Joseph Arthur Vidal

Joseph (Joe) Vidal, age 89, of Hurley passed peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, January 15, 2011 in the comfort of his beloved home.




Joe was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 16, 1921. Joe, his brother Robert (Bob) Vidal, mother Catherine and father Joseph moved from Brooklyn to Liberty, New York where Joe attended Liberty High School. Joe was very active is sports, acting, singing, and communication activities in high school. It was at Liberty High School that he met and eventually, during a leave in the Marine Corps, married his high school sweetheart, Ruth (Bunny) McGrath in 1944.




He began working at a young age of nine (9) delivering telegrams on his bike in Liberty and although Joe did not know at the time, he would continue his relationship with Western Union through his college years and again after he finished his tours with the Marine Corp.




On May 1, 1942, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was assigned to the 1st Marine Division and shipped to the Pacific theater. He was in the initial waves of marines that invaded Saipan, and Okinawa. He served under General "Howling Mad" Smith whose motto was "you take prisoners, you feed them". Joe's tours were over on May 2, 1946; his rank was technical sergeant in aviation and he had earned two purple hearts. But, Joe would continue to love the U.S. Marine Corps and his commitment to public service and would cart the internal burning candle for duty with the U.S.Marines. Joe said the Marines are military phenomenon's that look like soldiers, talk like sailors, fight like wildcats and think like a princess of royal blood.




After the war, Joe accepted the position of manager of Western Union in New York City. In 1949, Joe and Bunny moved to Hurley and Joe accepted the position of area manager for the, Western Union office in Kingston, New York for the next 23 years. Joe retired from Western Union in March 1972 after 35 years of service.




In 1955 Joe was nominated as town clerk of Hurley.




Joe and Bunny raised two children in Hurley; Nancy Ann was born on April 1, 1947 and Joseph Michael was born on March 10, 1950. Joe and Bunny divorced in 1962.




On November 28, 1965, Joe married Beatrice (Bea) Davis. They continued to live and enjoy their life in Hurley. Bea worked at the Hurley Post Office and had a son, Arthur Davis, from a previous marriage. Bea passed away on September 14, 2001. They were married for 36 years.




After retiring from Western Union, Joe returned to school earned a State Certified Assessor Certificate and became a fully accredited Class I Assessor by the State Board of Equalization and Assessment of New York State. He also earned a certificate of Training for Farm Appraisal in 1983.




In 1972 he was appointed town assessor for Hurley. He served for 21 years in that position and retired again in 1994.




Although Joe had a non-pretentious, country way about him he had an amazing talent for remembering numbers. This talent greatly helped with his position. His knowledge of the towns, his communication experience, and his sense of humor are fondly recalled by many that worked and knew him over the years. Joe loved life and lived it to its fullest.




Joe is survived by his daughter, Nancy Yale Sachau and her husband, Walter ; his son Dr. J. Michael Vidal and his wife, Judy; grandchildren, Dean Yale, Andrea Whitney, Chelsea Sachau, Drew Sachau, Kyle Vidal, Jessika Vidal, Paige Marks, Barry Davis and Jessie Davis. Great grandchildren include Janae, Taylor, Grace, Ryder, Sofia, Haleigh, and Lucy.




Joe loved his home, his town, his neighbors, his family and many cherished friends over the years. His newest, loved, devoted and cherished friend and caregiver became our beloved Olga who watched over Joe for the past three years. A special thanks as well to everyone who loved and cared and helped to make Joe's final days so peaceful. The unofficial mayor of Hurley (as some referred to Joe) has gone on to start a new journey. In his wallet he still carried his USMC-Okinawa driver's license and occasionally he would pull it out for a good laugh with a buddy. Farewell to a proud life-long marine.




A memorial service will be held at the Hurley Reform Church, 11 Main Street, Hurley, New York on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 11:30a.m. Arrangements by Keyser Funeral Service, 326 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY. Light a candle on memory of Joe at www.KeyserFuneralService.com