Both Served Country And Community
Two Maspeth residents will get a little extra recognition this Memorial Day Weekend during a ceremony at Maspeth Memorial Park on Sunday, May 26, to honor their service in the military.
Donald Steinmaker and Joseph Romano will be honored at a ceremony to be held at 2 p.m. at the corner of 69th Street and Grand Avenue- immediately after the Maspeth Memorial Day Parade.
Donald Steinmaker
Steinmaker was born in Brooklyn to Peter and Mildred Steinmaker. It wasn’t long until the family moved to Maspeth. Donald attended P.S. 86 and Queens Vocational School before enlisting in the U.S. Army at Camp Kilmer and Camp Polk, La. The Korean War was in full swing, and Donald entered the fray as a rifleman in Company C of the Third Infantry Di- vision’s 65th Regiment.
Steinmaker comes from a family of veterans. His brother served in the Navy during World War II. His maternal great-grandfather, William Eckert, aided Union efforts in the Civil War, fighting for the Maryland Infantry and sustaining injuries at the Battle of Sailor’s Run in Virginia. When Eckert recuperated, he returned to Brooklyn.
After his army days, Donald had his own homecoming, returning to Maspeth and marrying Adrienne Jusza. The couple had three daugh- ters: Jane, Judith and Audrey. The family has since expanded to include seven grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
Donald has been active in the community his whole life. He volunteered at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, where he is also a parishioner. HesamemberoftheSonsof the Civil War and an organizer for the United Veterans and Fraternal Organization of Maspeth.
Donald’s military awards include the Combat Infantry Badge, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.
Joseph Romano
Joseph Romano was born in Co- rona, and at the age of 17, he convinced his father to allow him to enlist in the Navy. The date: January 1945.
After finishing a stint in the Navy, Joseph returned to New York to work for the U.S. Postal Service and as director of security for St. Joseph Hospital. During this time, he married his wife of 64 years, Mildred, and had two sons: James and Thomas.
After losing his job at St. Joseph Hospital, Romano struggled to find suitable employment.
The memory of salt air, steady work, job satisfaction and family stability attracted Joseph back to the Navy, where he worked until retiring in 1988 with 26 years of service and the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Joseph, too, has been an asset to the community. He served as parish president and president of the Holy Name Society for St. Anislaus and coached the school’s Catholic Youth League baseball team. He has been the grand knight of Maspeth’s Knights of Columbus, Cardinal Spellman Council for years and has been with the organization for half a century.
He is also an active member of the Catholic War Veterans, the Tin Can Sailors and the Disabled American Veterans, and he supports the Wounded Warriors Vets.
Joseph and Mildred currently have three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
