Joseph E. Pecsi

Joseph Eugene Pecsi Aug. 8, 1928 - June 5, 2015 Joe was born in South Bend, Ind., where he graduated from Central Catholic High School before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1948. While stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he met and married Leona L. Dorr with whom he had 62 years filled with much happiness and laughter. Upon their discharge in 1952, they moved to South Bend where their sons Joseph Leo (m. Marcia M. Lenihan) and Valentine Edmund (preceded Joe in death) were born. In 1955, they moved to Fullerton, Calif., where their daughters Elizabeth Anne (m. Michael E. Guerrero) and Mary Eugenia (preceded Joe in death) were born. Joe lived out his remaining years in the original home that he and Leona purchased. Joe's first job in California was working for Shell Oil in downtown Los Angeles. He worked with the old plug board IBM tabulating equipment until computers came along upon which time he went into computer management. He retired from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. He was instrumental in creating the data processing curricula for the Adult Education Division of North Orange County Community College in the early 60's. He taught evening classes until the early 90's. Joe loved jazz, comics and the theatre. He frequented the Carpenter Center and Steamers Jazz Club and Café. He was a founding member of Friends of Jazz, an organization that promoted jazz within the community and schools. His granddaughters Tamara M. Pecsi (p. Michelle A. Brazil) and Michelle L. Guerrero, and close family friend Eileen Okazaki brought him much happiness as did many, many other family members and friends. There will be a Rosary Service on Friday, June 26, at 6 p.m. at McAuly & Wallace Mortuary, and a Funeral Mass on Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m. at St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church, where he was an active parishioner for 60 years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Philip Benizi, 235 S. Pine Dr., Fullerton, CA 92833 (http://www.spbenizi.com/).