Tribute Wall
Saturday
4
February
Memorial Visitation
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Freeman Manalapan Marlboro Funeral Home
344 Route 9 North
Manalapan, New Jersey, United States
732-972-8484
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Vincent Jichetti uploaded photo(s)
Friday, February 10, 2023
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Eulogy to my Brother Joe -
First of all, I want to thank everyone here for coming whether you’re immediate family, extending family or friends. You are a special group of individuals who my brother Joe allowed into his circle, to get to know him, spend time with him, and share memories with in his life here on earth. I also know many of my Calvary Church family wanted to be here and do appreciate all their support and prayers but I chose to keep this service very private which they respected. As part of that extended family, I want to especially thank Cathy, her husband Robert, and daughter Elizabeth for coming. It was Cathy’s mom, Liz who my brother had a special relationship for many years, from the time he lived out in Long Island and remained closed through the many years he lived out in San Diego until sadly Liz also passed in 2010. I call them my brother Joe’s extended family which brought me a lot of joy recently in knowing how much family they actually were to him and he to them. Seriously Cathy, you can’t imagine how much joy that gave me.
My brother and I had a special bond as many of those in this room know. He and I talked regularly and when we did no conversation lasted less than two hours and on occasions we topped three (I would actually check my watch without my brother knowing it and say to myself yeah we made 3 hours!). We did not allow the 3000 miles between us to keep us apart. We remained close as if we were still living in the neighborhood or town. There was no way either one of us would have had it any other way.
I just want to touch a bit on my own faith which my brother had a direct impact on and how that faith transformed and grew over the years. It’s a journey I’m still on. I may not yet be where I need to be, but neither am I where I once was.
The story goes like this. When I first lost my grandmother, who all my cousins here loved dearly, no matter how hard I prayed I could not finish a prayer. Seriously I just couldn’t do it. I would get so far into the Our Father and literally could not finish it no matter how hard I tried. Leap forward approximately 10 years later I once again was back into my prayers. It took that long. No doubt that I was mad at God, allowing her to go through the suffering she did, and how He could even allow that to happen. By the time my mom and dad died, although now in prayer, I felt it repetitive in nature, almost a ritual and I knew I needed to grow much much more in my faith. It was eventually through my brother that this began to change. Whether he knew it or not when speaking of his own faith and transformation, and it’s not like we had these conversations all the time but they were often enough, he was planting seeds in me by sharing with me his own beliefs, experiences, and the personal relationship he had with our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ. Believe me this was all new to me.
As a mentor to me, this was one of many things that he did in strengthening me in my daily life and through the most challenging times of my life as well. Years later I too discovered this personal relationship with God, which is what I have today. This said, where I once found myself removed from God with the loss of my Grandmother, I now find myself seeking Him for my hope and strength. As Philippians 4:13 says” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. …”. I know my wife Theresa knows this scripture all too well.
Now more about my brother. There’s probably not much you don’t know. He was a private man, extremely knowledgeable, well read – a speed reader, and might add that you would not want to get into a debate with him :). Trust me! He was also a man of character and integrity which is how my parents raised us and I know they still are so proud of him. He understood life, what was important in life, being a loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend if he let you into his circle which in the case of everyone here you are blessed that he did. This includes a select few people I met since my brother had passed. Some that could not be here including his neighbors, his boss and co-workers (reference the plaque), and his close friend Cynthia who was his next door neighbor for many years before Cynthia moved to Florida. It was Cynthia who provided me with the best news I could have since my brother’s passing by sharing with me the conversations they had about God. It was nice hearing from someone else about my brother’s faith what I already knew. I am so thankful to Cynthia who surprised me here today for taking the trip up from Florida. It is a blessing to have had the opportunity to personally meet and talk to you and share more about my brother. I can see why my brother and you were such good friends. Thank you again for coming.
I believe a good many of you also know my brother loved fishing in general but especially saltwater fishing. The pinnacle of which was an Alaska fishing trip my brother gave as a high school graduation gift to my son and lucky me to be able to tag along. The memories on that trip will last lifetime for both Anthony and I. Additional interest my brother had was, St. John’s University basketball. He was a huge fan and an alumni as I am as well. Following almost every one of their games we’d talk, and he’d breakdown what they did right, or in most cases wrong, based on their recent record the past several years. Know my cousin Joe also remembers some of those games we used to attend. What great memories. I have a good story or two about my brother and I attending some games, some my brother and I would still talk about until recently, or should I say laugh about, although at that time it was no laughing matter. One in particular involved an uncle of mine and when I mention his name I know many here will chuckle and can only imagine how outrageous the story is. It involved my Uncle Al and a going to a SJU basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Enough said for now. So crazy it will have to wait for another time.
In addition to fishing and being a fan of college basketball, my brother was extremely dedicated to his career working for General Atomics. As mentioned he was an electrical engineer for most all of his career and worked for over 22 years at General Atomics in San Diego. To be more specific an electromagnet engineer. As for him winding up in San Diego, in the field he was in he had the skill and experience move to anywhere he wanted and chose San Diego because of the climate. The fact is the morning following my son’s christening he loaded his minivan and drove cross country from Long Island to San Diego :). As for what he specialized in at General Atomics, if the company name sounds a bit space-aged well you’re not far off. His occupation was considered aerospace. He worked on military defense contracts - mainly aircraft carriers and drones. I have a photo of one of the things he was working on and if I show it to you’d be like “are you kidding!!!”
Related to his job, and to touch a bit on my brother’s character and integrity, about 10 years back, and this was also confirmed by his boss Lee Meehan when my son Anthony and I were out in San Diego last month, my brother refused to sign off on the go-live deployment that involved a new technology for the safe landing and takeoff of aircraft, mainly fighter jets, on four US aircraft carriers. I have their names. I could try to explain the technology but will leave it to say it involved electromagnet propulsion as opposed to conventional steam propulsion for takeoff. Again I shake my head.
Anyway, my brother would tell me that he didn’t care whether he lost his job or not, which came very close to happening. Finally, with the support of his manager, Lee, who my brother respected very much and vice versa, the decision was made not to deploy it into production until the problem was corrected. My brother would tell me numerous times that there are lives at stake here and no matter what he wasn’t budging! There’s a bit more to that story but that’s all I can say here. God bless you Joe for standing firm.
In addition to all the above, many of you also knew that he was a patriot, one who loved this country, and wanted to preserve it in the way our Constitution was written, the way our Founding Fathers intended it to be. As a patriot myself, one of my favorite quotes came to mind when I was writing this and reminded me of my brother and love of country. I have it on the wall in my office.
“In the beginning of change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be Patriot.” – Mark Twain. I know Joe you fought the good fight in this regard and pray for my family, all those here, and our nation that what we spoke about all comes to fruition.
Now, what some of you might not know about my brother, and believe contributed to his infinite wisdom, was his ability to focus and not have transient thoughts when working on something or when having conversation with you. He would always remain focused on and in the moment which I know contributed to his incredible memory. I will greatly miss all those talks we had about our childhood.
To keep this real, YES my brother would stay in the moment and give you his undivided attention BUT should you not give him the same it would not take you long to know that you are wasting his time. That includes me - believe me :)!
As for his memory, he would remember so many things that I forgot. I believe it was this memory that allowed him to quote scripture so well although I know now, after looking through some of his papers from his home, he also studied it. Many years back it was through his gift of wisdom, and knowing where to recall/reflect on certain parts of the bible, that helped me through some of the roughest times of my life.
As for my family we will all greatly miss him, but most of all me. In addition to talking often, most of all we continued to shared so many good memories of our childhood and being blessed with the great and loving parents we had, surrounded by cousins (I call them my brothers and sisters the way we were raised), aunts, uncles and grandmothers. Neither my brother nor I would have changed a thing growing up. Not a thing.
As mentioned he was a mentor to me my entire life. Had intelligence, more than I could never hope to have, but it was his wisdom (there’s a big difference between the two) that got me through, as I said, the most challenging, and will admit depressed times of my life. I pray …, even now in the later years of my own life, that I can in some way share that same wisdom to my own family and friends.
Finally, Joe words cannot describe the lost that I’m feeling now. How blessed I was to have you as my brother and thankful for all you did for me. BUT knowing where you were in your faith, and belief in the Lord Jesus, I have much comfort in knowing we will meet again. To quote John 3:16 - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believed in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.
Knowing this, and in closing Joe, I will say so long for now…
Love you with all my heart. Say hello to Mom and Dad.
Your loving brother Vin
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Vincent Jichetti posted a symbolic gesture
Friday, February 10, 2023
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To my cousin Big Joe
There are some who bring a light so great to the world, that even after they have gone, the light remains.
I will always remember the early years on Lenox Road. The smell of popcorn , Grandmas donuts, the original kool aid with a cup of sugar added. I wouldn’t change a thing. We all belonged to the “Lenox Road Country Club.”
For some reason, I can remember Holy Cross Little League . You played 1st base for the Mets, and your dad and Uncle Al coached. We went to Alley Pond Park for the All Star Game that year and you won .Or the countless 4am weekend fishing trips, whether it was Breezy Point, Fort Tilden, or Flushing Meadows, packing our gear. Our moms would make lunch usually was potatoes, peppers and eggs. We can’t forget Uncle Andy who always had the latest equipment.
In the later years, we had our St John’s basketball and that was always a lot of fun, especially the trips to St Johns. Every time you’d came to visit we would talk and you would bring back little things that only you would remember, no matter what the topic, we left a little smarter.
You will be missed immensely, and your memory will live in all of us .
Love always your cousin
Joseph
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Carmella Comerato lit a candle
Saturday, February 4, 2023
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Rest in Heavenly Peace my big cousin Joe. Love you.
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Susan Englisis posted a condolence
Thursday, February 2, 2023
You were my cousin by blood, but you were my brother by choice. So thoughtful and caring towards my sons Mike and Nick as well. I will always remember your humorous comments about the Christmas menu. Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.
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Louis Gioconda lit a candle
Thursday, February 2, 2023
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To my cousin Big Joe who I looked up to as the smartest person I know One memory I have was years ago everyone came up to Boston to go to a Red Sox game we had a quick barbecue in my yard I showed cousin my rundown horseshoe court before you know it Joe and I where at the sports store buying horseshoes and staks We played horseshoes and he was so happy because for a short time we we were back at Lenox Rd watching our Dad's and Uncles playing, I will never forget it. Rest in peace my dear cousin until we meet again Love always Louis
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The family of Joseph Michael Jichetti uploaded a photo
Thursday, February 2, 2023
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Joanne Jichetti Felicetti posted a symbolic gesture
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
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My first friend.
