Joseph Gregory Procopio

Hillsborough – Joseph Gregory Procopio, age 79, died on January 14, 2021. He was born on September 21, 1941 to the late Angeline and Gregory Procopio.

Joseph graduated from Rome Free Academy in Rome, N.Y., in 1959, and earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. He also studied under scholarship at the Music Conservatory in Milan, Italy.

From 1965 to 1988, Joseph was the Music Department Chairman for the Cazenovia (N.Y.) Central School District. While there, he founded and organized the biannual Cazenovia in Concert at the Mulroy Civic Center in Syracuse, N.Y., repeatedly selling out one of the largest stages in Central New York to showcase Cazenovia High School talent.

From 1988 to until his retirement in 1993, Joseph was the Director of Instrumental Music at Chapel Hill (N.C.) High School. From 2001 to 2004, he was an instructor at College of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City, N.C.

Joseph was a renowned instrumentalist, composer, and conductor. He frequently performed with or conducted orchestra for nationally-known artists, including Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, and Frankie Lane. Two of his compositions are listed in “150 Years of Music For Saxophone,” by Jean-Marie Londeix, alongside Giacomo Puccini and Sergei Prokofiev. As a student in 1963, Joseph conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Joseph was a devout Catholic, often attending daily mass, and regularly involved with his parish. He often inspired former students, friends, and others to find or rediscover their faith in Christ. Throughout his life, he adored his wife, children, and grandchildren, and he remained close to his mother, his brother, and his extended family.

Joseph Procopio is survived by his wife of 52 years, Frances Elaine Procopio; his son, Joe Procopio and wife, Allison; his daughter, Diane Todd and her husband, Will; his son, Mike Procopio; his son, Pete Procopio and wife, Lauren; and his seven grandchildren, Lydia, Emma, Joey, Mary, Wilson, Lilly, and Pete. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, Angeline and Gregory Procopio, and his brother, Gregory Frank Procopio.

A funeral Mass will take place at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Hillsborough on January 20, 2021 at 1:30pm.

The Procopio family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.