Josiah Daniel Vitollo

It is with somber hearts, but not without the hope of resurrection, that we mourn the passing of Josiah Daniel Vitollo, our beloved son, brother, and uncle. Josiah had a personality that could electrify a room. Though faced with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, formerly called Wegener’s Granulomatosis, a potentially debilitating illness from early young adulthood, he was the picture of strength and perseverance based on unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. He embodied the charge “to be joyful and to do good…eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil” (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13). Many of us enjoyed his food and the passion he put into making it. After high school, he cooked at local establishments such as Pegasus Restaurant in Coxsackie, The Stewart House in Athens, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Albany, NY. As a young adult, he started his own business “Dress to Impress Entertainment” promoting upcoming stars to gain exposure and make a name for themselves. He was pure in heart, and though he surrounded himself with beautiful women, he respected them all. In his early thirties, he faithfully awaited God’s healing by attending dialysis in the morning and cooking for the Black Rose Irish Pub, Meats Eatery, and Original Fat Cats in Boca Raton, FL at night; the staff of which he considered to be more like family and friends than coworkers. He completed his final step toward a second kidney transplant just days before the Lord took him home.

He was loved by all, and leaves behind his mother, Debbie Fonseca; father, F. Joseph (Linda) Vitollo; grandmother, Rose Van Brunt; siblings, Rachael (Dennis) Gardner, David (Jaime) Vitollo, Tim (Tara) Vitollo, Rebekah (George) Bray, and Johannah (Ryan) Lepage; 18 nephews and nieces; as well as a large extended family. He is predeceased by grandfathers John Vitollo, John Van Brunt, and Frank Fonseca; grandmother Mary Fonseca, uncle John Vitollo, and aunt Diane Neal. 

We would like to recognize the Mako family, who cared for many of Josiah’s needs when we could not. We also want to recognize honorary family members Ryan Daoust, his best and most loyal friend, as well as Susan, EJ, and Carrie O’Connor, with whom he lived for some time, and Brad and Vince from Original Fat Cats who were always there for him. 

A service to celebrate Josiah’s life will take place at Gospel Community Church in Coxsackie, NY on October 12th at 1:30 p.m. with refreshments to follow. 

There will also be a celebration of life at Original Fat Cats in Boca Raton, FL on October 14th at 8 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the http://vasculitisfoundation.org