Joseph Szasz Jr.

Joseph (Joe) Szasz, Jr., 78, of Lutz, Florida, passed away on December 7, 2017 in Lutz. Visitation will be Sunday, December 10, from 4 – 7 pm at Blount & Curry Funeral Home Carrollwood. Funeral services will be held at 9 am on Monday, December 11 at St. Timothy Catholic Church with Rev. Kenneth Malley officiating. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Joe Szasz was an avid baseball player and starting pitcher for his high school team. He was a proud big brother to Robert. He worked his way through John Carroll University (getting a good Jesuit education) and married the love of his life Pat after graduation. They were married for 54 years. His career took him from being a bag boy at the local A&P Supermarket (where he met Pat, his favorite cashier) to becoming the regional sales manager for a grocery products company. His work took him from Ohio to Michigan, but when the chance to move to Florida came, he grabbed it and moved with his family to Tampa in 1980. It was always his dream to live in Florida, and he loved the warm weather and lack of snow, as long as he kept his fair Irish skin in the shade. He was proud to raise three strong daughters and to be grandfather to three smart and caring granddaughters. He deeply loved all the women in his life. He played golf twice a week with a great group of guys that became his close friends. He ushered at St Timothy's parish for many years. During his retirement, he liked to trace his Irish and Hungarian roots as a genealogist. He loved rollercoasters and organizing vacations with his family, especially cruises. He hated traffic. His motto was "If you are not 10 minutes early, you’re late." Ultimately, the most important thing in his life was his absolute devotion to his family. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and cousin. He will be deeply missed. Joseph is preceded in death by his father Joseph Szasz, Sr. and mother Rosemary Dooling Szasz. He is survived by Patricia Amico Szasz (wife), Deborah Szasz (daughter) and Javier Conde (son-in-law), Laurie Billington (daughter), Patricia Szasz (daughter), Robert Szasz (brother), Jovanna Billington (granddaughter), Isabel Conde (granddaughter), Gabriella Conde (granddaughter), and many beloved family and friends. Pallbearers will be Laurie Billington, Javier Conde, Gary Coldren, John Kupkovits, Julian Quinones, and John Rementer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, Inc. http://www.ccdosp.org/donate-2/