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Obituary for Joseph D. Scarpello

Joseph D.  Scarpello
JOSEPH D. SCARPELLO, WW II Veteran, City Recreation Leader, Pianist

Joseph Daniel Scarpello was born August 13, 1916 in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA. He passed away surrounded by his loving family on December 21, 2011 at the age of 95. He was the oldest of two children born to Pasqualina Giuseppina (nee Iannuzzi) and Sabatino Sebastian Scarpello. Joe is survived by his sister, Evelyn Ventresca.

Joe graduated Germantown High School in 1934. He graduated from Pennsylvania State College in 1938 and attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Joe enlisted in the United State Navy in 1940 and served as a Lt. Commander in World War II. Joe was a Naval Aviator of Airships, and a Communications Officer on many Navy destroyers and aircraft carriers. He served aboard the USS San Jacinto in the Pacific War area with the future President George H.W. Bush. Joe's heroics aboard the USS San Jacinto in the Sea of Japan earned him the Presidential Citation which entitled him to wear the bronze star. He also received the America Area, European and Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbons. Joe was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1954.

In 1947, courtesy of the G.I. bill, Joe attended the Granoff School of Music, where he studied piano and graduated in 1950. Joe was the leader of a five-piece band known as the Townsmen which played at weddings and in nightclubs in the Philadelphia area from 1950-1958. Musically inclined, Joe also played the accordion, guitar and harmonica.

In 1958, Joe married Mary Ann Coleman. They were married for over 53 years. The marriage produced 11 children: Joseph (Mary Ann), John (Beth), James (Carla), Jeffrey (Peggy), Jerome (Beth) , Jude (Lisa), Jason (Gina), the late Justin, Janine (Michael) DiGioacchino, Joshua (Alice) and Jeremy. Justin died as a child from complications arising from cerebral palsy. All 10 surviving Scarpello children followed their father's footsteps and attended Penn State. When Joe's youngest son, Jeremy, graduated Penn State in 1998, the University had a special ceremony to honor Joe and Mary Ann for "their lifelong devotion to Penn State." Joe also is survived by 18 grandchildren: Justin, Nicholas, Grace, Jessica, Patrick, Samantha, Julia, JJ, Gabrielle, Tommy, Jenna, Luke, Lucia, Gianna, Michael, Joseph Daniel II, Joshua and Sofia. Brother-in-law of Helen Funk, Sophia and Richard Leith, Claire and Chris Rothstein, Tom Coleman, Joe Coleman and Linda, Ron and Robin Coleman, also survived my many loving nieces and nephews.

Joe was a District Supervisor with the City of Philadelphia's Department of Recreation for over 30 years. He ran some of the City's largest playgrounds and recreation centers. Joe originated the wildly successfull annual summer trips for city youth to Dorney Park. Upon his retirement from the City in 1978, Mayor Frank L. Rizzo announced that Joe was "a credit to the City" and "significantly instrumental in the organization of the Recreation Department's Senior Citizens program (the annual Rally-in-the- Park)."

After retirement, Joe volunteered and played the piano to entertain seniors at recreation and community centers, and nursing homes. At 85 years of age, Joe recorded a CD of his greatest piano hits entitled "No Ordinary Joe". He also played a starring role in the local movie "Pistol", which was produced by his son, Jason. Joe inspired his family to organize an annual golf tournament in their brother Justin's memory - the proceeds of which benefit United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Philadelphia.

“Dad loved being around family and friends, enjoyed our large family dinners, entertained us with his piano playing, and was an incredible storyteller - especially his war stories," said his youngest son, Jeremy.

"Dad was extremely proud to have served on the USS San Jacinto and to have President Bush as a crewmate, said his oldest son, Joseph.

"Dad always put family first. Even while serving in World War II, you could read in his letters home that he was more concerned about his family's wellbeing then his own welfare" said his only daughter, Janine Scarpello DiGioacchino. "Dad was extremely grateful to have made it home safely and that appreciation for life and love of country and family impacted everything he did."

Joe will be buried with full US Navy military honors at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Justin Scarpello Memorial Fund, c/o United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Philadelphia, 102 E. Mermaid Lane, Phila., PA 19118 or The ARC Alliance for Autism, 3075 Ridge Pike, Eagleville, PA 19403.





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