Joseph David Cabral

Joe was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished son, brother, uncle, friend, and public servant whose life was defined by loyalty, hard work, humor, and unwavering love for his family. His passing leaves a void that can never be filled, but his memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Joe was the adored husband and best friend of Melissa Cabral, the love of his life and steadfast partner through every chapter of their lives. September 1st they will be married 19 years and shared more years together in life than apart. Their marriage was built on friendship and devotion, a true partnership. During Joe’s 18 month battle with cancer, they were a united front fighting together. Melissa never left his side, caring for him with extraordinary strength, love, and grace.

Joe was a proud and devoted father to Serena (12), Colton (9), and Axel (1). His children were the center of his world and his greatest accomplishment. Whether cheering from the sidelines at games, attending school events, celebrating milestones, or simply spending time together, Joe lived for his family and took immense pride in every moment he shared with them.

Joe is survived by his loving parents, Stephen and Christine Cabral; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Albert and Brenda Rongone; his brother Stephen Cabral and his wife Jacqueline; his brother Michael Cabral and his wife Alexis; his sister Christen Anderson; his brother-in-law Albert Rongone and his wife Kristin; his sister-in-law Danielle Rongone, and ten beloved nieces and nephews whom he adored. He leaves behind a large extended family and countless friends whose lives were enriched by his presence.

Born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts, Joe formed lifelong friendships during his years at St. Raphael School and Arlington Catholic High School. While he often joked that the classroom could never hold his attention for long, he persevered, and earned his college degree from Suffolk University, discovering his true calling in federal law enforcement.

Joe dedicated his professional life to serving his country and protecting others. After beginning his career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and Department of Veteran’s Affairs, he moved to Arlington, Virginia, where he built a distinguished career with the United States Department of Justice. Through his leadership, integrity and commitment to public service, he rose through the ranks, achieving the distinction as the Chief of Justice Protective Service at the United States Department of Justice. He managed 10 special deputy inspectors and served as the Contracting Officer Representative for all Department of Justice guard services responsible for the protection of the Robert F. Kennedy Main Justice Building as well as all other DOJ facilities in the Nation’s Capital. He most enjoyed being the agency’s Federal Law Enforcement certified firearms instructor, coordinator and senior armorer. He took great pride in his work and considered it an honor to serve the nation he loved doing his best to make the world a better place for us to live.

Outside of his career, Joe’s happiest moments were spent with family. Growing up, Joe possessed a natural talent for working with his hands. He could fix anything. Whether it was a total gut renovation from design to finish, a “simple” kitchen reno, electrical, installing floors, or a hook on the wall, he did everything to perfection. He also especially enjoyed restoring and working on old cars. Joe and his father restored a 1968 Mercedes-Benz from a car with weeds growing out of the engine to its original showroom condition. He not only proudly drove her daily but he was also able to share his hard work with other car enthusiasts when the car was displayed on the lawn of the Lars Anderson Car Museum in Brookline, MA.

Joe was the family’s fearless leader and planner. He treasured time spent traveling with family. He planned routine vacations to warm places near and far with some of the most special recent trips being taken to Florida. Memories from trips to Antigua, Hawaii, Tahiti, Italy, France, Montreal, Bahamas, Mexico and several other Caribbean Islands will stay with them forever. He looked forward to going to his family home in Maine, sitting on the beach and breathing that crisp Maine air. Whether it was a fancy vacation or a quick weekend trip, the time away together as a family was never long enough, but the memories will be cherished forever.

He loved quiet Sundays at home gathered around the fireplace or firepit, sharing a bottle of Bordeaux or Champagne, a carefully prepared charcuterie board, a very well-thought-out playlist and conversation with those he loved most. His warmth, sense of humor, and unwavering devotion to those he loved made every gathering special.

Joe and Melissa loved cooking together. He enjoyed nothing more than a perfectly grilled steak paired with pasta made from scratch and sauce from a treasured family recipe passed down from his grandmother, Mimi. Carrying on that tradition and his mother’s love of cooking brought him great joy and connected him to the generations of family he held dear. For him the sky was the limit, whatever it was, big or small, he would find a way to get it done. He appreciated a good joke, loved making people laugh, and possessed a warmth that made others feel safe in his presence. He could talk about anything, family, work, history, or life’s everyday adventures.

Throughout his illness, Joe demonstrated remarkable resilience, positivity and fight. During the past 18 months, he deepened his faith through prayer, Scripture, and music. One of his best recent memories was attending a spiritual Brandon Lake concert with his sister and brother. His trust in God brought him peace and comfort, and he was reassured that his soul was prepared for everlasting life.

Though his time with us was far too short, Joe’s legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friendships he nurtured, the lives he touched through public service, and the countless memories he created with those he loved. He lived with purpose, loved deeply, and gave generously of himself to those around him. The world is a better place because Joseph Cabral was in it. He will be deeply missed, forever loved, and never forgotten.

A public Mass for all to attend will be held Saturday June 27th at 10 A.M. at Our Lady of Lourdes in Arlington VA with reception to follow. There will be an additional Mass at St. Raphael Parish in Medford, MA on August 1st, 2026 at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made via the GoFundMe campaign “Rally for Joey Cabral”. All proceeds will be used to support Serena, Colton and Axel’s college 529 plans. For those who have already contributed, Joe’s family extends their profound gratitude.