Joseph M. Pacifico

Joseph Pacifico 87, a 22 year resident of Henderson, NV, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at home after a series of heath related issues. His wife of almost 57 years passed away January 23, 2016.

He was born and raised in Scranton, PA by his parents Joseph Anthony Pacifico and Jennie Savero. While attending Scranton Technical High School, class of 1956, he met the love of his life, Irene Penyak. They married in June 1959.

Joseph joined the Marie Corps and was honorably discharged in April 1963 in Quantico, VA. Then he started his 32 year journey with IBM in Dayton, OH. He held a variety of financial management positions around the world which moved the family frequently from city to city. Joseph graduated from the University of San Fransico with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1977 and became a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1992. He then took a position with Raychem Technologies, finally retiring in 2000 as Director of Finance and Administration overseeing all operations in Latin America. Through hard work and determination, he created a beautiful life for him and his family.

Joseph was not all work. He had a love for life. In his earlier years he joined a bowling league and had serval perfect games. After Gina was born, he and Irene started playing tennis on a weekly basis and while living in Paris France, the family traveled extensively throughout Europe. He was also a devout Catholic holding various positions throughout his lifetime. He volunteered as Eucharistic Minister, Usher, a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, Vice Chairman on the Board of Directors for both Holy Angels Charlotte, NC and St. Joseph Parish in Paris France. He was President of the Christopher Columbus Italian Club and even played Santa. But nothing compared to Irene’s cooking and his grandson whom he loved taking to plays at the Smith Center.

Surviving are his daughter, Gina Pacifico-Ristrim, grandson Anthony Pacifico, a niece Cynthia Kulikauskas and two nephews, Joseph S. Pacifico and Andrew Cizike. He was preceded in death by his wife Irene Penyak-Pacifico.

In leu of flower, the family is requesting donations be made to made to the St. Francis of Assisi Church Building Fund.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 on Friday, April 24, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 2300 Sunridge Heights, Henderson, NV.

GETTING TO KNOW MY DAD

July 9th, 1938- July 18th 2025

Joseph Michael Pacifico, 87, a 22 year resident of Henderson Nevada passed away on July 18,

2025 surrounded by loved ones at home after a series of health related issues. His wife of

almost 57 years passed away January 23, 2016. He was lovingly referred to as Joe, dad,

Wowo, Paisan, and Goombah.

Dad was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His parents, Joseph Anthony Pacifico, a

coal mine worker, that migrated from Italy, and Jenny Severo, a textile mill worker both raised

him in a traditional Catholic Italian home. Dad was the first born male out of three children, and

the last survivor of the Bunker Hill boys. During the summer of 1955, hurricane Diana hit

Scranton causing their family home to be swept away by the raging waters of The Roaring

Brook. Many of the family members stayed at several friends houses until they relocated to

1020 Ridge Avenue, which still remains in the family.

While attending Scranton Technical High School, class of 1956, he met the love of his life, Irene

Penyak. They were married June 20, 1959 at Saint Rocco‘s Church. After graduating high

school, dad joined the Marine Corps and was honorably discharge April 29, 1963 as a Corporal

E3 in Quantico, Virginia.

From there, he and mom moved to Dayton New Jersey. There he began his 32 year journey

with IBM holding a variety of financial management positions around the world. In 1965, they

bought their first house and and in December I was born in 1968. At this point, they felt

unstoppable, blessed, and deliriously happy.

The family relocated frequently. We moved from New Jersey to Atlanta, Georgia; Saratoga,

California; Ridgefield, Connecticut; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Paris, France. At this point, I

was accepted by the University of East Carolina and moved back to North Carolina, as they

stayed in Europe and traveled extensively. When my parents returned to the states, we moved

to Livermore, California. My father then took a position with Raychem and they relocated to

San Juan Capistrano, and Coronado, California. After retiring in 2000 my parents settled down

in Henderson Nevada. A few years later I joined them and in 2012 Anthony Joseph Pacifico

was born. Both my parents lit up with joy!

While holding a management position in San Jose, my dad graduated from the University of

San Francisco with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. My dad would go

to work during the day and school at night. I remember my mom helped, by typing his papers

while he would be at work. We all really enjoyed San Jose. They found a love for tennis and

played on a weekly basis for years. They made friends that would last a lifetime! together they

would make fresh pastas, sauces, meatballs sausage(that some would be hung in the garage

to dry along with prosciutto) wine, and Pizzagaina. As all the kids would run around and play

soccer. Because my father was 100% Italian and my mother was 100% Russian we would

celebrate the Italian traditions at Christmas and the Russian traditions at Easter. My mother

was an amazing cook Both my parents also became very active at Sacred Heart Church, where

I attended school.

In 1979 the family relocated to Connecticut. My father was promoted to accounts program

manager and worked in White Plains, New York while my mom became a real estate agent. On

the side, my father and a friend from IBM started selling kerosene heaters out of our basement.

Their theme song was.” on the road again.” by Willie Nelson. But, Willie Nelson wasn’t my

dad‘s only favorite!! Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Sinatra, and Andre Bocelli are to name a few.

Next my dad was promoted to area audit manager and the family relocated to Charlotte. There

he became a Eucharistic minister at St. Vincent’s church while I attended classes at Saint

Anne’s and Charlotte Catholic High School. Other positions he held in the church included

teller, usher, and various other functions, as my mom became the administrative assistant to

the director of education for Charlotte diocese. Dad also joined and was very active with the

Christopher Columbus Italian club. Not only did he become president of the organization. He

also had fun and even played Santa one year. In 1984 my dad was diagnosed with melanoma

cancer. They had to remove a portion of his left arm lymph nodes under his armpit and a skin

graft from his thigh. It was a scary time for our family. The next few years, my parents would

travel to the John Wayne Cancer Center for treatments and scans. This brought the family

closer together as we wondered what the future might hold. For many years, he lived cancer

Free.

In 1986 the family moved again, but this move was a little different! My father was promoted to

senior area audit manager and my senior year we moved to Paris, France. This was a culture

shock for all three of us. We really missed the some of the American junk food, TV, certain

toiletry products, and so much more. I think once we all became accustomed, it was a

beautiful experience. My father worked in La Defence while I attended the American school of

Paris and sometimes we would ride in together if I missed the bus for school. While we were

there, we traveled frequently throughout Europe, along with families that he worked with and

created everlasting memories. I remember one year we spent Christmas at a little town in

Switzerland. We were snowed in and my father and a friend of his were going to try to move

the sign so we could leave….maybe they were just joking? I don’t know. Both my parents were

very active with Saint Joseph Church. They helped with the building of the new church,

eucharistic minister, and also the vice chairman of the parish council. My father said that their

time in Paris was gratifying from both a professional and personal standpoint and would tease

my mom that she was on a 3 1/2 year vacation. My parents moved back to Charlotte North

Carolina. He became certified as a fraud examiner in January 1992 and then retired from IBM

that August.

He was then offered a position in the Bay Area with Raychem corporation, as a senior business

consultant which changed their thoughts of retirement. We moved to Livermore where my

father had said was his dream house. There he was excited to start a vineyard with the help of

our family friends from San Jose. In 1996 he was promoted to Director of Finance and

Administration over Latin America operations, and bought a townhouse in Coronado California,

but kept the Livermore house. He traveled back-and-forth to work in Mexico daily and would

frequently visit Livermore, where I remained and stayed busy working on an ambulance. Mom‘s

illnesses increased in intensity and they would visit UCLA and other Gastroenterology

specialist, which unfortunately could not find a solution for her short bowel syndrome.

In 2002 they moved to Henderson were they both lived out the remainder of their lives. I moved

to Las Vegas in 2008 and in 2012 Anthony was born. He was such a blessing to our family and

such a pride and joy to my father. Even though my mother was very ill in her final years, my dad

always showed up for Anthony’s events! Whether, it was church, soccer, karate, T-ball, his

preschool plays, or anything to do with Pinecrest Academy Cadence….. My dad was there!

After my mom passed in 2015 the three of us remained very close. If you were ever at my

house for a Golden Knights watch party, pool party, or a 51 club potluck event. My father was

there. He loved teaching Anthony new things.

In 2016 he bought a summerhouse in Grand Junction at the base of the Colorado monument

and started to travel again. During this time. He volunteered with Saint Francis of Assisi Church

in many different capacities, including becoming a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus.

My dad had a love for life! When he was younger, he was on a bowling league and he had

several perfect games. Growing up they both love tennis whether they were on the court or

they were watching it on TV. One time in France I was leaving church and in front of me was

Jimmy Connors one of my father‘s favorite tennis players, I ran to the car and to grab a piece

of paper and when I told him, he became so excited he jumped out of the car, shook his hand,

and the smile on his face was ear to ear. My dad also loved to ride Harley’s. We would go on

many rides together over the years. He became a member of the Leatherneck club in Las

Vegas as well as the Italian club. He had season tickets to the Smith Center Broadway plays

and often took Anthony with him. He loved football. The Atlanta Falcons was one of his team

and my parents would scream at the TV when the games were on. Of coarse I would make fun

of them and even record them at times. Now I scream when the Golden Knights play like they

did earlier in the years. But nothing, compared to my mom‘s cooking, spending time with his

grandson, and his beloved dog Piccolo. He will truly be missed by many. I know I sure do.