Joe Meade lived with one hand out and the other on your shoulder, friends said Wednesday.
“I’d run into him on the street, he always had a hand out, ‘Hey mayor, what’re you doin?’” said Hammondsport Village Mayor Emery Cumm-ings. “He was always joking.”
Joseph F. Meade, Jr., died at his East Lake Road home Friday. He was 88.
“It’s a big loss, to the community,” Cummings said. “And to me. I’ve lost a personal friend.”
According to Cummings, Meade – along with his wife, Helen – was a treasure to their community. Helen Meade died Jan. 14, also at the couple’s home. They had been married 67 years.
“We’ve lost one of our greatest assets,” Cummings said. “Not only by having a successful business, employing so many people, not just the financial aspect. It’s what they’ve done over the years.”
A 1939 graduate of Hammondsport High School, Meade had an enduring impact on the community, as a businessman, military hero, civic leader and philanthropist.
While attending Alfred University, he began work in the engineering department of the family business, Mercury Aircraft. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-45, earning both a Purple Heart and the Silver Star.
In 1950, he became president of Mercury, and remained in that position until 1987, when he became chairman of the board.
Meade also had a hand in projects to benefit others, starting a charitable foundation and serving as president of Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital. As president, Meade oversaw the construction of the new building on State Route 54, which opened in 1960.
He also helped rebuild other businesses, acquiring the Taylor and Pleasant Valley/Great Western wineries. Pleasant Valley is now owned by Michael Doyle.
“He was a wonderful man,” Doyle said. “Joe cast a long shadow, but very quietly. He just wanted to do the right thing. He was a class guy. I certainly will miss him.”
In addition to the hospital board, Meade was the longest active member of the Glenwood Club, in terms of membership, a member of the Urbana Lodge of Masons, past-president of the Hammondsport Rotary Club, long-time member of the Bath Country Club, founding member of the World Business Council, and past member of the Young Presidents Org.
Topping all of Meade’s civic enterprises is the Glenn H. Curtiss Aviation Museum.
Museum Director Traf Doherty said Meade was a pivotal member of the museum board, first working to move it to its current location on State Route 54, then adding to the museum’s Curtiss memorabilia.
“He got the reproduction of (Curtiss’ first airplane) the June Bug built back in the 1970s,” Doherty said. “The C47 in front of the museum now, he got that from the Smithsonian.”
Doherty said the museum may be Meade’s most lasting memorial.
“He was a visionary,” Doherty said.
“His legacy will live on forever,” Cummings said. “I just hope the community will pick up and carry on with his dreams.”
Cummings paused, then added, “He dreamed big.”
Survivors include his daughter Marcia Coon of Hammondsport, sons Joseph F. “Bud” Meade III, of Hammondsport, David Meade of Cooper City, Fla., and a sister, Jeanette Waterstraat of Lake Placid, Fla.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the Curtiss Museum, with a reception to follow.
Arrangements are by the LaMarche Funeral Home, 35 Main St. Hammondsport.
Hammondsport, N.Y. —
