Joseph Donald Abate

Lt. Col. Joseph (Joe) D. Abate, 89, of Flagler Beach, Florida was born August 4, 1937, in Oak Park, Illinois. Joe passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at AdventHealth Palm Coast Hospital in Palm Coast, Florida.

Joe proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, from 1964 to 1990, as a career navigator. His service included a tour in Vietnam and assignments at Travis Air Force Base, McGuire Air Force Base, and the Pentagon. Among the many honors of his military career, he was part of one of the first aircrews to bring American prisoners of war home from Vietnam. He served with distinction and took great pride in his service.

Yet Joe considered some of his most enduring work to be what happened after hours. He wrote satirical operas for performances at the Officers’ Clubs, turning the intricacies, absurdities, and inside jokes of military life into musical comedy set to the tunes of Gilbert and Sullivan, La Bohème, and other operatic favorites. He was especially proud of these productions, many of which he created with his best friend, the late Col. Dick Bauer.

Upon retiring from the Air Force in 1990, Joe and his second wife, Marty, settled on a small horse farm in Cynthiana, Kentucky, where they built a life together. They remained there until Marty’s passing in 2014. Joe subsequently moved to Flagler Beach, Florida, to be closer to his family.

Joe’s primary ambition in life was a simple one: to be comfortable and never far from good company. Ideally, that company included family, friends, and, whenever circumstances permitted, an attractive woman behind a bar who welcomed a little flirting. His secret to life was to “want nothing.” He approached every day with humor, humility, and a genuine appreciation for the people who made it worthwhile.

An avid golfer for most of his life, Joe continued playing until his final year. Over the decades, he gathered and abandoned approximately 1,621 different “secrets” in search of the perfect swing. Despite his perpetual frustration with his own game, he treasured the time spent on the course with his dad, brothers, and the many friends he made over the years.

Joe also possessed a legendary gift for song. A Frank Sinatra standard could erupt at virtually any gathering, often to the delight of those present, and occasionally to the chagrin of the neighbors on the other side of the condo’s plastered wall.

Whether helping a friend who needed a few extra bucks, or through formal donations to charitable causes, Joe was exceptionally generous. His caring spirit motivated him to help those in need, not for pats on the back, but just because he could. Two of his favorite events incorporated his love of golf by annually sponsoring (and playing on) teams in tournaments to benefit underprivileged youth and local police.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Josephine Abate, his second wife, Marty Abate, his sisters-in-law, Rita Abate and Sally Abate, and beloved nephew, Sgt. Phillip Abate and niece, Susan Keating. He is survived by his first wife, Mary M. Abate; his children, Amy Abate Flohr (Eric), and Michael Joseph Abate (Laura); his grandchildren, Michelle Rosanski (Phil), Spencer Flohr (Summer), Madeleine Abate (Sean), and Josephine Abate; and his siblings, Mario Abate, Leonard Abate, Roselyn Francisco, Carmelyn Mazanec (Dan), and Charlie Abate (Gail); along with several nieces and nephews.

Joe leaves behind a lifetime of service, a wealth of stories, and a reminder that a life well lived need not be complicated: love your family, appreciate your friends, find reasons to laugh, and always be on the lookout for the next gathering.

Service details will be provided at a later date.

The family requests that contributions may be made in memory of Joe Abate to The Community Homes and Services in Novato, California. www.communityhomesandservices.com/index.html