Obituary of Joseph P. Rulli

Joseph P. Rulli Joseph P. Rulli, a longtime resident of Newburgh, died suddenly at his home in Poughkeepsie on September 30. He was 88. Born on July 16, 1922 to Philomena and Joseph "Cesidio" Rulli, Mr. Rulli graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1940. He served in the US Air Force as a master technical sergeant from 1943 to 1945, and was awarded service medals for his campaigns in China, India and Japan. In 1947 he received a B.S. in Textile Chemistry and Engineering from Philadelphia College of Textiles and completed several business courses at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. For the next forty-plus years, Mr. Rulli commuted almost daily from his home in Newburgh to Manhattan, working for textile companies including M. Lowenstein & Sons, Wamsutta Mills and Dow Badische. In 1972, when globalization of the industry was inevitable, he became the top American executive in the textile fibers marketing division of C. Itoh & Company, the $2 billion Japanese trading company now renamed Itochu International. Joseph was hard-working and driven, a devoted son and generous uncle, and a loyal friend and colleague. He loved life, good food and people. He was happy and independent until the very end, driving himself to the store, following world news on TV, and cooking his own dinner. A longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Newburgh, he joined St. Mary's in Wappingers Falls upon moving to Poughkeepsie in 2004. He was predeceased by his parents and sisters Jean Russell and Santina McCann, and is survived by 5 nieces and their families. Visitation will be on Wednesday October 6, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. at Straub, Catalano and Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A funeral service will be held at 10 am on Thursday, October 7 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in New Windsor. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a personal condolence please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com