Joe Santoro

Joe was born in Beaverton (on the family farm) on May 15, 1922 to Bruno and Annunciata (Rizzuti) Santoro. He was a 1940 graduate of Hillsboro High School. In 1943 he was inducted into the US Navy, receiving a medical discharge during basic training. On May 11, 1947, he married Edith Loiacono at St. Francis Catholic Church in Walla Walla, WA, and honeymooned at the Empress Hotel in Victoria, Canada.

Santoro Farm raised dairy cows (among them prizewinning high butterfat cows that won top awards several years running) until 1977, raised beef cattle thereafter, and also raised hay and grain for feed and sale. He partnered at the dairy with his brother John, and when their nieces and nephews came to the farm they knew they would be put to work! Joe was also active with 4-H, winning many Grand Champion awards. Joe worked on the farm until four days before his passing.

He enjoyed restoring cars; among them a 1924 Model-T (purchased new by his father Bruno) that he and his brother John restored in 1985 and drove in the Hillsboro Parade for many years, winning many ribbons and awards. He and Edith also drove a 1947 Plymouth that they had bought when new and which a family friend restored for them in 2009. He also used a 1963 Honda motorcycle on the farm from 1969 until 2009, when he finally switched to a Yamaha four-wheeler. The family took driving vacations to many places, among them Nashville and Branson, MO (country music fans will know why), Disneyland, Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, and Yellowstone National Parks, and Washington, DC. He was also a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and had recently been making the pilgrimage to spring training in Arizona. He had also watched a game at Yankee Stadium in 1982. Joe was an avid bowler, playing regularly from the early 1950s to the late 1990s. In his younger years and with his brother John, they played softball in a local community league for many seasons. In addition Joe played regularly with a poker group since the early 1950's . He taught and even learned many card and board games, as well as and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Edith Santoro, in 2008, by his father Bruno in 1949 and mother Annunciata in 1966, and by several of his brothers and sisters: Johnnie Santoro, Rosie Santoro, and Mary Santoro (who all and passed away when very young), his brother and dairy partner John Santoro, Rufie Santoro, Mary Jamieson, Millie Girard, Sue Barnett, and Kathryn Palumbo.

He is survived by his children, Jim Santoro of Hillsboro and Nancy Santoro of Beaverton, sisters Lee Santoro of Beaverton (who recently turned 100), and Rosie Benham of Portland, and by numerous nieces and nephews.

A public visitation will take place on Tuesday, November 4 from 4-8 PM at Pegg, Paxson and Springer Funeral Chapel in Beaverton. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, November 5 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton. Mr. Santoro will be entombed with his wife Edith at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the American Heart Association.