IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Joseph "Big
Joe" Dibenedetto
July 4, 1944 – October 8, 2017
Obituary
Gansevoort, NY - Joseph "Big Joe" DiBenedetto was born on the 4th of July, 1944 in Cambridge, MA, and passed away at his home in Gansevoort, NY on October 8, 2017. He was the son of the late Joseph and Eda DiBenedetto of Belmont, MA. Big Joe is survived by his best friend and wife of 49 years Barbara, daughter Elizabeth, son Steven, grandson Forrest, several great grandchildren, brother Richard, and sister Nancy Kivlehan. He is also predeceased by a sister, Linda Noel.
Joe had a long and varied career after his graduations from Belmont, MA High School and Norwich University in 1967, beginning with proud service in the U.S. Army where he attained a rank of Captain and was a member of the Chemical Corps, while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone through the early 1970's. After an honorable discharge from his service, he obtained a Master's degree in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire. From there he worked in several roles in the chemical and plastics industry in Ohio and Massachusetts. He spent many happy years in Northampton, MA where he and Barbara raised their children, and they made it to every one of their children's sporting events. Joseph was also a very active member at Blessed Sacrament Church where he was a Sunday School teacher and Eucharistic minister. Organizing and cooking the pasta dinners for both the church and Steven's high school football team on Thursday nights were some of his favorite things.
After moving to the Saratoga area in 1994, "Mr. D" was an Earth Sciences teacher at Spa Catholic for several years, where he also led the Ski Club, making positive impacts on his many students, and making even more corny jokes. After his retirement from teaching, he spent several years managing the players club rewards program at the Saratoga Raceway and Casino. He also very much looked forward to the Saratoga Race Track season each year where he first started work as a betting clerk while still a teacher, and eventually moved up into a leadership role later in his retirement.
He was an avid science and historical fiction reader with the family dog on his lap in his favorite chair, loved to debate current events with his family and friends, and was not shy to pen letters to editors expressing his opinions. . On Sundays, he'd be rooting for the Patriots. During the week he would take his sweetheart wife out to lunch, and caught many a matinee at the movie theater. In his younger days, he was an avid fisherman while the family lived by the ocean in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and also on his boat on the Connecticut River in Northampton.
He will be dearly missed by his family and friends whom he loved fiercely. He was extremely proud of all the accomplishments of his wife and children.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in his honor to assist those brave service members injured while serving their country (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 7pm Tuesday (October 17) at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am Wednesday (Oct. 18) at St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Ave. Burial with military honors will follow at 12noon at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
Joe had a long and varied career after his graduations from Belmont, MA High School and Norwich University in 1967, beginning with proud service in the U.S. Army where he attained a rank of Captain and was a member of the Chemical Corps, while stationed in the Panama Canal Zone through the early 1970's. After an honorable discharge from his service, he obtained a Master's degree in Zoology from the University of New Hampshire. From there he worked in several roles in the chemical and plastics industry in Ohio and Massachusetts. He spent many happy years in Northampton, MA where he and Barbara raised their children, and they made it to every one of their children's sporting events. Joseph was also a very active member at Blessed Sacrament Church where he was a Sunday School teacher and Eucharistic minister. Organizing and cooking the pasta dinners for both the church and Steven's high school football team on Thursday nights were some of his favorite things.
After moving to the Saratoga area in 1994, "Mr. D" was an Earth Sciences teacher at Spa Catholic for several years, where he also led the Ski Club, making positive impacts on his many students, and making even more corny jokes. After his retirement from teaching, he spent several years managing the players club rewards program at the Saratoga Raceway and Casino. He also very much looked forward to the Saratoga Race Track season each year where he first started work as a betting clerk while still a teacher, and eventually moved up into a leadership role later in his retirement.
He was an avid science and historical fiction reader with the family dog on his lap in his favorite chair, loved to debate current events with his family and friends, and was not shy to pen letters to editors expressing his opinions. . On Sundays, he'd be rooting for the Patriots. During the week he would take his sweetheart wife out to lunch, and caught many a matinee at the movie theater. In his younger days, he was an avid fisherman while the family lived by the ocean in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and also on his boat on the Connecticut River in Northampton.
He will be dearly missed by his family and friends whom he loved fiercely. He was extremely proud of all the accomplishments of his wife and children.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in his honor to assist those brave service members injured while serving their country (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Relatives and friends may call from 4 to 7pm Tuesday (October 17) at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518-584-5373).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am Wednesday (Oct. 18) at St. Clement's Church, 231 Lake Ave. Burial with military honors will follow at 12noon at the Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph "Big Joe" Dibenedetto, please visit our flower store.
Services
Calling Hours
October
17
William J. Burke & Sons Funeral Home
4:00 - 7:00 pm
Mass of Christian Burial
October
18
St. Clement's Church
Starts at 10:30 am
Burial with military honors
October
18
Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery
Starts at 12:00 pm
Joseph "Big Joe" Dibenedetto's Guestbook
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