Joseph William Halligan

Joseph (Joe) W. Halligan, born on September 10, 1944, in Boston, MA, passed away in Villa Park, California on May 4, 2025, at the age of 80. Joe is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and David Thompson of Yorba Linda, CA; his sister, Patricia Powers of Milwaukee, WI; his sister and brother-in-law, Elaine and Jesse Santos of Vacaville, CA; and his sister, Jean Buchanan and Phillip Bouton of Paducah, KY; in addition to six nieces and nephews, and two grand-puppies. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Marion (Neaves) Halligan.

Following his graduation from high school in 1962, Joe served two years in the United States Air Force and later received a Bachelor of Science in Management and Business and Administration from Columbia Pacific University.

Joe’s career spanned over 50 years and was marked by excellence. From 1969 to 1983, he served as Senior Vice President of Fotomat Corporation and President of its subsidiary, Video Services of America. He then became President, CEO and Director of Laura Scudder’s, Inc., until it was sold to Borden, Inc. in 1987. From 1988 to 1995, he was President and CEO of E.S.I. Consulting Group, a private consulting practice, specializing in advising and managing the operations of consumer and service-oriented companies. He represented Gruma S.A. de C.V. in its merger and U.S. Joint Venture with Archer Daniels Midland Company. Further, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of New York 7UP, as well as in various other operating and directorship positions. From 1995 to 2021, he was President, CEO and Director of PharmChem, Inc., an industry leader in sweat-based drug testing with its PharmChek® Drugs of Abuse Sweat Patch.

Joe had a rare combination of intellect, common sense, and humility, which left a lasting impact on everyone he met. His mentorship, guidance and friendship shaped the lives of countless friends, associates and family members, and his legacy of integrity and excellence will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. While much of what he knew was self-taught, he had a gift for mastering highly technical and complicated issues in a variety of environments, all the while being highly ethical, creative and unassuming.

Joe had a lifelong passion for boating and water sports, which progressed to sailing in 2010. As with everything else he did, he became an expert in sailing, and purchased a new Catalina 445 in 2013, which he named the “Slip-N-By.” In 2016, accompanied by three crew members, he sailed the Slip-N-By from Seal Beach, CA, to Honolulu, HI, in a record time of 14 days. Joe was also an accomplished skier, enjoying annual trips to Colorado with friends, where he embraced the thrill of the slopes with the same passion he brought to everything in his life.

Private family services and interment will be held at El Camino Memorial Park in San Diego, CA. Following his interment, family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on May 22, 2025, at the Anaheim White House restaurant, to share stories and memories of this exceptional man. While he was loved and will be deeply missed, his memory will forever be cherished by family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation (arthritis.org) in memory of Joe.