Joseph Delasalas

Joseph Delasalas was born on March 19, 1930, and died peacefully on October 18, 2024, at 94. He was a first-generation American success story. His mother Margarita Urbina was from Chimalhuacan, Mexico, and his father, Pedro Delasalas was from Batangas, Philippines. At the age of 21, following the death of his father, he helped raise his two younger sisters Emily and Maria. Joseph and his two sisters were among the first Filipino Mexican families to settle in Coronado, CA, and attend Coronado High School. In high school, he was senior class secretary, was on the football team, ran track, and graduated in 1949. For a short time, he worked at the Hotel Del Coronado with his father.

In 1951 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and after two years of service, he returned to Coronado, CA where he attended San Diego State University.

On October 27, 1968, Joseph married Dorothy Filippone at Our Lady of the Rosary church in San Diego and together they raised two daughters, Lisa and Renee.

Joe and Dorothy enjoyed many worldly adventures throughout the United States, Mexico, Asia, Europe, the UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, and Israel.

Professionally, he was an industrial engineer and worked in the aerospace industry. At the beginning of his career, he served on the non-profit Citizen Committee and worked to establish in 1961, The San Diego Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park. He was employed by General Dynamics, Douglas Aircraft, and over 30 years at Rohr Industries including being a part of their operations and living in Italy before he retired in 1997.

Joseph found immense joy in service at Sacred Heart Church as a Eucharistic Minister and a member of the Knights of Columbus where he established the annual Spaghetti Dinner. As a dedicated member of the Serra Club and the Mission San Diego de Alcala. Joe did noteworthy work for San Diego Catholic Dioceses and Religious Vocation Directors to encourage, support, and preserve vocations to the Priesthood and to the Religious Life. In the Coronado Community, he taught senior exercise classes including yoga, and helped start the new Coronado Lawn Bowling Club at the Senior Center. He supported the Concert in the Park and could always be spotted dancing cheek to cheek with his wife Dorothy. He was most known for his corny jokes and his kindness towards others.

He is survived by his daughter Lisa Delasalas, spouse Mart Bushnell, daughter Renee Delasalas, and his four grandchildren Jasmine, Mart, Laurel, Kane Bushnell, and great-grandson Kyrie Walker.

His two loving sisters Emily, spouse Terry Price, daughter Christina Potter, and sister Maria De Las Alas, daughters Kathryn and Teresa Doksum.

Rosary mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 660 C Avenue, Coronado, before the Mass of Resurrection at 10 a.m. If you are unable to attend, a live stream is available. Link is https://www.newce.org/shc

Interment service to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Dr. San Diego, CA 92102.

In remembrance of Joseph Delasalas' life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Coronado Promenade Concerts at coronadoconcert.com.

Joseph was a wonderful, loving, caring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to everyone he met. He is loved and will be greatly missed.