FRANKFORT- Mr. Joseph J. "Joe" Grippe, of 4164 Acme Road, Frankfort, husband of the late Mary Alice (Cobb) Grippe, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday afternoon, December 5, 2010 peacefully at Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare, New Hartford on his 86th birthday. At the time of his passing he had the love and support of the entire Grippe family at his bedside. The son of Philip and Frances (Cuomo) Grippe, Joe was born in Frankfort, NY on December 5, 1924. A lifelong resident of Frankfort, Joseph was a communicant of the Roman Catholic Community of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles. He attended Frankfort High School. Mr. Grippe and his wife Mary Alice (Cobb) of Ilion were united in marriage June 19, 1948 at Annunciation Church in Ilion. Mary Alice preceded him in death on September 29, 2008 after 60 beautiful years of marriage together. Mr. Grippe's earliest employment included that of Parts Manager of Chain Saws for Burrill Saw & Tool Works, Mohawk, NY for sixteen years (1940-1956), Production Control and Dispatcher with Sperry Rand Corp., Ilion, NY (1956-1959), and Paper Supervisor of Doeskin Sitrue Paper Company in New Hartford, NY (1959-1962). He furthered his education by taking several business management courses and held Certificates of Completion from the Institute of Management Affairs, Inc., Dale Carnegie Institute, and the Curriculum of the State of New York Small Business Management Program. In 1962, the firm of J. Grippe Industrial Supply Co., Inc. in Frankfort was established by Mr. Grippe and his wife Mary Alice. The business had its beginnings in the cellar of their home, supplying all types of quality cutting tools to local and national industries including accounts in Florida. The company was one of the original industrial supply companies in New York State. Mr. Grippe served as President and later as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Grippe was a past member of the Purchasing Management Association of Utica, Rome and the Mohawk Valley, also of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and of the New York State Industrial Supply Associates.He will always be remembered as an outstanding musician and as an orchestra and band leader. He organized in 1940 and led for many years the eighteen piece Top Hatters Orchestra, playing dances, weddings and concerts throughout Central New York, including numerous schools and colleges. From age seven, his instrument was the clarinet, and later became an accomplished tenor saxophone player. At age seven, Mr. Grippe was the youngest band director in New York State of a volunteer fireman band. He had succeeded the late A.V. (Paddy) Sutton in 1957 as director of the Ilion Volunteer Fireman Marching and concert 60 piece Band. He was one of the founders and Assistant Director of the Frankfort Veteran's Band. Mr. Grippe in 1944 had the honor under William Schachel of the Kiwanis band at age seventeen (17) playing in 1940 at the New York Festival of Music at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It was a great happiness for Mr. Grippe when alternating weekly with Sammy Niles, Remington Typewriter, band directing and entertaining upwards of 2000 people every Wednesday at the summer concerts in Russell Park in Ilion, NY. With his semi-retirement from the family business, Mr. Grippe turned his energetic drive to physical fitness and relaxation in Florida, where he and Mary Alice designed and built their winter residence. Mr. Grippe made many, many wonderful friends in Florida, was a member of the Moose Club and brought much joy to people as he dressed up for various holidays to spread good cheer and fun to many. Survivors of Mr. Grippe include his ten children; Gary Grippe and his wife Sylvia, Jody Grippe and his wife Mary Jean, Kimberly Grippe and Roy, Karen Rumrill and her husband Garry, Jack Grippe and Suzanne, Wendy Button and her husband John, Crystal Reina and her husband Rick, Mary Alfano and her husband Joe, Brian Grippe and his wife Marie, and Bridget Foti and her husband John. Also, he is survived by 41 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren, a brother, Tony Grippe & wife Arlene, and a sister, Evelyn Harte of Frankfort; a brother in-law Gene Cobb and his wife Martha (Schuyler), in addition, many Nieces, nephews, cousins, God Children and good friends. Mr. Grippe was predeceased by his parents (Philip & Frances), 3 brothers; Samuel, Louis & Frank Grippe and 3 sisters; Marie Grippe & Florence Cushman & Grace Grippe; also by one grandson, Christian Celi and one great granddaughter, Sophia Grace Foti. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 from 2-4 and 5-9 p.m. at the Enea Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road, town of Frankfort, 315-894-8000. Mr. Grippe's funeral will commence on Thursday, Dec. 9th from the chapel of the funeral home where a prayer service will take place at 1:00 p.m. and A Mass of Christian Burial from Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church, Frankfort will be held at 2:00 p.m. with the Very Rev. Anthony Barratt officiating assisted by Deacon James Bower. The Grippe family is being served by Daniel J. Enea, funeral director. In lieu of floral tributes please consider a memorial contribution to the Joseph J. Grippe Musical Scholarship Fund; envelopes will be available at the funeral parlor. Procession will follow to Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frankfort where he will be laid to rest with his beloved wife. To add to the online memorial or light an online candle of remembrance go to www.eneafamily.com on the Internet.