This information was provided by Joe's wife Candy.

Joe attended Notre Dame High School. After graduation, he worked part time in his father’s business and commuted to attend classes at Loyola. In 1966, he was inducted into the U. S. Army and went to Ft. Campbell Kentucky for basic training. He was later assigned to the 18^th Engineer Brigade for his duty in Viet Nam. Joe’s big dream while he was overseas was to return home and buy himself a new Corvette, which he did. He returned to working for his father and attended classes part time at the University of Illinois, Circle Campus. He also worked occasionally at Lockwood Castle restaurant in various roles, cooking over the grill,  scooping ice cream on those hot summer nights when customers lined up outside, or at times as acting manager. He formed a special bond with the owners, who later became his business clients, as well as close friends. Joe met his wife Candy working at Lockwood. When they married they rented an apartment in Edgebrook and later settled in Des Plaines. Joe continued his schooling and eventually got a degree in Accounting and became a CPA. He worked for a small firm in Northbrook for a few years, then opened an office in Barrington with another associate. He later started his own business located in an office in Edgebrook above Lockwood Castle Restaurant.  He was in that office for almost 30 years. He truly loved his work which brought him into contact with many interesting people in a variety of businesses.

Through his association with the Como Inn Restaurant he was able to dream of cars on a grander scale. One of restaurant owners had another business selling Ferrari’s and Joe got to drive many cars over the years to the races they sponsored in the summer in Elkhart WI.  Through that association he also got to attend the Grand Prix in Como Italy and tour the Ferrari factory in Monza Italy. Joe and Candy made three trips to Italy. On the latest trip, a year before he became ill, they spent 10 days in Sorrento touring all the towns on the Amalfi coast. Joe loved Italy and was planning the next trip to Sicily when he was diagnosed with lung cancer, in November 2006. After radiation and chemotherapy, he had surgery, in February 2007, to remove a portion of his lung. The surgery was considered a success and the cancer gone, but it returned again in September, and he began more treatments. Sadly, they were not effective in fighting the disease. Joe passed away, at home, on his birthday, November 15, 2007. The year he battled so bravely will forever be instilled in the hearts of his wife Candy, his two children John and Jeannie, and his beloved grandson Joey, his namesake.  

Our hearts hold dear to loving memories of a husband, father, and grandfather who was a remarkable man. Joe had a great sense of humor, a giving heart, and a distinguished intellect. He was an avid fan of Formula One racing, as well as soccer. One of his favorite pastimes was playing the card game Scopa at the Italian café he frequented on Friday nights. He was constantly absorbing knowledge on all fronts and was always reading or watching programs related to all era’s of history. He was the go to guy in the family for whatever question you had. The kids were always calling home to “ask Dad”! He was the kind of guy that everyone liked, and he could easily carry on a conversation with anyone. If he knew someone going through hard times, he offered his professional services for free. One of his favorite sayings was "don't worry about the small stuff". As a kid he kept the family entertained and made them laugh, and he kept that sense of fun and humor throughout his life!

Closing his office, giving up his life’s work and breaking that tie to Edgebrook, was one of Joe’s most difficult days. He returned to Edgebrook one last time for a memorable funeral service at St. Mary of the Woods. Forever in our hearts, Joe rests in peace at All Saints Cemetery within sight of his home in Des Plaines.