Joseph Darwin Antonell

Joseph Darwin Antonell (92) passed away at home peacefully in his sleep on May 29th, 2023, five days shy of his 93rd birthday. He was a proud father, grandfather, great grandfather, and Korean war veteran.

A member of the “Silent Generation” coming of age in the 1950s and 60-s and who were known as: thrifty, respectful, loyal, and determined. The Silent Generation began life in some of the most difficult conditions, including the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and economic and political uncertainty. The circumstances surrounding their upbringing led many of this generation to adopt cautious, conscientious behavior.

His wonderful family includes his sons, Joseph Antonell (wife Mercedes) and Michael Antonell (wife Cheryl). His grandchildren include Jacquelyn Paige Lee (husband John), Daniel Antonell (wife Kathryn), Cristina Antonell (husband Christian) and is predeceased by his grandson, Christopher Joseph Antonell (5/01/2018) and his beloved wife, Gloria Antonell (9/30/22). He also leaves behind his first wife and the mother of his children, Georgette Wooster, whom he cherished very much and remained good friends with since the first met in in 1950.

“Big Joe,” as they called him, was a powerful and loving man. He graduated from the Valley Forge Military Academy during his high school years and went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, from 1951 through 1959. He earned the “National Defense Service Metal” during his service. As a Marine, PFC, he was an expert marksman and jet Aviation Electrician. He was also the captain of the Marine Corps wrestling team and was an unbeaten heavyweight champion. In addition to wrestling, he was also a boxer and appeared in several magazines including LIFE, during the 1960s as an MMA fighter, before MMA began as a sport. He could lift weights in excess of 300 lbs. and could rip telephone books in half with his bare hands. As a trained Marine and skilled wrestler, he feared no one but was also a caring family man that taught his family how to handle life’s challenges. He could be as gentle as he was strong and would often stick up for those who were bullied.

Outside of athletics, “Big Joe” was an accomplished draftsmen and architect, specializing in the design of institutional food service establishments, well before the age of computer aided, digital design work. He was well known within the industry and had designed and specified equipment for food service kitchens in hospitals, military and coast guard establishments, schools and even on the Ferry system that serves New York City. He followed in his father’s footsteps (Vincent N. Antonell), also well known in the institutional kitchen design industry and both of whom worked at the then well-known firms Straus-Duparquet, Inc. NYC and S. Blickman, Weehawken, N.J. His drafting and design work was technically excellent while also a work of art and so he was sought out by other companies in California and later in Florida.

He was a husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved family gatherings and looking at old family pictures. He loved cars and did most of his own repair and maintenance work; also riding his motorcycles and home-cooking and was quite a cook himself, especially on the grill!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.riversidestanetsky.com for the Antonell family.