Mr. Joel J. Rhodes was born on July 19, 1931, in Manhattan in New York City to Florence Stella and Martin Rhodes. He died on July 24, 2025, at age 94. He was the warmest and most loving husband to his beloved wife Rosemarie for over 70 years who he dedicated his life to serving and honoring especially when she had a stroke in the early 1980's.

Mr. Rhodes was a successful Real Estate broker for 50 years and owned his own real estate company, Joel J. Rhodes Assoc. He was a Federal Receiver for government buildings and was appointed by his friend, Justice Constance Motley, the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge. He was a Notary Public and enjoyed serving his community.

Mr. Rhodes was an excellent and competitive tennis player which few people could beat, and he played throughout his life until he broke his hip in his 80's. He enjoyed going to the theatre, traveling, refurbishing antiques, sculpting, listening to jazz music, gardening, renovating his home which was formerly a barn, and reading a variety of fascinating books including topics pertaining to reincarnation by Edgar Cayce. He was aware of his responsibilities to do great things in this life knowing that he was born the seventh son and born in the seventh month. And he received his Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Business Administration later in life from California Coast University.

Mr. Rhodes was the father to two beautiful daughters Leslie and Lisa who he loved very much and whom he taught to play tennis, knowing it was a lifetime game and guaranteed to keep them socially active and healthy.

And he was the grandfather to his most cherished granddaughter Kyla who survived Strep B meningitis at 6 weeks of age. Mr. Rhodes believed every life was valuable and should be cherished. He cared about the suffering of children and wanted to contribute to their wellbeing.

Mr. Rhodes will be missed by all who knew him and loved him. He was a sincere, kind man with a big heart and very faithful. He was a United States Marine who served during the Korean War and worked in Air Traffic Control for a general.

He is survived by his wife Rosemarie, two daughters Leslie Rhodes and Lisa Rhodes-Ryabchich, a granddaughter Kyla Ryabchich and a nephew Steven Phillips.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday August 1, 2025, at 12:30pm followed by burial at Rockland Cemetery on Kings Highway in Sparkill, NY. Visiting hours will be Friday 10:30am -12pm. at Moritz Funeral Home in Tappan, NY.

The family requests that memorial donations instead of flowers be sent to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital .

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