Joseph Martin Mesuda, Jr.

The Mesuda family will receive their friends and family  at the funeral home on Sunday June 11th from 1-4 PM. A service will be held at 4 PM.

Joseph Martin Mesuda, Jr. of Hurley passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday June 6, 2023. He was born June 1, 1956 in Poughkeepsie, a son of the late Joseph and Ruth Mesuda.

Joe started his successful liquor career in Texas in 1978 where he was fondly referred to as "Yankee Joe." He was assigned all the accounts no one else wanted, but he managed to achieve top state salesman numerous times. He and his wife were able to travel the world through Joe's tireless efforts to win incentive programs that were designed to be insurmountable. Later he ran a liquor distributorship in upstate New York where he built brands like Tito's Vodka and Jim Beam into what they are today.

He often gave motivational speeches where the sales audience would stand and applaud. Years later, salesmen would approach him and say "you gave the greatest speech I have ever heard. You made me believe in the brand and my ability to succeed."

His favorite saying was "failure is not an option." Though Joe achieved success in the liquor industry, his true passion was real estate. He went on to own several shopping centers and took great pride in helping his tenants succeed.

Joe's greatest pleasure was spending time with his family. He got great joy from helping his children achieve their greatest potential. His kids can now pass his valuable advice on to their children.

Papa always knew best.

In earlier years, he also coached basketball, in both Biddy League and started the first local boys AAU team, The Ulster Storm. His players would say he mentored them like they were his own sons.

Surviving is his wife of 44 years Laura Mesuda, two children Holley Jensen and her husband Brian of Bend, Oregon, and Benjamin Mesuda of Hurley. Grandchildren Jaliyah Mesuda and Jacob Jensen, and brother Martin Mesuda of Poughkeepsie.

In lieu of flowers, Honor Joe's life by always letting your friends and family know how much you love and care for them, because ultimately that was the most important thing to Joe.