Obituary of Joseph J. Smith

Joseph J. Smith of Landing passed away May 15, 2014. Born in Kearny, New Jersey on March 2, 1922. He was the youngest child of the late Patrick and Mary Smith (nee Needham). Joseph was a devoted and loving husband of 65 years to his beloved wife Elizabeth (Betty) who died on August 22, 2012. He is also predeceased by his daughter, Maureen Elizabeth and his sister Catherine Hamill. Loving father to his daughters Patricia of Landing and Margaret Martin and her husband, Randy of Byram. He is also survived by his devoted brother Michael and his sister-in-law Irene of Belford. Loving "Pop" to his grandchildren: John LoSapio of Morris Township and his wife, Cherray; Michael LoSapio of Wilmington, DE and his wife Ashley; Tina Schwartz of Whippany and her husband Brad; Lyle Martin of Byram; Ashley Martin of Byram and the best Great-grandfather to: Lillian LoSapio of Lees Summit, MO; Michael Joseph LoSapio of Wilmington, DE and Tyler Joseph Schwartz of Whippany. He enlisted in the Army during WWII. Being quite a trumpet player, he was offered a spot in their elite band, but declined to join the 130th Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion of the Eight Armored Division nicknamed the Thundering Herd. They served in the European Theatre landing in England onward to France, "The Bulge", Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, and Czechoslovakia. One of the many things this Division was responsible for was liberating Concentration and POW Camps. Their Division flag is on display at the U.S. Holocaust Museum honoring those who liberated the death camps. After his honorable discharge as a T4 Sergeant, Joseph worked as a tool and die maker for The Whitehead and Hoag Co. in Newark and then was hired at Bell Labs in Whippany where he worked in the Shops and retired as a Cost Analyst Programmer of Numerical Control after 32 years. Joseph was an athlete and avid exerciser. His hobbies included horse back riding, playing pool, bow and arrow hunting, canoeing, ice skating and wood working. As a youth he was an Altar Server and played in St. Patrick's Fife, Drum and Bugle Corp and marched in many St. Patrick's Day Parades. In later years he joined the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, St. Michael's Choir and was a man of great faith. Although born in Kearny, he grew up in Newark. Later moved to Stanhope where he lived for 33 years before moving with his wife to Deltona, Florida for twelve. They returned to New Jersey 10 years ago to reside in Landing where he was a member of Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Mt. Arlington. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation Serving Greater New York, 30 East 33rd Street Floor 3, New York, NY 10016-5337.