Thomas Woitasek

Thomas J. Woitasek a.k.a. “Tom the Barber”, 78, of West Hurley, NY, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2023 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. He was born on February 10, 1945 in Hackensack, NJ, son of the late Arthur and Mary (Molinari) Woitasek. He was married to his loving wife of 36 years, Phyllis (Davis) Woitasek, they wed on November 24, 1986.

Tom grew up on a dairy farm in Accord, NY where he worked very hard planting corn and milking the cows. He was a graduate of Rondout Valley High School, Class of 1963. He served in the US Navy from 1963 to 1967, deploying for three tours of duty in Vietnam. Tom specialized in air ordnance, attaining the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman Third Class, and was stationed on the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise and USS Intrepid.

After his honorable discharge he attended barber school and later owned his own business, Mr. Joseph's Barber Shop, on Pine Street in Kingston for 51 years until his retirement in 2020. His haircuts were legendary and with every cut, came a good joke. His shop was full of antiques, always giving customers something new to look at. Tom was a member of Joyce Schirick Post #1386 VFW and the Southside Rod & Gun Club in West Hurley. He enjoyed his award-winning cars, 1955 Chevy Nomad and 1999 Mustang Cobra SVT. He was brave, kind, sweet, loving, giving, and very funny.

Tom is survived by his wife, Phyllis Woitasek of West Hurley, his daughters, Jennifer Woitasek and her husband Jeremy Monaco of Rhinebeck, and Kristi Morse of Maplewood, NJ, his grandchildren, Evan and Cole Naccarato, and Eli, Owen, Darby, and Eleanore Morse, as well as two nieces, Toni Woitasek and Dana Schoenfeld, and many other dear friends and family. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, Paul Woitasek.

Arrangements entrusted to Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, 326 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401, where family and friends may visit on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 from 3pm to 6pm with the funeral service taking place at 6pm. A tribute for Tom can be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for his family.