Joseph Francis Halloran

Joseph F. Halloran

Joseph F. Halloran, of Fort Pierce, Florida and life-long resident of Great Valley, New York died June 11, 2010. He was in his 81st year. He was born in Buffalo, New York on June 29, 1929 to John J. Halloran and Helen Hayes Halloran, and grew up on the family farm in Sugartown. He was a “Future Farmer”, Boy Scout, and 4-H calf raiser for the county fair.

Elementary education was just up the road at the one-room country school, and Joe and younger sister Margaret learned the wonders of life in rural New York from their close-knit extended family. He credited coming from “good Irish stock” for his ingrained traits of hard work, love of God, and fair play.

While at Ellicottville High School (1948 graduate) he often walked to his baseball games, where he was known for his centerfield speed, quick bat, and great grin.

In Ellicottville, he met and married his loving wife, true friend and life companion of more than 60 years, Helen Anne Stone Halloran, who survives him. They were married at Holy Name of Mary on November 26, 1949. Lives came full circle as all shared treasured moments at the July, 2009 family reunion in the town park near the diamond.

Joe and Helen built their own home on a picturesque piece of the family dairy farm, spending sweat equity on everything from the concrete work to the hardwood floors, which started as cherry trees on home pasture slopes, and were personally felled, cut, finished, and installed by Joe.

In that home they raised their two boys, Thomas and Daniel, in the loving nuclear family of the era. They had the help of both sets of grandparents, “Doc” and Mary Stone, and John and Helen Halloran, friends long before they were in-laws. All had fond memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with “everyone” at the family home.

Joe worked for his career as manager of the GLF, later Agway, in Ellicottville and Salamanca, selling feed and farm supplies. Helen joked that GLF really stood for “Good Lookin’ Fella”.

Joe’s Dad, John, and his father in law “Doc” were veteran members of the Ellicottville School Board, weathering a long and contentious period in the district’s consolidation. On their retirement, Joe picked up the family tradition, and was on that board for more than two decades. There were three proudest moments—accepting the keys to the new school as board president, and signing and conferring high school diplomas to each of his sons.

Joe was a devout Catholic and served Holy Name of Mary Church in Ellicottville as trustee for many years.

Halloran’s Chicken Bar-B-Q, a collaborative family enterprise, was a fixture of the summer county fair and picnic scene for many years, with their new sauce recipe, memorable meal and great service.

Crisp autumn days and the golden harvest brought Pumpkinville to life on the Halloran yard. Fall still echoes with the laughter of generations of children building their Halloween memories and finding the right “Perky Pumpkin”.

Retirement to Florida brought travel adventure and new friendships. Joe and Helen were always willing to jump in the car and go—Illinois, Wisconsin, Washington (state and D.C.), New York, and all places in between. Joe was particularly fond of family visits for Spring Training baseball in Florida, a later life tradition.

Left to carry on Joe’s zest for life and love of family are Tom and Dan and their families: Tom, wife Darlene, and John and fiancée Monica, Patrick and girlfriend Ami, and Kate and husband Mike Cox, and their 3 year old twins Aidan and Allison; Dan, wife Kari, daughters Kelly and Julia, Katie, Alisa, and Theresa.

Family services, and burial in Holy Name of Mary Cemetery in Ellicottville, are pending.