Joseph Victor Formica

Joe was born in 1929 on the Lower East Side of New York City, the second of three boys of Joseph and Carmella Formica, who both haled from Sicily.

Before graduating high school, he enlisted in the army in 1946 and served in Korea. Upon his return he enrolled at Syracuse University under the GI Bill as a WWII veteran, earning a Bachelor and Master of Science. He went on to study at Georgetown University, earning his Doctorate in Microbiology.

In the 1950s, Joe worked for the U.S. Chemical Corps at Ft. Detrick in Frederick, Md. There he met Philomena Moretti, whom he married on June 23, 1956, and had two daughters, Diane and Jody.

The family resided in Rockville, Md. until Joe received an opportunity to revitalize the Microbiology Department as Associate Professor at the Medical College of Virginia, now VCU, bringing the family to Richmond in 1969. He is Professor Emeritus to this day.

A sabbatical in ’74 took the family to California and nurtured what would become Joe’s lifelong passion for wine. He taught a Wine Appreciation course through VCU’s College of Continuing Education and began The Wine School in Carytown. Joe joined the Society of Wine Educators in 1977 and served as VP, President and Chairman of the Board of Examiners, where he created the “CWE” Certification and established academic standards for the Society.

Joe was also fortunate to go on sabbatical in ’81 where he was a visiting scientist at Cambridge University’s Jesus College. While in England, Joe caught the travel bug.

Back in the US, he taught wine appreciation at the Culinary School of J. Sargent Reynolds Community College from 1992–2007. He was also continually active in the Richmond Wine Society, where he is Director Emeritus. He helped build the now renown society, hosting and attending many meetings and tastings. Most memorable were times where he combined his wine and travel passions to take fellow wine aficionados on wine tours around Europe that he planned and guided from 1993–2013.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Philomena; and older brother, Dominick. He is survived by his children, Diane (Mark), and Jody (Bill); his younger brother, Sal (Jacquelyn); and many nieces and nephews. Joe will be missed by his family, friends, and everyone touched by his generosity and easy smile. Service information is below. Parking is available in church parking lot or nearby.