Joseph A. DeSanto, Jr.

Age 80, of Elmira, with his loving family surrounding him, died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 23, 2010. Joe was born June 15, 1930, son of Joseph A. and Congetta (Saginario) DeSanto. Joe is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Barbara Lawton DeSanto; sons, with their families, all of Elmira, Robert J. and Margaret DeSanto with son Mikael; Thomas M. and Maria DeSanto, with children, Lea (Kevin) Rogers and Nolan DeSanto; Christopher C. and Rhoda DeSanto; sister Theresa DeSanto of Elmira; aunts and uncle Joseph and Elizabeth Saginario, Eileen Saginario; along with several cousins. He is predeceased by his cousin Joe Saginario who donated a kidney to Joe in 1999. His family and his faith were the most important part of Joe’s life. He was a loving husband, father, brother, and a proud, devoted grandfather. He was a U S Navy veteran serving on the LST 880 during the Korean War. Always a hard worker, Joe had odd jobs starting at the age of 9. Joe retired after a 35 year career with John Hancock Insurance Company in Elmira. He then worked, for many years, as a school crossing guard at the corner of Fulton and Franklin Streets. At the end of each school year the third grade class at Holy Family Primary School would write thank-you letters and present them to Joe. An excellent grocery shopper, who loved to cook, Joe was known to drop off groceries to his sons’ homes when he would get a good buy on groceries. As a young adult Joe played city league fast pitch softball for the Mohawk Airlines team. His love for baseball continued with him coaching his sons, from Little League through Prep League baseball. Joe continued to coach even after his sons were older. Joe and Barbara enjoyed the many trips made to Myrtle Beach over the years. He was an avid NY Yankee and Buffalo Bills fan. Proud of his Italian heritage Joe was an active lifetime member of the Italian American Veterans Club, where he was a champion bocce player. Joe was a life long communicant of St. Anthony’s Church where, in his youth, he served as an altar boy. As an adult he served as a Religious Education teacher, lector, and Eucharistic Minister. He also chaired the Social Ministry Committee and was a tireless worker at the annual St. Anthony’s Festival. Friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, corner of Water and Walnut Sts., on Friday, June 25, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church. Interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Peter & Paul’s Cemetery. Those wishing may remember Joe with a donation to either, National Kidney Foundation of Upstate New York, 15 Prince Street, Rochester, NY 14607-1495 or Southern Tier Hospice, 11751 E. Corning Road, Corning NY 14830.

Members of the Italian American Veterans Club will meet at McInerny Funeral Home at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, June 25, for a prayer service for our deceased comrade Joseph DeSanto.

Signed Donald Kalec, Jr., Commander

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