Charles Brienza

Charlie Brienza born in Corona Queens on  August 20, 1939, the only son of Nicholas Brienza and Mary Cono, passed peacefully after a long battle with Covid Pneumonia on April 27th, 2020. After attending Pace University, he followed his father into the family business, Pioneer Building Materials Corporation in New Hyde Park, New York.  Over the next 40 years he sacrificed tirelessly in many areas to grow the business successfully. Pioneer served local contractors and community long before the invasion of the 'Big Box' stores.

  Charlie's style was classic.  He was unique, had his own set of rules about life and was not shy about sharing them. His language often followed suit with many phrases that could only be attributed to him and will be remembered with smiles and laughter. Charlie was always willing to offer his opinion and advice. He had many talents he kept hidden, sharing them, only on occasion, with his family and close friends often surprising them!  His softer side showed in his passion for theater, horticulture and birds. His collected every Playbill, critiqued each performance and instilled upon several of his children the value of this art. He spent countless hours puttering around the yard growing beautiful flowers and caring for the many Rhododendrons he planted and the Mountain Laurel that surrounded his home in Upper Brookville. He hung many, many bird feeders that attracted local birds and pesky squirrels that he loved to complain about. On May 9, 1964 Charlie married his love Barbara Nowicki of College Point, Queens. They met on a blind date through friends, married and lived on Long Island for 56 years where they raised in their four children Susan, Deborah, Richard and Jonathan.  

Charlie's entrepreneurial skills diversified when he established Kings World Travel which allowed him to share with his family his love for travel.  Charlie retired from Pioneer in early 2000 and spent recent winters with Barbara in Boca Raton Florida, continuing his love for the stage, and  attending movies and restaurants near his winter home.  Typical Charlie, he was always quick to critique each performance and  movie and offer those views and recommend the best eatery to ensure a friend a great night out. His horticulture expertise expanded to large walls of wild orchids which adorned his Florida home and he loved to take walks with his dog and buddy, Skyelar and watch his favorite team the New York Mets. 

Not only the father of four children, Charlie was the grandfather of 10. Carter, Caleb, Abrianna and Kyle (Susan Brienza Gordon and Charles Gordon), Camryn (Deborah Brienza Neuringer and Joe Neuringer), Niklas and Chase (Erin and Richard Brienza) and Alexander, Mia and Joseph (Stephanie and Jonathan Brienza)

Charlie added a perspective to a conversation that was not often even a thought.  He absorbed his surroundings. Noticed things that no one else would and if he felt he could educate you on any of this, would walk and talk with you until you understood. Charlie will be missed by many in all that ways that are unique to him being "Charlie".

 During this time only a private burial is being permitted so a celebration of life with family and friends will be announced on a subsequent date. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate charitable contributions be made in the name of Charles Brienza to either St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn, New York or The LI Alzheimer and Dementia Center, Westbury, New York.  Condolences may be shared and other information found through DonohueCecere Funeral Directors webpage (donohue-cecere.com) Tributes.

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