Joseph Anthony Coto of Wappingers Falls, formerly of Queens, entered into rest Wednesday, October 8, 2025. He was 55.

Son of Hugo E. Coto and the late Diana Moon (deceased in 1984), he was born in Brooklyn.

Joseph worked for many years in sales and installation for Liberty Fence in Elmont, NY.

Survivors include his father Hugo E. Coto and stepmother, Ana Coto; his siblings and their families: Brian Coto and his wife, Christina, and their children Lucian and Cairo; Melissa Coto, and her children, Jayden and Adrianna; Elizabeth Cotton and her husband, Andre, and their children, Caleb and Lia; Andrea Castro and her husband, Jose Manuel, and their children, Isaac and AnaLee; Jennifer Coto, and her children, Jason, Nicholas and Giovanni; Hugo Coto Jr. and his wife, Kimberly, and their daughter, Sophia; and Christopher Coto.

The siblings each eulogized their brother in their own personal words:

From Elizabeth Cotton: My brother showed me how to hit a baseball when I was little and always came to our soccer games. He loved watching Star Wars and Godzilla and always shared his knowledge about those movies with the kids. He watched my daughter, Lia, take her first steps. Another fond memory was when Joey, Andre and I would go to Beef O'Brady's and watch a game after a long day at work and have a nice cold beer. He was the most amazing brother and uncle.

From Christopher Coto: My brother taught me and my siblings to watch and play sports. He loved sports! Joey loved his family no matter what. 

From Brian Coto: Joey was a great brother and uncle to my sons. He cherished every moment spent with his nieces and nephews. He loved being surrounded by family and creating memories. He enjoyed joking around. Joey's passions were wrestling, movies, music and especially sports. All of those things brought him happiness, and he loved talking to others about them. Nothing compares to love he felt when among family and friends. If he considered you family, you knew he would always have your back. 

From Hugo Coto, Jr.: Joey was a very loving brother and uncle. He shaped many shaped many of the interests that we all have today, whether it was Star Wars or sports. And boy did he love the Yankees. Joey loved spending time with family, making everyone laugh, going on trips, playing with the kids or going to hang out. His greatest gift will always be the love he had and shared with all of us.

From Melissa Coto: Joey was the best big brother a girl could ask for. He was 8 years older than me and the one I looked up to and would follow around when I was little. I can picture him playing with his Star Wars figures and the little green soldier figures everyone had back in the day, always getting in trouble for leaving them out, lol. He'd take me to the candy store at the corner before Dad got home so we wouldn't get in trouble, lol. When our Mom passed away, he hurt like no other. From that moment on all Joey wanted was to have family and love surround him. Love is all he ever wanted. He was a family guy and enjoyed having so many siblings. He was the tallest out of all of us and the strongest. He tried to teach us all how to wrestle, not that Brian or Christopher needed the help, lol. The girls, he always tried to be around and be our security guard. I definitely got my love of sports from him. Baseball and football were our sports. NY teams were everything to us. I remember going to the Yankee's ticker tape parade when they won the World Series. I couldn't see anything, so he made sure I leaned on him while standing on a pole, lol. When I had my kids he enjoyed coming over, going apple picking and watching tv or movies with us. Any chance he got he would be over or inviting us to hang out. My brother loved his family with everything he had. He would have given anything to ensure that we were okay. Anyone that knows him can tell you what a wonderful, good-hearted person he was. I know that in his last days he felt the love hearing from his family, seeing those that could make it and receiving beautifully written letters.  I know you can't hear me now Joe but I hope you know how much I loved you and how much I'm going to miss your chuckle and your crazy stories and hearing you talk Giant games with Adrianna. The Coto 8 are down to 7 but just know your memory will live in our hearts forever. Xoxo 

From Andy Castro: There was only one Joey.

From the time we were young, Joey taught us so much—about life, love, loyalty, and laughter. Even though I wasn't a boy, Joey never hesitated to include me. He had this way of making everyone feel like they belonged, like they mattered. His love of sports became a part of me too, and because of him, I proudly cheer for the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. I still remember the 1996 World Series—staying up late, him in his room, me just around the corner in the little living room. We couldn't scream when the Yankees won, but we jumped up and down like fools, celebrating together. Even when we were apart, we found ways to connect—phone calls filled with shared frustration over the Giants’ O-line or the Yankees' latest loss. That bond was unbreakable. Joey was fiercely loyal and deeply loving. I remember the time our dad brought home football tickets—Joey tried to convince him to let me go, but was told no because I wasn’t a boy. I was so mad, but Joey promised to tell me everything and wave if he made it on TV. That was Joey—always trying to make things right, always thinking of others. When my kids were born, Joey lovingly teased me about their “old people names,” but he loved them like they were his own. He loved all the kids like that—with pure, unconditional love. He had this rare way of making each of us feel special, seen, and protected. It’s hard to put into words the pain of losing him—the silence left where his laugh, his voice, and his presence used to be. Joey was more than a brother; he was a constant, a protector, a true friend. There is no one like Joey, and there never will be. I love you, Joey. You will always be in my heart, and missed beyond measure.

From Jennifer Coto: As an older brother , Joey was everything you could hope for protective,loving and always joking around. He was a great uncle he shared his love of Godzilla and Star Wars with my kids, he would take them on walks and spend time with them he knew just how to connect and make them feel special.one memory I will never forget is for jjs kindergarten graduation he wanted to help barbecue and burnt off his eyebrow cooking, being their for his family was the most important thing for him.We will miss his voice,laughter, and his hugs. His absence leaves a space that can never be filled, but we find comfort in his memories.