Joseph J. Trovei age 95 of Sparrowbush, NY passed away Tuesday November 17th, 2009 at St. Joseph's Place, Port Jervis, NY. He was born on September 25, 1914, in Anagni, Italy, the son of the late Arthur and Maria Marceletti Trovei. Joe was retired former co-owner of Arthur Trovei & Sons, Inc., Port Jervis, NY. He married Eva "Sue" Hockey Trovei on May 30, 1936, celebrating 73 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Eva Sue Trovei at home, his 3 daughters, Joyce Curtis and her husband Robert of Matamoras, Pa.; Marie Cherry and her husband James of Matamoras, Pa. and Susan Krause and her companion Bruce Mungoven of Matamoras, Pa.; 3 grandchildren, Robert Curtis, Jr., James Cherry, IV, and Kenneth Krause, Jr., 3 great-grandchildren Samuel P. Curtis, Daniel Joseph Curtis and Isabella Marie Cherry, and several nieces and nephews. He was pre-deceased by his brother, Lum Trovei, and his 2 sisters, Clara Colaiaco and Anna Kelly.
Joe came from Anagni, Italy in 1921, through Ellis Island. His name before well intentioned people changed it was Guiseppe Vincenzo Miguel Trovei. In 1996 his name was placed on the Immigrant Wall of Honor at Ellis Island. Joe moved to Port Jervis in the 1920's and grew up on King St., in the Acre. Joe started studying music theory and orchestration at the age of 7, with a professor in Middletown. After several months of daily study, he was allowed and able to pick and play any instrument. He practiced the trumpet eight hours a day, he excelled and eventually mastered the trombone, banjo and later on, the organ. He joined the American Federation Musicians Union, at age 9 and most likely is one of the oldest living members today. Music was his life growing up in the 1920's and 30's , playing in local orchestras, and through the 40's and 50's during the big band era, he had the pleasure of meeting and sharing the stage with some of the greats of the time such as Lena Horne, Mickey Rooney and the Dorseys. His band flourished during the 1930's and into the early 40's, and Joe and his wife Eva and their daughter would travel all over the Eastern U.S., and on the way back from a gig in Savannah, Ga. on Dec. 7, 1941 he heard on the radio of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He remembered how one by one of his band members would be drafted. Joe wrote arrangements for a 22 piece big band that performed regularly a the Town Casino, a well known Buffalo Night Club. They also would play for the troops when they were home on leave. After the war, Joe continued his work with the family business and with his music and became locally famous for his dance band which included guys like Joe Viglione, Gus Salva, Doug Bachelder and Ali Corrado as well as many others. His love for his wife and family was first, followed by his love of music and entertaining. He was also an avid golfer , often seen at the Port Jervis Country Club.
Friends may call Thursday November 19 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. Funeral services will be held November 20, 2009 at 11am at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc. 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY, with Rev. George Hafemann officiating. Interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Jervis, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph's Place, 160 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY, in Joseph J. Trovei's memory. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. for information,directions or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com