking creating numerous items for the house, and for his children and grandchildren. When his wife passed away in 2006 he joined the Town of Tonawanda Senior Center and immediately found a second home in the wood shop. With the input from fellow wood crafters Joes projects became more elaborate and more desired by friends and family alike. Despite multiple requests to sell his creations, mostly wooden trucks, cars and construction vehicles, Joe refused the offers choosing to give them as gifts to family members. Every Christmas his children and grandchildren waited in anticipation to see what they would get. They tore through the store-bought gifts looking for the wood project that was that years gift. Joe was a dedicated family man who was especially dedicated to his grandchildren. He loved to tell them head (make believe made up) stories and help them create their own little masterpieces out of wood. He made them little work benches and bought them their own tools. He will be greatly missed. For information on a Celebration of Life ceremony to be held next year, please email s.sciumeca@gmail.com