Remembering Joseph Kenneth Collins
May 20, 2025
With deep sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved Founder and CEO, Joseph Kenneth
Collins.
Joseph Collins was a visionary and the heart of our company. His unwavering values have
shaped our industry.
Joe fostered a culture of kindness, generosity, and joy, impacting the lives of everyone who had
the privilege to know him. He is remembered for his gregarious personality, generous spirit, the
smile that lit up every room he entered, and the many success stories he inspired.
The Life and Legacy of Joseph Kenneth Collins
Joseph Kenneth Collins was born on January 7, 1937, in Manhattan to Joseph A. Collins and
Helen M. Cull. He was the youngest of three children, spending his young life in Astoria with his
parents and two sisters, Marilyn and Joan (Sister Helen Eugene Collins, SJ).
He had known his bride Peggy since they were children in Astoria. When his service in the U.S.
Army took him to Germany, Peggy visited and they fell in love. Peggy Weissengruber and Joe
Collins were married on November 7, 1964, at St. Patrick’s R.C. Church on 29th Street in Long
Island City. His son, Kenneth J. Collins, was born on September 23, 1965.
In the late 1960s. Joe Collins was in the early years of a six-decade career in the building
services industry. The professional reputation he built laid the foundation for the founding of
Collins Building Services (CBS) in 1988. Starting with just seven employees, CBS now employs
more than 4,000 people in 2025. To his countless admirers, he was a shining example of the
American Dream.
Joe was recognized by so many for his participation, achievement, and charity. While there are
countless examples, notable ones include being a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in 1996,
Grand Marshal of the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade in 2004, and receiving an Honorary
Doctor of Humanities degree from St. Francis College, Brooklyn, NY, in 2016. He cherished his
participation on the Board of the Outreach Project, Inc., for which he was graciously honored
along with honors from Telicare, Covenant House, Christa House, and the Sisters of St. Joseph.
At age 88, Joseph Kenneth Collins passed away peacefully on the morning of May 16, 2025.
Joe Collins’ life well-lived gives us the strength to carry onward.