Joseph F. Arkins

Sunnyside, New York - Joseph F. Arkins, 45, of 4319 41st Street Sunnyside, New York formerly of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, died Friday, October 25, 2002 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital New York City, NY. Born in Providence, RI on December 12, 1956, he was the son of the late Agnes Fitzpatrick Arkins and Daniel M. Arkins of Portsmouth, RI.An Attorney, Mr. Arkins was Senior Counsel in the Affirmative Litigation Department of the Office of the Corporation Counsel, The New York City Law Department from 1990-1993 and 1999 to the present His other recent legal associations were with the firms of Cozen and O?Connor 1995-1999 and Sheft And Sheft from 1993-1995. Mr. Arkins received his J.D. from Fordham University in 1990 Assistant Editor International Law Journal and was a member of the New York State Bar Association. Well beyond his legal experience, Arkins was a Polymath with extensive expertise in numerous fields, centering on the Arts and popular culture of the early 20th century. Following his magna cum laude, from Boston University in 1979 he received an M.A. in Art History in 1980 and pursued a carreer in Arts management at a host of prominent New York Institutions throughout the 1980?s, including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, and Sotheby?s. He held a lifelong interest in photography, becoming a devoted portrait and art photographer and a master of the difficult gum bichromate process. As a historian of the medium with a special interest in Pictorials, he recently completed the draft of a monograph on Rowena Brownell and had curated the collection of Amasa Day Chafee for the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society of Connecticut. Mr. Arkins was also recognized expert on the subject of 20th century European and American female pop vocalists. He is survived by his father Daniel M. Arkins of Portsmouth, R.I., one brother Daniel M. Arkins Jr. of Melrose, MA, one sister Mary Arkins of Portsmouth, RI, Two Nieces, One Nephew. His funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2002, at 9:30 AM from the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth, to be followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 AM in St. Anthonys Church, 2836 East Main Road, Portsmouth. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Middletown.In Lieu of Flowers Donations in his memory may be made to: American Cancer Society, Rhode Island Chapter, 400 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860 and Parkinson?s Disease Association, Inc., 60 Bay Street, Staten Island, New York 10301.