Joseph Pastina

Joe was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 22, 1942. His early years were spent with parents, Joseph and Sue Pastina, and his siblings, Lou, Mike, and Adeline. In 1964, Joe married the love of his life, Rose. Their parents were best friends, and it was truly a match made in Heaven.

Joe and Rose started their married lives together in Bethel, CT, where they, along with Joe’s parents, ran an innovative catering business for local industries. When Joe showed up at the factories with homemade pastries, meatball subs, tuna sandwiches, and chocolate pudding, people came running for the amazing breakfast and lunch but also for the daily humor and great conversations. Joe was always telling jokes and making everyone feel included and welcome.

Joe and Rose created a beautiful and happy home with children Susan, Joseph, and Emilia. He was a devoted dad who always made the time to help with homework, housework and playtime after very long work days. From him, his kids learned to be hard workers, the value of family, and to always put others first.

Because family always came first, Joe and Rose followed their four parents and moved the family to Port Richey, FL, where Joe became a successful Realtor and business owner. He made each client feel like they were the most important, and each client became a friend. He was honored for his hard work and dedication and was initiated into the Florida Realtors Hall of Fame. Joe was always helping neighbors with big projects and little tasks, and strangers always became friends. It wasn’t uncommon for Joe to run to the grocery store on Christmas Eve and come home with a stranger who was alone to enjoy the family’s Feast of the Seven Fishes tradition. Joe and Rose later moved to Sun City Hilton Head in SC, where they made many lifelong friends, and then later to Ooltewah, TN.

Joe’s greatest treasures included his three grandchildren, Liz, Joseph, and Savina. His role of Papa brought him true joy. To him, his grandchildren could do no wrong. And his grandchildren adored him and knew they had the best Papa. In his final year, he was so happy to meet his first great-grandchild, Lyla, who made him beam with pride.

One of Joe’s favorite quotes was “A truly rich man is one whose children run to him when his arms are empty.”

Joe is survived by his wife of 62 years, Rose Cottone Pastina; his children, Susan (Jim) Cuttler of Spring Hill, FL, Joseph (Lisa) Pastina of Crestwood, KY, and Emilia Pastina (Robert) Jones; his grandchildren, Elizabeth (Sean) Ferguson, Joseph Pastina, and Savina Rose Jones; and his great-granddaughter, Lyla Rosemary Ferguson; and nieces and nephews he loved like his own children. Joe is preceded in death by his parents and siblings.

A Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 5, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Chattanooga, TN. A Celebration of Life will follow in the OLPH Parish Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s memory to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Tennessee Oncology, or the Erlanger Foundation - Urology Department. Checks may be made payable to the Erlanger Foundation; please include “Urology Department – In Memory of Joseph Pastina” in the memo line. Gifts can be mailed to:

Erlanger Foundation

975 E. 3rd Street, Suite B-508

Chattanooga, TN 37403