A Long Island Legacy: Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr.

Basic Information

Roots and Early Years

Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr. entered the world on August 4, 1930, in the tight-knit neighborhoods of Nassau County on Long Island. The son of Joseph V. Knipfing Sr. and Helen Josephine (née Wolf), he grew up in a post-Depression era that prized perseverance and practical ambition. Long Island’s suburban hum—church bells, little league chatter, block associations, and corner businesses—formed the soundtrack of his youth, shaping a civic-minded temperament that would carry through his life.

By the early 1960s, Joseph’s path had led to a partnership with both place and person. On February 4, 1961, he married Janet B. Klein, a match that would anchor the family’s story for decades. Their home life measured time in milestones: a growing business, school plays, holidays crowded around the dinner table, and the occasional comic spark from two sons discovering their voices.

Building a Business, Serving a Community

For more than thirty years, Joseph ran an insurance agency on Long Island. It was the kind of business that thrived on relationships—renewals answered with a handshake, claims handled with empathy, and advice given with a steady hand. Insurance, to him, was not just a product; it was a promise. He saw clients as neighbors, and neighbors as the fabric of the community he loved.

His civic footprint stretched through parish halls and meeting rooms. He was an active member of the Holy Name Society, participated in the Young Republican Club, and engaged regularly with industry associations like the Independent Insurance Agents and various Agents Insurance Councils. These affiliations were not badges for a résumé; they were his way of ensuring the systems around him worked better—more fairly, more transparently, more attuned to everyday needs.

Family Ties and Entertainment’s Gentle Echo

Joseph and Janet raised three children: Gary Joseph (later known to audiences as comedian Gary Valentine), Kevin George (better known worldwide as Kevin James), and their daughter, Leslie. While Joseph’s professional home was the measured world of risk and protection, two of his children stepped onto brightly lit stages. Their success brought national attention to a family that had long been rooted in local tradition.

There’s a gentle symmetry here: a father who spent decades underwriting the uncertainties of life, and sons who turned its paradoxes into laughter. Gary and Kevin often drew on Long Island rhythms—the cadence of neighborhood characters, the patter of everyday banter—to shape their comedic voices. In that sense, Joseph’s steady presence was an invisible line in their scripts: the certainty behind the jokes, the gravity that makes levity glow.

Kevin’s family extended Joseph’s legacy across another generation. With his wife, Steffiana de la Cruz, Kevin became a father to four children, making Joseph a proud grandfather many times over. Holidays grew bigger, stories grew longer, and the family tree welcomed new branches.

A Snapshot: Family Overview

Milestones and Moments

The Work Behind the Scenes

Insurance work rarely earns headlines, yet it touches nearly every household. Joseph’s commitments to professional groups—Independent Insurance Agents and Agents Insurance Councils—reflect a dedication to policies that are fair, clearly structured, and responsive in times of stress. These were not just institutional memberships; they were a craftsman’s guilds, the places where standards are sharpened and best practices shared.

In parish halls through the Holy Name Society, he found community and purpose. In political clubs, he joined discussions that shaped local priorities. Across each arena, Joseph practiced a modest but enduring habit: showing up, listening closely, and taking responsibility.

A Local Life with National Echoes

Though most of Joseph’s story unfolded within the local orbit of Long Island, its echoes reached national audiences through his sons. When Kevin James and Gary Valentine spoke about family, they often conjured images familiar to many: supportive parents, a close-knit home, and the humor that springs naturally from sibling dynamics and everyday routines. Joseph’s steady presence—the anchor in the harbor—helped transform that domestic cadence into something that resonated far beyond the neighborhood.

His life is a reminder that legacies are not only built by high peaks but by well-tended plains. The daily work of a small business owner, the unglamorous rigor of community service, the quiet guidance of a parent—these are the load-bearing beams of families and towns. Joseph held those beams with care.

Civic and Professional Footprint

Remembrance and Reflection

Joseph’s passing on January 30, 2006, drew friends, family, and colleagues back to the rooms where he had traded stories and counsel for years. His legacy lives in the marriages, careers, and grandchildren that carry his name and values forward. Above all, it endures in the simple, sturdy habits that define a life well lived: show up, serve generously, keep your word.

FAQ

Who was Joseph Valentine Knipfing Jr.?

He was a Long Island insurance agency owner and community member, widely recognized as the father of comedians Kevin James and Gary Valentine.

When and where was he born?

He was born on August 4, 1930, in Nassau County on Long Island, New York.

Whom did he marry?

He married Janet B. (Klein) on February 4, 1961, and they built a family rooted in Long Island traditions.

How many children did he have?

He had three children: Gary Joseph (Gary Valentine), Kevin George (Kevin James), and Leslie.

What was his profession?

He owned and operated an insurance agency for over three decades, serving local families and businesses.

Was he involved in community organizations?

Yes, he participated in the Holy Name Society, the Young Republican Club, and insurance industry associations.

How is he connected to entertainment?

Two of his children, Gary Valentine and Kevin James, became well-known actors and comedians.

Did he have grandchildren?

Yes, he had multiple grandchildren through Kevin James and his wife, Steffiana de la Cruz.

When did he pass away?

He died on January 30, 2006, at the age of 75.

What stands out about his legacy?

His enduring commitment to family, faith, community service, and the quiet craft of a neighborhood business.