Tribute

Anthony Joseph “Joe” DeSantis was a man who loved life and lived it to the fullest but he loved his family, friends, and pets more than anything. He loved making people laugh and was always full of funny stories and antics. He had an infectious laugh that would light up an entire room. His sense of humor was one of his best qualities. He always encouraged his kids and grandson to do their best. He taught them many lessons, but what he cared most about was their happiness. His wife of 51 years was his greatest love of all. They met in high school and it was a love unlike any other. He adored her and she adored him. She was by his side until the very end. He loved muscle cars and loved working on them. His favorite was a 1969 GTO he had many stories about his adventures with that. He loved motorcycles, especially his Harley. In High School, Joe took his girlfriend (who would later become his wife) on dates in that GTO and on his motorcycle. They fell in love listening to James Taylor’s “Sweet Baby James. He loved taking his son fishing, the memories that they made are priceless. When his daughter became a Brownie member, they were short a leader and he stepped up to fill the position. He even went on the Troop’s overnight camping trip and included her little brother, much to his daughter’s chagrin. Joe’s Harley was his pride and joy and he loved taking his family on rides with him. He loved watching NASCAR races and the Mecum car auctions. Another one of his favorite hobbies was antiquing and he could restore just about anything. Joe loved going to the beach and snorkeling with his family. He was an avid runner, starting on the high school track and cross country teams. When his kids were old enough he began taking them running with him and loved including them in 5k races. He enjoyed gardening and grew the best tomatoes. He also loved landscaping and our yard was always the most beautiful in the neighborhood. Cooking was one of Joe’s passions and had a knack for it, often making meals with whatever we had in the house. We still use many of those recipes to this day. He absolutely loved music. It was not unusual for him to play the same album over and over again until his wife and kids would beg him to play something else. What comes to mind is the “Division Bell” from Pink Floyd although there were many others. It’s hard to listen to music without thinking about him. Those memories are priceless and will live on in our hearts forever. Joe was also a proud member of the USMC and the Air Force Reserves. After his military service, he began his extensive career in printing. Later in life, Joe decided to make a change for his second act and went on to further his education and became a beloved high school teacher. He had a wonderful career for over 20 years and he absolutely loved it and his students loved him. He passed away after a long illness but his memory will always remain in our hearts. Semper Fi

Friends & Family

Joe is survived by his wife, Leslie DeSantis; his daughter, Mikki DeSantis, and son-in-law, Jose Ramos; his son, Andy DeSantis and his grandson, AJ DeSantis And His 4 cats: Momma Kitty, Sheldon, Lili, and Emerson