Joseph William Kochenderfer of Havre de Grace, MD, died July 12. Born May 8, 1934, in Lewistown, PA, he was the son of William and Alleane (Swain) Kochenderfer and the husband of Sara, nee Burlew,
whom he married in 1956.

He was a military veteran who served with the 92 nd Engineer Battalion, US Army, at Ft. Bragg, NC, from November 1954 to September 1956. He graduated magna cum laude from Gettysburg
College in 1958 with a BA in mathematics and membership in Phi Beta Kappa.

After one year as a public school teacher, he began employment with the Department of the Army at the Ballistics Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He was a mathematician/manager in the
Firing Tables Branch of the Launch and Flight Division from 1959 until his retirement in 1988. In this capacity, he was engaged in the development of aiming data for all classes of Army projectiles, including short-range rockets and missiles.

While raising his four children, he became involved in various activities of the Havre de Grace Recreation Council. He coached boys' soccer for five years, girls' basketball for three years, and was
program manager and coach of the girls' softball program for six years. He also served as an assistant with Little League of Havre de Grace.

He loved the City of Havre de Grace and was deeply involved in City issues. He was a member of the Havre de Grace Planning and Zoning Commission for 19 years, serving as chairman for seven
years. He served six terms on Havre de Grace City Council in 1990-98, 2000-02, and again in 2007-09.

Under the auspices of the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway he organized and led Riversweep, a cleanup of the shoreline in Havre de Grace. To aid in this effort he recruited and organized volunteers
from the girl and boy scout communities, AmeriCorps*NCCC, and interested citizens. This program is now in its 25 th year. He was instrumental in obtaining the services of the AmeriCorps*NCCC and supervised their work on a one and a half-mile loop trail in North Park along the Susquehanna River and the
tracks of the railroad bed that used to carry workers and materials during construction of the Conowingo Dam. The young people of this organization put down 250 tons of stone dust between the rails of the
old railroad tracks to provide a firm surface for the enjoyment of hikers and bikers and making it wheelchair accessible. The Mayor and City Council of Havre de Grace acknowledged his efforts in 2003
by renaming the trail Joe K's Loop Trail. Since that time the trail, combined with a tour of the Lock House, has become a popular field trip for elementary school children and he, along with other
volunteers, led thousands of children on nature/historical trail walks and museum visits.

He served 32 years as a Committee Member of Boy Scout Troop 967 of Havre de Grace United Methodist Church. An avid bicyclist, he helped organize and lead the troop on 20 separate week-long biking/camping trips along the 185-mile long towpath of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal from Cumberland, MD to Washington,
DC.

An enthusiastic supporter of the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House, he served as a docent for many years and delighted in portraying "the old lock tender" during the annual Candlelight Tour
and other special events. He enjoyed demonstrating the workings of the swing bridge to youngsters and allowing them to open and close it. The Board of Directors honored him in 2025 by placing a
commemorative plaque on the bridge dedicating it to him. A tireless volunteer in the community, he was recognized for his efforts by the following organizations: City of Havre de Grace Volunteer of the Year in 1997
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Trailblazer Award in 1998,Harford County Historic Preservation Commission Award in 2000, Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year in 2000
Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Volunteer Service Award in 2002, Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House Amazing Volunteer in 2006, Harford County's Most Beautiful Person in 2007
Baltimore Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, Silver Beaver Award in 2009,Havre de Grace Independence Day Parade, Grand Marshal in 2010.

In addition to Sara, his wife of 69 years, he is survived by four children: Judith Glassman and husband Robert, Andrew Kochenderfer and wife Susan, Barbara Moore and husband Shonn, all of Havre de Grace, and Vance Kochenderfer of West Mifflin, PA; six grandchildren: Alison Kochenderfer and husband Jamie Lewis,
Zachary Kochenderfer and wife Ashley Shim, all of Baltimore, Lauren and Nathan Kochenderfer, Juliette Moore, Lydia Moore and husband Jon Carhart, all of Havre de Grace; and two great-grandchildren: James and Hadley Lewis.

Joe will be remembered as a tireless volunteer, dedicated public servant, proud veteran, loving husband, father and grandfather, and passionate advocate for the city he loved so dearly. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Susquehanna Museum at the Lock House, (https://www.thelockhousemuseum.org/support/donate ) or the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Association
( https://candocanal.org/contributions/ ).

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025, from 12-2 PM, with a service beginning at 2 PM, at Zellman Funeral Home, P.A., 927 Pulaski Highway, Havre de Grace, MD 21078. Online condolences may be made at www.zellmanfuneralhome.com.