Faul, Joseph Cloud

WATERVLIET- Joseph Cloud Faul, 90, of Watervliet, passed away Sunday, June 20, 2021, while at the Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs. Born in Lancaster, PA, he was the son of the late Walter J. Faul Sr. and Dorothy (Rhoads) Faul. He was the husband to the late Karene (Tarquin) Faul, with whom he shared over 41 years of marriage.

In 1948, at the age of 17, Joe entered the Congregation of Holy Cross, Eastern Priests and Brothers located at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts. He spent much of his 23 years at Stonehill doing landscaping and building maintenance, working outside with animals and clearing trees. He started collecting wood, and during his downtime, he would carve the scraps of wood into gifts for family and friends. It was in these pieces of reclaimed wood that he would soon discover his true passion. In 1960, Joe came to know Father Anthony Lauck, the art gallery director at the University of Notre Dame. This simple beginning earned him a sculpting apprenticeship with Father Lauck at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Joe worked under Father Lauck, studying drawing, art and sculpture. While on the Notre Dame campus, Joe attended classes with a woman who would eventually become his wife; her name was Karene. Soon after completing his apprenticeship, Joe left the brotherhood to begin his new journey as an artist. Karene, a Sister of Saint Joseph for 23 years, would also leave her respective religious order. Together, they relocated from South Bend to Albany, NY, so that Karene could join the College of St. Rose faculty; they were married in June 1971. Karene then went on to help establish the Art Department at the College of Saint Rose, and Joe worked at St. Peter’s Hospital in the maintenance department from 1971 to 1998.

Artistically, Joe went on to create many sculptures in the Capital District and beyond. In 1969, then Brother Joseph was commissioned to create a major sculpture for King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The massive 17-ton sculpture titled “Following the Spirit” symbolizes man striving to become himself. Joe spent five months in the Notre Dame Field House creating the sculpture, which was then moved from Indiana to the entrance of the newly built physical education building at King’s College, where it remains today. King’s College then commissioned Joe in 1979 to create a sculpture of the college’s mascot, Leo. One can still find this limestone sculpture in the center of the campus at Leo’s Den.

Joe was commissioned to create a bronze plaque for the Catholic College Coordinating Council. The Council presented the plaque that Joe created to President Lyndon B. Johnson in December 1968 to commemorate his commitment to providing resources to colleges and universities through the Higher Education Act. This plaque is now in the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas. Other notable sculptures in the Capital Region area are a Celtic Cross at the First Presbyterian Church in Albany, Saint Helen at Saint Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Schenectady, a bust of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany, and a statue of the Expectation of the Blessed Virgin Mary located at St. Mary's Crescent church in Halfmoon. Some of Joe's early works include re-creating a set of four gargoyles for St. Ann's in Lenox, MA. He also worked on a church in Rochester where lightning had struck the steeple, damaging the church pinnacles. Joe's work can also be found at Cornell University, where he recreated crumbling marble columns, complete with intricate creeping vines and acorns. Only the bulging photo albums can capture all of Joe's sculpture and carvings, each piece with its own story.

After moving to Shaker Pointe in Watervliet in 2014 , Joe eventually transitioned from sculpting to drawing and sketching. Drawing inspiration from other community members' artistic pursuits and current events, Joe could always be found drawing something new. He surrounded himself with art – his apartment decorated with a lifetime of his artwork and his friends' creations. While at Shaker Pointe, Joe also took part in the community chorus and enjoyed singing with the group. Joe was also an avid Notre Dame football fan, and loved watching the games with his son Joe.

Family, friends, and art were paramount in Joe's life. He will always be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, brother and friend. He always warmly greeted you with his sparkling eyes and a smile; he never would pass up a chance to talk. He loved animals of all kinds, although he especially treasured all his pups: Heidi, Aggie and Buddy .

He is survived by two sons, Joseph (Theresa) and David (Allison); four grandchildren, Olivia, Sophia, Emerson and Oliver; his brother-in-law, Donald C. Tarquin (Janice) of Tucson, Ariz; nieces, nephews and many, many friends. In addition to his wife and parents, Joe was predeceased by his brother Walter J. Faul Jr. and his sister, Dorothy T. Sparks.

Relatives and friends are welcome to visit with Joseph’s family at Shaker Pointe, 1 Bell Tower Drive, Watervliet on Monday June 28th at 1:30PM with a memorial service at 2:15PM.A private burial service will be at the convenience of the family in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Karene T. Faul Scholarship at The College of Saint Rose, Office of Institutional Advancement, 432 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203.