Joe Diaz, Jr., 82, of Cincinnatus, NY, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, at the NYS Veterans Home at Oxford, NY, surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Cortland, New York, Joe attended Cincinnatus Central School and served in the United States Army, spending his last 2 years at the U.S. Army base in Chinon, France. He received an honorable discharge and went on to build a fulfilling career as a long-distance truck driver, heavy equipment operator and supervisor for Penn Can Road Materials and Barrett Paving, and then in retirement as snowplow driver for the Town of Taylor, NY.

Joe was a human GPS, possessing the rare talent to navigate nearly anywhere in the country, entirely from memory. An enthusiast of the outdoors, Joe was an avid snowmobiler who devoted many years to maintaining trails as a volunteer trail groomer for the Trailhounds Snowmobile Club. His greatest passions were hunting and fishing; he was happiest navigating the woods on his Ranger, waiting patiently in a tree stand, or sharing stories over a card game at hunting camp. At home, he was celebrated as the ultimate master chef at his annual family chicken barbecue.

Joe’s legacy is carried on by his son Joey (Lori) Diaz of Concord, NC, and daughter Melanie (Dave) Pelosi of West Windsor, NJ and his step daughters Cherie Zurell of Cortland, and Shannon Randall of Concord, NC. He adored his grandchildren Jillian, Tommy and Samantha Pelosi, Jacob and Will Diaz, Taylor, Kaitlyn and Josie Randall , Madison (James) Shivery and Tori Allen. He is also survived by his siblings, Sally Diaz of Savona, Ruth (Mike) Credno of Baldwinsville, and Jimmie Diaz of San Francisco, CA as well as an aunt, many cousins and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents Joe Diaz, Sr. and Ruth (Smith) Diaz.

To honor and celebrate Joe’s life, a period of visitation will be held at the K.L. Sharp Funeral Home, Cincinnatus, NY, on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Memorial services for Joe will be held at the funeral home at the conclusion of the visitation at 12:00 p.m. with Reverend Will Gallerani officiating. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Joe may be directed to the NYS Veterans Home at Oxford , 4207 State Highway 220, Oxford, NY 13830 or to the Cincinnatus Emergency Squad, c/o Jeffrey Fox, P.O. Box 239, Cincinnatus, NY 13040.

His family would like to acknowledge the many nurses, doctors and staff who provided exceptional care at the NYS Veterans Home at Oxford and at Brookdale Eastside in Fayetteville, and to his friends and neighbors from the small town he loved so much for always keeping an eye out. To those, we will be forever grateful.