Obituary

Francis R. Emma of Cedarhurst, 79

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To the family and friends of longtime Cedarhurst resident Francis R. Emma, he was a man that entertained others with his wit and sense of humor. Emma died at his home on March 5. He was 79. 

Born on March 23, 1942, Emma grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan with his sister, Marie, and parents Paul and Elizabeth. He attended high school at a vocational school named Machine and Metal Trades in East Harlem. He earned a degree in architecture from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn in 1963. Being an architect was his career, this included running his own firm from his Cedarhurst home.

Emma would meet his future wife, Elaine Friedman, in Brooklyn when he was a teenager. They would get married on June 11, 1964. After serving in the United States Army, Emma and Elaine moved to Cedarhurst in 1975 where they would raise their daughter Jessica. He would live in Cedarhurst for the remainder of his life.

Emma’s nephew, Adam Figueroa, recalled his uncle having an affinity for the architecture surrounding the five boroughs. “He was a fan of New York City buildings and loved pointing out who designed them,” Figueroa said. “If you walked with him, he would refer to the types of roof trim and what era they were designed in. He was a fanatic for the artistry of how the city came to be.”

Figueroa said that his uncle always appreciated being from the Lower East Side. “He embodied the Lower East Side from head to toe,” he said. “He always had an affinity for the old neighborhoods and the food vendors there. He loved the energy and banter among the people.”

When he was not working, Emma enjoyed carpentry, gardening, fishing and long outdoor walks. He also enjoyed sharing good home cooked meals with family and friends. “His creative eye and attention to detail established him to have a long and fulfilling career,” Adam said. “He just enjoyed the process of designing.”

A funeral was held for Emma on March 10 at St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Cedarhurst. He is interred at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

“Everyone was constantly entertained by his wit and sense of humor,” Adam added. “He will forever be in our hearts.”