Outstanding Leadership in Queens
2011 Honoree of the Queens Federation of Churches

The Honorable Daniel W. Joy

Justice Daniel Joy grew up in Glen Cove, Long Island, and received his religious and moral underpinnings in the foster home of “Mother” Maggie Taylor and her family. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in social science at the State University of New York in Albany in 1952. He initially planned to teach high school social studies, but after he completed his military service in the U.S. Army, serving in Korea, he decided upon a career in law. In 1957, he obtained his LL.B. degree from Brooklyn Law School and practiced law in Bedford Stuyvesant before entering government service with the State Temporary Housing Commission. He spent 25 years specializing in housing matters, administering and enforcing the housing laws of both the State and City of New York. His most visible and demanding job was heading the City’s central heat complaint bureau for five years where he oversaw the computerization of that operation. He ended his administrative career in 1983 as a Deputy Commissioner in the New York City Department of Rent and Housing Maintenance.

In 1983, Justice Joy was elected to the Civil Court of the City of New York and two years later he was elected to the Supreme Court of the State of New York where he handled both civil and criminal matters. He was appointed by Gov. Mario Cuomo to the Appellate Division, 2nd Department in 1993, the second highest appeals court in the State. He was one of only three African Americans serving on that court of 20 Justices at the time. In 1998, he was appointed by Gov. George Pataki to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct which handled complaints against judicial officers throughout the State. He retired from the “bench” at the age of 69 in August 2000 after 42 years of government service.

Justice Joy has been quite active in a number of religious, civic and community organizations. His fraternity is Sigma Pi Phi. He is a member of New Hope Lutheran Church in Jamaica where he serves as Chairman of the Stewardship Committee, Secretary of the Men’s Club and sings in the choir. At the Synod level, he served as Chairman of the Urban Empowerment Fund Board and a Board member of the Bishop’s Center for Public Theology. Church-wide, he is the Region 7 Representative of Lutheran Men in Mission and President of the Metro New York Chapter of that church-wide men’s ministry. He also serves on the Boards of the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults. He is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of the Macon B. Allen Black Bar Association in Queens, and a member of the Judicial Friends, the National Bar Association and the Queens County Bar Association. He recently became a charter member and Vice President of the Kiwanis Club of Rosedale-Laurelton and a member of the Board of the Queens Federation of Churches.

He is married to Ruby Joy, a tax accountant and QFC Vice President. They have a daughter, Kathryn, 23-year-old twin grandsons and two younger grandchildren. He finds time to play tennis, his favorite sports activity. While Judge Joy admits that his retirement plans of extensive traveling and relaxed reading are still on the back burner, he feels blessed to be able to give back to others just as others helped him to achieve far beyond his expectations. His favorite Bible verse is Luke 12:48 – “...From those to whom much has been given, much will be required.”