Rescue workers made every effort to preserve the dignity of Joseph Cassidy as they removed his body from the water behind his childhood home. He had gone missing two days before he was found. Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
The community of Howard Beach was saddened last Friday when one of its life time residents was found in the water behind the house where had grown up. Joseph Cassidy III, 37, was remembered by those close to him as somewhat of a tragic figure—a young man who once displayed great promise but whose life took unfortunate turns and twists down the wrong paths.
The one time honor student at St. Francis Prep also attended PS 146 and JHS 202. He had some encounters with law enforcement as a reckless teen and neighbors and those who knew Joe, said there were periods of both alcohol and drug use. He was suffering from a diagnosed mental illness at the time of his death.
In the end, he was pulled from the canal behind the house friends say was the only place he knew as a real home. Joe Cassidy was one of four children born to Dottie, a longtime employee in the district office of Local School District 27 and Joseph A. Cassidy Jr. who served as the International Vice-President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
The Cassidy’s made their home in Howard Beach for four generations. They moved out to Long Island when Joe was in his twenties. He went with them but eventually returned to his childhood neighborhood.
Most recently, he was living on his own but after the hurricane he found himself displaced as a result of the storm.
Last Wednesday, some friends Joe had been staying with in Howard Beach reported him missing. He was seen wandering on the boulevard, without a shirt or shoes on. Police were dispatched immediately and given Joe’s medical condition made a fervent effort to locate him. The search efforts began on Wednesday and continued until the call came of a body washed up near 160th ave and 102nd street.
Lifelong family friend Betty Braton accompanied Joe’s brother, John who is her Godson, to the scene where they were faced with the task of identifying the body. Braton has known the family since she was a toddler and described Joe as someone who was suffering due to difficult circumstances and illness. “This is a tragic end to a tragic life,” Braton said.
He is survived by his father Joseph A. Cassidy Jr., sister Kelly and brother John.
By Patricia Adams
