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"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Ayn Rand

Joseph Tinnirello was a noted and long practicing architect with many extraordinary works, both large and small, in the tri-state area. As a boy, Joe read Ayn Rand's Fountainhead and decided then to become an architect. As an artist, he was always inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, whose work can be seen above. Chris, Joy, Doug, and Mike grew up with production sketches and maquettes by artists like Noguchi, Miro, Moore, Nevelson, and many others -- the way some folks grow up with Norman Rockwell prints and garden statues. The spectacular Wright-inspired home he designed for the family still stands at 585 West Street in Harrison and is still magnificent. When Joe and Rosalie lived there, he maintained the gardens so perfectly that the children could proudly take their wedding photos there among the flower beds, the waterfall, and lily pond.

Joe was also a proud Marine Corps veteran who worked in Topography, stateside, during the Korean Conflict. He married Rosalie, defied his father by going to college instead of working in the family soda shop, and completed his B.A. at Pratt Institute in four years of night classes, while working full-time during the day and starting a family.

Joe had a big hand in the design of PepsiCo World Headquarters in Purchase. He worked for Edward Durell Stone, who said Joe Tinnirello was the finest architect and draftsman (pre-CAD!) he had ever seen. Joe oversaw the entire top to bottom project, and this work defined the latter half of his career. He flew around the world for Pepsi, purchasing the magnificent works of art in the Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens, overseeing their selection, shipment, and installations. He was so valued there that, upon completion of the gardens, Joe was hired by PepsiCo to oversee the continued art purchases and landscaping of the art collections and sculpture gardens.

Joe left PepsiCo to own an art gallery and private architecture practice, at which he created some of the loveliest homes that still stand in Westchester and Fairfield. He designed the new (now 20+ years old) Tennis House at Westchester Country Club and also designed the Westchester Country Club Beach Club renovation. He was also a long-time member, an avid and talented golfer, was on the Governor's Board for WCC, and even won several golf titles there. Later in life, he and Rosalie got particular pleasure from that club, dining with friends at The Grill weekly; the staff would gather around to check on Joe and share hugs and good wishes, making him smile and giving Rosalie the friendship and needed reprieve from the daily journey of getting Joe through the days.

Joe enjoyed family time and reveled in his grandchildren, having good visits even with his limited speech and movement.

Rosalie has been a rock throughout his many years of physical hardships. We are relieved Dad no longer suffers, and are happy he is reunited with the many loved ones who have gone before him.

The family has designated the Fund for Pratt

A gift to The Fund for Pratt supports the Institute's top priorities: financial aid and scholarships, faculty support, and innovative programming and curriculum development that are part of Pratt's unmatched educational experience.

https://giving.pratt.edu/?_ga=2.5331888.2073728138.1519695845-298642948.1519695845