He went all out with everything....

Joseph Anthony Longobardo was a devoted family member to both the Longobardo and LeMere families. He was considered a man with many hats and a friend to all he knew. Although he was a quiet and humble person, those who knew him understood the meaning of determination and perseverance held deep within him.

From a very young age "Joey" was interested and intrigued with the overall persona that a State Trooper had to uphold. The challenges, risk, and sacrifices one must make in order to achieve that level of respect was something that he wanted and was determined to earn. "He was happy being a Trooper, but Joe had to be the very best...."

Joining the Mobile Response Team was only a small piece of representing one of the finest. He would watch at state fairs as State Police demonstrations were taking place...this is what he was born to do. He would not have had it any other way.

We knew he loved Teri because he married her twice; once at a small family reception, in GayleÕs backyard, and another under God at a church ceremony in Queensbury. He recited his vows each time with honor and loyalty to Teri promising her that he would always be there to protect her....

The birth of his son, Louis Martin, was a proud day for Joe because he knew that the morals and values he had would be instilled in Louis and would live on long after he did.

Joe will always be in our hearts and his heroism will not be forgotten. He made the ultimate sacrifice while doing what he loved.

Joseph Anthony Longobardo the son of Anthony and Gayle Longobardo was born on May 24, 1974. He grew up in Amsterdam, NY with his younger sister Dawn Marie Longobardo. He attended Marie Curie Eastside Elementary School and was a graduate of Amsterdam High School in 1992. He was a graduate of Schenectady County Community College and the American Military Institute, receiving a Bachelors of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, with honors.

In 1992, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing boot camp and advanced training, he was assigned to Embassy Duty providing high level personal protection to dignitaries at various posts including Pakistan and Uruguay. His decorations and awards included the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Navy-Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Rifle Expert Badge, Pistol Expert Badge, and numerous letters of appreciation and meritorious mast. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as a Sergeant in January of 1997.

Joe was currently serving with the 109th Airlift Wing as a Master Sergeant in the Security Forces Squadron at Stratton Air Force Base in Scotia. While serving, he participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. He was also a member of the U.S. Air Force Security Forces Phoenix Raven, a unit that responds to critical incidents worldwide.

Trooper Joseph A. Longobardo entered the New York State Police Academy on November 2, 1998. Although his first year was spent in Troop K at Dover Plains, most of his time with the State Police was spent in Troop G, assigned to the Fonda barracks on Route 5S in Fultonville. During his 8-year career, Joe received numerous commendations for his investigations and arrests. He was awarded the Troop G Zone 3 Trooper of the Year Award for 2004. He also was a Field Training Officer for probationary troopers who had just graduated from the State Police Academy as well as a Defensive Tactics Instructor for recruits in the academy.

Although he wore many different hats that kept him out of the station and off the road on a regular basis, he generally led his fellow troopers in arrests--DWI, drugs, misdemeanors and felonies. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Joe was recalled to active duty in the New York Air National Guard for approximately a year and a half, once again filling in wherever needed. In 2006, Joe was one of four troopers assigned to Troop G who were selected to join the elite Mobile Response Team, also known as the MRT. He graduated from the six-month MRT training session in June of this year.

Besides his parents, who survive him, he was a very loving husband to his wife of four years, Teri E. Longobardo, who wed on Sept. 7, 2002, and a devoted dad to his 13-month-old son, Louis M. Longobardo, both of Middle Grove; along with his sister, Dawn Longobardo of Amsterdam; father-in-law and mother-in-law Terry and Suzanne LeMere of Saratoga Springs, brother-in-laws Timothy LeMere & Thomas LeMere, and sister-in-law Trisha LeMere.