Stephen P. Cronin

Stephen Patrick Cronin III, 70, a lifelong resident of the Gibson area of Valley Stream, passed away on April 11, 2018. He is survived by his sons, Jonathan and Joseph; his wife, Joann; his brother, John, and John’s wife, Patricia; his stepdaughters, Letisha and Victoria; as well as his grandchildren, Sean and Maeve.

 He loved fearlessly. If he knew you, there was always a seat at his table for you. He will always be remembered for his gregarious nature; strong, affectionate bear hugs; and tough, sincere handshakes. He lived his entire life on Amherst Road and loved his home town, where he was happy to run into former co-workers, old neighbors and classmates from long ago. Later in life, he may not have remembered their names, but their familiar faces always filled him with joy.

 He loved the ocean and the beaches along the South Shore. Even during bouts of physical ailments, being on a boat or staring out to sea reinvigorated him, and those ailments disappeared. He often spoke of the love and care he put into the boat he had owned as a young man, and hoped to one day own one again. His most content moments were at 6 a.m., staring out at the ocean with his fishing pole, holding a cup of coffee from Ziggy’s deli with an unwrapped ham-and-butter roll by his side.

Most of all, he loved his family. Not a day went by that he didn’t try to celebrate those he loved, whether it was by raising a glass or remembering a turn of phrase. Making BLTs on Sunday mornings with family around the kitchen table was his proudest tradition.

 He graduated from Hewlett High School in 1966. In the late ’70s he worked in sanitation for the Town of Valley Stream, and in the ’80s he worked as a mechanic at the garage next to the Gibson LIRR station. He was also a very committed member of the Knights of Columbus on West Merrick Road in Valley Stream.