CRISTINA - Joseph R., Jr.
Of Lancaster, NY a professor emeritus
and former department head for the
Civil Engineering and construction
Technology Department at Erie
Community College - North Campus
died Wednesday, September 29, 2021,
after a long illness. He was 91. Born in
Fredonia, N.Y., his father taught him the
bricklaying trade. While in high school
he was selected to the Southwestern
All Star Conference Football Team (first
team). He graduated from Canisius
College in 1953 with a bachelor of
science degree in chemistry. He was in
the US Army Signal Corps from 1953
to 1955 and served in South Korea. He
graduated with a bachelor of science
degree in civil engineering from Tri-
State University in Indiana in 1958. He
received his master's in education from
University of Buffalo in 1969. He
worked for Stone and Webster
Construction of Boston, Mass as a field
engineer at the Niagara Mohawk power
station in Dunkirk, N. Y. He then was
employed at the Alco Products Co.
as a stress analyst on unfired nuclear
pressure vessels. He was employed in
the civil engineering and construction
technology department at Erie
Community College from 1963 to 1995.
During that period of time he served as
department head for 20 years. After
his retirement from ECC in 1995, he
continued his part time employment
at Hartman Engineering. He was an
Eucharistic minister and a member of
the collection counters committee at our
Lady of Pompeii Church. He was given
a life membership to the American
Concrete Institute of WNY and was a
past member of the Structural Clinic
of Buffalo. His wife, of 48 years,
Dorothy Vande Velde Cristina died
in 2004. Survivors include BethAnn
(Alan) Goldsmith, Karen (Raymond)
Sanner, Joseph (Debbie) Cristina III,
Judith (George Roll) Andrews, Linda
(Ron) Witt and Mary Cody; loving
grandfather of 16 grandchildren and
five great-grandchildren; also survived
by a brother Anthony and many nieces
and nephews. He was preceded in
death by his parents Joseph and Lucy
Cristina, a brother James and a son-inlaw
George Andrews. The family will
be present Friday, October 1, from 3-7
PM at the WEDNEL AND LOECHER,
INC., FUNERAL HOME, 27 Aurora
St., Lancaster. Friends are invited
to attend a mass of Christian Burial
Saturday morning at 10 AM, at Our
Lady of Pompeii Church, Lancaster.
Please assemble at church. Burial will
be at St. Adalbert Cemetery on Broadway  in
Lancaster. In Lieu of flowers donations
may be made to St. Columban's on the
Lake Retirement Home, 2546 Lake Ave.
Silver Creek, NY 14136. Condolences
at www.wendelandloecherinc.com