Joseph Allen Titmus December 07, 1889 - August 27, 1947


   husband, father, grand-father, great grand-father and man of his community.

Obituary taken from New York Times September 1947

    Town Trustee Joseph A. Titmus Dies Suddenly at Mastic, Home Republican Nominee for Board of Assessors Stricken, Ill Tuesday Night (August 27, 1947), Died Following Morning at Age of 57; Prominent in Duck Raising Business.  Joseph A. Titmus, aged 57, a trustee of Brookhaven town and recent  Republican  nominee for a post on the Board of assessors died suddenly at his home on Montauk Highway Mastic yesterday morning. He was stricken ill suddenly Tuesday night and died the following morning  at 10  o'clock. Coronary thrombosis brought on by acute indigestion was  given as the cause of  death by Dr. Samuel Gelband of Mastic who attended  him. Born in New York he moved over 40  years ago to Mastic where he was engaged in duck raising. He was a partner in the Swift Stream farms,  Inc., Moriches. Keenly interested in politics he served as president of the Mastic  Republican club, Republican Club Presidents' Ass. and as  Republican  committeeman for the area as well as trustee and nominee for  the board of assessors. He was a past president of the Long Island Duck Growers group, the secretary-treasurer of the Moriches Board of Education, Sunday School Superintendent, a member of the Board of trustees, superintendent of the  Sunday School and Elder of the Center Moriches Presbyterian Church; a Republican county committeeman for more than 20  years; past Noble Grand of Warretta Lodge of  the Odd Fellows of Center  Moriches, and was active in the Boy Scout movement in this vicinity.   He  also belonged to  the Potunk lodge Westhampton Beach, No.1071 of the Free and Accepted Masons, being a 33rd degree mason, the  Wimset Temple In Brooklyn and the Patchogue Elks. He was at the time of his death president of the Mastic Community Church, the Mastic Taxpayers  Association, the Mastic Playground Committee, the Mastic Community Youth Club; secretary of the  Mastic Fire Company and a commissioner of the Mastic Fire District.    His civic concern for his home community of Mastic was great. One of the last community betterment projects he helped foster was the first playground in the area, the Mastic Recreation field, having presided over it's dedication services only last Fourth of July.  As one of the founders of the Mastic Playground Committee, he contributed the use of property to the town, rent free, for playground purposes .
    Surviving are his wife; the former Gertrude MacGregor a daughter Mrs. Alice Lukert of Moriches; and a son, Joseph MacGregor Titmus of Mastic; also two brothers, James and Henry Titmus, both of East Moriches; three  sisters,  Mrs.Emily Dilge of Patchogue,  Mrs. Emma Federico of Center Moriches, and Mrs.Mary Palermo of Bellport; and three grand children. Funeral services, at which the trustees of Brookhaven Town will act as  honorary pallbearers, will be held at 2 pm Saturday with  the  Rev.  George C. Fort officiating. Members of  the Mastic-Fire department will  act as pallbearers. Masonic services will be held at the grave Saturday afternoon. The body  will lie in state at the Presbyterian church, Center Moriches, until  services are held. Interment will  in the Mount Pleasant  cemetery, Center Moriches


Shown here circa 1938 is the Joseph A. Titmus Orchestra at Schulte's Tavern, Mastic Beach , in it's scaled down size. The Titmus Orchestra once had 9 pieces playing for the crowds at the tavern. Joseph Allen Titmus (standing right) was the leader and drummer. He was also a community leader in Mastic. His wife Gertrude is on the piano. Gertrude was also the organist at Moriches Presbyterian Church for 75 years. The "Joe" on the sax is their son Joseph MacGregor Titmus.  On the Tuba  is Jack Haun(sp?). The last names of George and Russ are not known yet.  - Picture and information from Ken Spooner of "The Knapps Lived Here" - a great site filled with some wonderful Mastic Beach history and images.