Obituaries

Joseph Edward Yakaboski Jr.

Former Riverhead resident Joseph Edward Yakaboski, Jr. of St. Augsutine, Fla. died March 15, 2014 as the result of injuries sustained in an accident. He was 65. 

Mr Yakaboski was born April 24, 1948, in Riverhead and was the son of Hazelle and Joseph E. Yakaboski Sr.He attended Riverhead schools and in his younger years was employed for various businesses, including a tire company, ice company, and also as a school bus driver. He then worked at Grumman Aircraft in Calverton before transferring to the St. Augustine, Fla. facility, where he worked until his retirement.

According to family members, Mr. Yakaboski’s  favorite hobby was building and driving race cars. He drove at Riverhead Raceway for several years and was particularly successful in the Figure 8 races. In his retirement years, he built several hot rods and racing cars, winning a trophy for one of the hot rods, “The Rat Rod”.

Mr. Yakaboski is survived by his son Joseph Edward Yakaboski, III of St. Augustine, Fla; his daughter Tracey; four grandsons; three great-granddaughters and two sisters, Carol Smith and Joel Elio.

Funeral arrangements were handled by Craig Funeral Home in St. Augustine.