Joseph C. Meaders

U.S. Marine Corps
1951 - 1953

Joseph Charles Meaders was born in 1931 in New Brighton, Staten Island. He was raised in Mariners Harbor, with five brothers and five sisters on a dead end street. He played baseball and rode his bike with his friends. He and all of his brothers were creative and loved building and fixing things. All of the siblings enjoyed going to Cromwell Center and Goodhue. They also enjoyed bowling, shopping on Port Richmond Avenue. He also attended and graduated from PS 44, and Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education
High School.

He followed the family military tradition like his five other brothers. [Louis Jr. - Navy, Alex – Navy, Thomas – Army, Richard – Navy, and Robert – Air Force]. He joined the Marine Corps in 1951, stationed at Air Station Cherry Point. The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing there operates aircraft in support of worldwide personnel transport for the Department of Defense. In 1954 after his service in the Marine Corps, he followed four of
his brothers and joined the NYPD. He was assigned to the 63rd Precinct in Brooklyn.

In 1956, he married Muriel. They met at a hospital where she worked in Brooklyn near his precinct. They had one daughter, Kim. He now also has a granddaughter and a grandson. He liked woodworking and ceramics. He made a chest of drawers for his sister Shirley, and for his sister Dorothy a set of four plates, cups and saucers as well as a sled with reindeer.

Joseph also loved riding motorcycles; he had a Honda. He inspired two of his younger brothers to also become motorcycle enthusiasts and to purchase Hondas. He frequently returned to S.I. to visit family, friends, and to check on his mother. He is fondly remembered for being a good cop; his warmth, and love for his family.

NYPD P.O. Joseph C. Meaders was killed in the line of duty on October 22, 1972. In October 2022, to mark the 50th anniversary of his sacrifice was celebrated when the intersection of Brooklyn Avenue and Avenue ‘J’ steps from the 63rd precinct was dedicated as ‘Officer Joseph C. Meaders Avenue’.

Submitted by Dorothy Meaders-Moody. Sponsored by Lisa Wallace