Joseph Anthony Grasso

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Joseph Anthony Grasso who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Joseph was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Joseph knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Joseph was born on February 12, 1943 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. His parents were Salvatore and Margaret Grasso. Joseph was raised in San Jose, California. Even as a youngster, Joseph learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Joseph was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Joseph was raised with one sibling. He had a younger brother, Andy. Joseph had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Joseph, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Joseph's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Joseph enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Joseph took part in street football. He was a part of the local train club and in his spare time he liked cruising in his car.

In school, Joseph was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Joseph was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Joseph’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated from Willow Glen High School in 1960. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Joseph’s practical work ethic carried over into his college years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Joseph’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Joseph saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at San Jose State University. He also pursued school at Cal Berkeley.

Joseph was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Joseph was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Joseph came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Mario Luci and Jim Garcia. Later in life, he became friends with Chuck Lynch, Bill Grad, Ron Carstersten and Jack Battaglia.

An objective and conscientious individual, Joseph reveled in the security of his family. On October 3, 1964 Joseph exchanged wedding vows with Sharon Ann Sartor at St. Christopher Church in San Jose, California. One of Joseph’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Joseph was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Joseph would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Joseph was blessed with two children, one son, Philip (deceased), and one daughter, Christina. He was also blessed with two grandchildren, Kyle and Trevor.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Joseph was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Joseph was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Joseph upheld his standards. His primary occupation was as a packaging and graphics manager. He was employed for 30 years by Memorex. Joseph was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Joseph approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were trains and riding train locomotives. Joseph was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Joseph to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included golf. He was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were the San Francisco 49ers.

A civic-minded person, Joseph was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Politically, Joseph was a Democrat. During these years, Joseph applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Faith was important to Joseph. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He was a member of St. Christopher Church for 13 years.

As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Joseph could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to him by those he helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Joseph; rather, when he saw that there was a need to get something done, he was more than willing to give his time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of his most prestigious awards included a Memorex Corporation award for packaging and design.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Joseph used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Joseph had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included going to the beach, Disneyland, and traveling to washington D.C. and New York.

Joseph was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Joseph’s favorites was Tara, a blue Russian cat. They were best friends for 17 years.

When Joseph’s retirement finally arrived in 2009, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating back to San Jose, California to be with his grandchildren and family. In retirement, he found new pleasure in his new tropical backyard with the water fountain on. In many ways, Joseph loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Joseph passed away on June 22, 2012 at Mission Oaks Hospital in Los Gatos, California. Joseph fought a brave battle against lung cancer. He is survived by his wife of 48 years Sharon; his children Christina and Philip; his grandchildren Kyle and Trevor; and his brother Andy. Services were held at Oak Hill Funeral Home in the Chapel of the Oaks in San Jose, California. Joseph was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.

All who knew him would agree that Joseph was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Joseph Anthony Grasso did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.