Joseph A.F. Valenti died August 23, 2025 at the age of 88. The youngest child of the late Frank and Mary Valenti of Pittsford, he was a graduate of Aquinas Institute, St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, and St. John’s University School of Law.
He began his career in education at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, serving successively as Assistant Dean, Dean of Students, and Vice President of Administration under the presidency of Charles J. Lavery. In 1970, he was named a Post-doctoral Fellow of the American Council on Education and spent a year as Assistant to the President of Tulane University.
Alongside his work in academia, Joseph practiced law with the late Hon. John Manning Regan. In 1968, he was the lead plaintiff in a suit argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in Valenti v. Rockefeller, a landmark case testing the scope of the Seventeenth Amendment after the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
He later held a series of senior appointments in New York State government. Under Governor Hugh Carey, he served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Taxation and Finance and then as Commissioner of the Department of Civil Service. He was later named Director of the Office of Business Permits and Regulatory Reform under Governor Mario Cuomo and served as Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs at the New York State Power Authority. He was also appointed to the New York State Citizen’s Policy and Complaint Review Board, serving under both Governors M. Cuomo and George Pataki.
In addition to his government service, Joseph taught law and public administration at St. John Fisher College, SUNY Brockport, and Marist College. He was also past President of the St. Thomas More Lawyers Guild.
Joseph is survived by his wife of 58 years, Audrey, and his beloved children: Mary Jo, Anne (Stephen Johnson), Alphonse (Tara), Audrey, Joseph (Sarah), Matthew Presher and Shannon Gibson.
He leaves behind his greatest treasures, grandchildren Giuliana and Teresa Nojaim, Lila and Luke Johnson, Noah and Kate Valenti, Marco and Isaac Presher, and Maximilian, Alfred, and Desmond Valenti. Also survived by his cherished sister Virginia Iannessa, as well John (Sylvia), Jeffrey and Barbara Brodman (Gary Fleming). Fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was predeceased by siblings Alphonse (Flora), Frank (Barbara), Mary (Norm Bellows); brother-in-law Robert Iannessa; son-in-law David Nojaim; and granddaughter Phoebe.
Joseph will be remembered by family, colleagues, friends and students alike for his sharp intelligence, wry wit, deep faith, and unwavering commitment to God and country.
Mass of Christian Burial at Assumption Church in Fairport, Saturday, August 30 at 10 am. Arrangements made by Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home.
Charity donations to Barn For the Poorest of the Poor, 39 Bayberry Lane, Middletown, NJ 07748
23 responses to “Valenti, Joseph A.F.”
Dear Audrey,
So sorry to hear about Joe’s passing. Our deepest condolences go out to you and your entire family.
Dear Audrey,
I am so saddened to hear of Joe’s passing. Sending heartfelt condolences to you and your family while keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
❤️🙏
Julie Dapolito-Terrell
Anne & family,
I am so sorry to hear about your dad. After reading his obituary it sounds like he was an amazing man. My condolences go out to you and your family.
Audrey Al Tara Mary-joe Kate and Noah and family
Condolences to all the Valenti family. We were so fortunate to have met Joe on our recent trip to Al and Tara. He was an absolute gentleman so glad we got to meet you Joe rest in peace
Very sorry to hear this. RIP Uncle Joe.🙏
Anne,
My sincere condolences on the passing of your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time.
I first met Mr. Valenti in 1989 when he, Mrs. Valenti, and the rest of their warm and loving family invited me for the first of multiple Thanksgivings. I’d never met such a polymath before: he dazzled me with his knowledge of seemingly every subject.
Subsequently, every time I passed through Fairport he welcomed me to stay with open arms and a smile. I’ll miss his neighborliness and his extraordinary mind.
Greg “Slider” McFarlane
Dear Audrey, So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. The world has lost a special person.
God Bless our Aquinas Brother.
Dear Audrey and family, so sorry to learn of Joe’s passing. Our friendship was borne through the St. Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild, and as a past-President, I often leaned on Joe for his guidance. His commitment to the Catholic faith was unshakeable. Joe lived his life as the consummate Catholic scholar, lawyer, and most importantly, family gentleman.
There is no one in this world like Uncle Joe. He was a special man, one of a kind and he will be with us always.
Mr.Valenti was an absolute Icon. His son Joseph was my best childhood friend, & Uncle Joe to my children. Papa took me into his home , and treated me as tho I was a child of his own. I lived in that epic home for months at a time , on several occasions. The wisdom , kindness , and love he showed and taught me , have and forever will imprint my mind and soul. My children were blessed enough to meet him recently, and they simply knew , that this man was a Legend & Saint
Thank you Papa Valenti.. I love you more than words could ever express.
Joe Valenti is one of the finest public officials to serve in State Government in over 50 years.
A man of great intellect and integrity, his public life is a model of idealism for students striving to serve their community, state and nation in defense of and advocacy for democracy.
Tom Young
Audrey, I’m so sorry to hear of both your and families loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. May his memory be a blessing.
Heartfelt sympathy to Audrey, Anne, Stephen, Luke and Lila Johnson and the entire Valenti Family on the very sad passing of your Joseph. 🕊️
Remembering a gracious and good humoured host at Stephen and Anne’s wedding in Rochester. People always spoke so highly of your dad. May your memories bring you some comfort and may Joe rest peacefully and watch over you always. 🕊️
Thinking of you.
Tom and Cara Browne (nee McCarthy), Nohoval, County Cork, Ireland. Cousin of Stephen Johnson (Anne Valenti).
In the 1980’s, as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Taxation and Finance, Joseph Valenti, along with Tax Commissioner James Tully, began the transformation of that agency from a parochial, antiquated bureaucracy,rife with patronage and favoritism ,to the most efficient and effective organizations of its kind in the nation. He helped usher in an era of professionalism that defined Tax for the decades that followed.
Governors looked to Mr. Valenti for leadership for some of their most daunting tasks, but more significantly, he was respected by rank and file workers for his compassion.
While most will not associate Mr. Valenti’s contributions to the people of New York State with him, they will continue to be felt for generations.
Condolences to his friends and family and may he rest in peace.
Dear Anne, I am so sorry to hear of your father’s passing. He sounds like an amazing man who left you with some beautiful memories to cherish.
I met Mr. and Mrs. Valenti in 1985 when Al and I became friends in eighth grade. There was always a place at their kitchen table to sit down and chat, even as the years went by. I’ll remember Mr. Valenti’s humor, wit, kindness, encouragement, and lightheartedness. He had a great, infectious laugh that pushed any gloom of life away. He also exuded this enduring optimism about humanity, even though growing up Gen X, we were convinced the world was on the path to ruin. But he could laugh about that too, adding some keen and funny insights that supported our position of impending doom. Overall, I think he could find the humor because he ultimately believed in us, in people, in the future, and that everything would turn out OK. I think that fueled his enduring optimism, and I’ll always remember him for that.
Joe was one of the finest public servants I have ever met. He let me in on his motivation one day when I was working on a speech for him at the Civil Service Commission. He told me the story of his father working in a Pennsylvania coal mine when he first emigrated and how how his mother and father made a vow to speak only English when kids came in order
to give them a leg up in America. My mother came from a coal mining town as well, so I got Joe a piece of anthracite and put it on his desk saying “Never forget where you came from.” Joe never did. So when he walked the lofty halls of the State Capitol his philosophy on the dignity of work and how he “owed” public service because of the sacrifice of his parents and the opportunities provided by America always guided his actions. What a guy. What an example. What a life.
Condolences to all the family.
Karl…A wonderful remembrance. Joe was a very rare man…smart and kind, good at political organizing, better at making government responsive to people. Best to you and prayers for Joe. Bill C
When Joe ran for Student Council at Aquinas, he asked a few of us to play a bit of music for a rally in the school hallway outside of Fr. Klem’s homeroom, #219. We showed up with guitars and drums––and an untold number of students did also. We were later told that the dancing (?) and other bouncing and jumping that ensued actually cracked the building’s foundation. That has never been confirmed, but Joe did win his seat on the Student Council. My condolences to his family and other friends and relatives. He was one of the good guys.
Audrey, Marian and I offer our condolences for the loss of your partner, but you can take solace from the very interesting life that you and Joe had. I am honored to have known him,
Jim and Marian Brodman
Sincere condolences on behalf of all of us at the University of St. Michael’s College