Joe came to 23 school Jersey city as my school photographer. He was more than that to me he became a confidant someone who I could converse with about anything . He spent the night of my retirement dinner taking pictures he later sent to me, I was over whelmed by his generosity. His passing was a shock to me and too sad . My condolences to the family we lost a great person didn’t we …

A kind loving man that we will all miss !! His family was his life ! Our prayers are with all of you at this time. 
Sincerely 
Donna and David Earl.

We were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Joe. Our hearts goes out to the family during this difficult time. Joe really loved his family; he always talked about all of you. He was a very special person. He always came to the school with a smile in his face. He will truly be missed.


Janet Garcia
Paterson Public School #7
Maribel Roman
Paterson Public School EWK

I was saddened to hear of the passing  of Joe.  Over many years at Lenape Valley Regional High School, I worked with Joe as our school/yearbook photographer.  He always went the extra mile to bring our yearbook to life with his expertise and care.  He never said no to what I asked  him to do so that we could make our yearbook the best it could be.  I always considered him a friend.  He will surely be missed.

My deepest condolences to the family, it was a pleasure working with Joe and he will be missed.

Sincerely,
Pat. Glover
(Paterson Day Care 100)

Had the pleasure of working with Joe the past 2 years as he took our school pictures. We are truly saddened to hear about Joe's passing. He was such a wonderful human being. He was funny, charismatic, caring, and down to earth. We here at Paterson Elementary send our heartfelt condolences and love to his family and friends.

I am so sorry to hear of the loss  of such a great man.  I will never forget meeting this wonderful family in Aruba in 2006.  My husband and I stayed in touch through the years and I enjoyed every time I got to see him at my Ann Street during our picture day.  We would catch up and he would loved talking about his family.  His eyes would light up talking about his love for them and how proud he was.  I am so saddened by this.  May he rest in peace and may the family feel his presence always as they gained an angel from heaven watching over them.

Prayers for the family to feel God's presence and peace during this painful time. Thankful to have met Joe and experience his energy and generosity. He will be  missed. God speed.

My deepest and heartfelt condolences to you and your family…! I only met Joe this school year about 7 months ago or so and he was nothing but an amazing person..! He had great energy and a good heart! He will be truly missed the small amount of time he spend here left a long lasting impression. May God continue to guide you through this difficult time, may he restore your strength and give you tons of faith and comfort.

Joe was more than a business associate, he became a friend.  I had the pleasure to meet him four decades ago as he began to work in the Newark Public Schools.

After doing a little business, we often had conversations about his family.  The love and admiration he had for his mother and wife, as well as his children, and most especially, his grandchildren were indescribable !

Joe always entered the school house with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.  After he left, I remained with a great sense of having a positive experience with a true gentleman.  

His respect and dignity for all, always came through.  

A place in paradise is held for him, without question or any doubt.  May his soul rest in peace, may his spirit soar, and may it gain well deserved repose.

God will grant his family the strength they need to endure their profound loss.  We never get over these losses, but somehow we get through them with the love of family and friends and with the help of God and ordinary angels.

With deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences,

Linda J. Richardson, Former Principal
Ann Street School
Newark, N.J.

So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing.Remember the days of Mom n Dad . My condolences to Nellie and family. May he RIP.    JACK Guiliano

My sincere condolences to the entire CRESCIONE FAMILY!
Joe was a dear friend as well as his sisters , father and mother.
A beautiful family that always remembered the families that were from the neighborhood.
Joe succeeded in following in his Dad’s footsteps always very kind and generous to the families of Paterson ! RIP GOOD FRIEND!
🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️❤️
Joe Pezzano & Family

To the family of Joe,

I want to express not only my deepest sympathy, but also my deep admiration for the incredible love Joe had for each of you. He spoke of his wife and family with such warmth, pride and devotion. It was clear that you were the center of his world.

The way he loved his wife was something truly special. He cherished their bond and often spoke about how lucky he felt to walk through life by her side. His eyes would light up when he mentioned her name. 

And when it came to his family, his heart was even fuller. He loved being surrounded by you all especially the moment with his grandchildren. His family was his world, his purpose, and his greatest pride.

That love was his legacy- one that will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. I’m holding you all in my thought and prayers during this difficult time.

Joe you will be truly missed… Thank you for your friendship with heartfelt sympathy.

 Nancy Shafrin
Parent liaison School 21

My Condolences to the family I will keep you in my prayers

The passing of my dear friend Joe deeply saddens me. He was someone who truly lived with purpose, always speaking warmly about life, his beloved family, and especially his wife, son, daughter Cristine, and his grandchildren, who meant the world to him.

In our last conversation in February, even while recovering, Joe remained full of determination and passion. He talked about not letting anything hold him back. That was just who he was—resilient, driven, and always looking forward.

Joe had a generous spirit. He often emphasized the importance of giving back and took pride in the charities he supported throughout his life. He dedicated himself to serving the community through his work, and his contribution to the many schools in New Jersey through his photography business, Schoolcraft, was something he was incredibly proud of. His impact will be felt for many years to come.

I will miss his stories, his laugh, and the way he always made time for what truly mattered, paying attention to the specific details in the photos and everything he created.

Rest in peace, my friend. Your legacy lives on in the countless lives you touched.

Lissa Santiago

To My Brother Joe:

You were a man with a beautiful soul and uncompromising  integrity. 

May God bless your family during this difficult time but please find comfort in knowing (family) his soul went to rest with the Lord and I will miss my brother smile, advice, laughter and conversations.

Love forever brother;
Derrick Hoff
Principal PS 26

Joe was an amazing man. It feels like we’re losing a whole generation of those larger-than-life figures, and it’s incredibly sad. He was such a hard worker and visited me in my office right before Spring Break, wish I knew it was our last visit! 

He will be missed!

My friend! My heart hurts. You welcomed me and my daughters to the community with open arms. Im so grateful you came by last summer to my cook out. I will cherish every text and quick hello's we shared on Maxie Lane. May you rest in peace friend. Forever in our hearts❤️

ARLENE AND FAMILY,

TWO THINGS 
ILL  ALWAYS REMEMBER JOE TRYING TO BURN CALORIES PLAYING BASKET BALL IN THE DRIVEWAY WEARING A GARBAGE BAG.  WE WERE HAVING A BARBECUE WHEN O.J. WAS ESCAPING IN HIS BRONCO AND JOE WAS GLUED TO THE TV.  JOE WAS ALWAYS A FUN GUY TO BE WITH AND A GOOD MAN.  REST IN PEACE.
JOE, PLEASE GIVE GENE A BIG HUG IN HEAVEN. IM SURE YOU HAVE A LOT TO CATCH UP WITH.
LOVE, BEVERLY SUDOL

Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the Crescione Family! We have been extremely blessed to have known Joe for many years.  He was not only our partner in making memories behind a camera, but also a friend in connecting with our personal lives. 

Joe was as down to earth as they come – a warm smile, a kind word, and an energy that instantly made people feel comfortable. To know him was to know humility, heart, and genuineness. His ability to connect with people was unmatched; truly a gem. Whether Joe arrived with a bag of bagels, a box of sandwiches, or even empty-handed – what we truly appreciated was the time he took to tell us stories. His conversations ignited curiosity; we were always interested and eager for Joe to share the latest updates about his lovely family that we have grown connected to over the course of the vivid narratives he shared. Every time Joe visited, he would always leave us with his last words – “Love you girls!” – to which we smiled and said back – “Love you, too!”   

Joe captured our hearts throughout his career; his spirit will live on in every smile he captured and every soul he touched. Thank you for always seeing the beauty in everything around you – and in all of us. 

God bless the Crescione family, our prayers will always be with you!

Joe’s Forever Friends, 

Mrs. N. Castro, Principal
Mrs. V. Larosiliere, Vice Principal
School No. 28/PAGT
Paterson, NJ

In Loving Memory

We are deeply saddened by the loss of such a gifted photographer and an even more remarkable human being. Your lens captured the world with rare beauty, compassion, and truth — but it was your kindness, generosity, and humility that touched everyone around you even more.

You were a storyteller not just through images, but through the way you treated others — always with respect, empathy, and light. Your presence made the world brighter, and your absence leaves a space that can never be filled.

May your memory continue to inspire us to see beauty, to treat others with care, and to live with the same heart and soul you brought to every moment.

Rest peacefully, dear friend.

Arlene and family I am so sorry to hear the passing of Joe. He was one of the most generous and genuine people I have ever met in my life. We met at Sparta high school when he was there with SchoolCraft getting set up for pictures. We struck up a conversation and one thing led to another. He and I formed a friendship and got together to do a girls basketball high school tournament fundraiser. The money was raised for The Valerie Fund (helping children with blood cancers). Joe and I worked side by side on this and ran it for 2 years! I loved talking to him and working with him! He was so kind, hard working and beyond generous! I am so thankful that I was able to know and work with this amazing man! Rest in peace Joe ❤️ 
~ Cath Wille

I remember when my cousin Arlene first started dating Joe and she bought him to our big Italian family dinners in Vailsberg.  We new he was a bg deal since he was the first boy friend we had met of Arlene.  He fit right with our family.  He was always kind and funny to me and my brother. I remember going to their wedding as a boy and how awsome it was.  He was a class act. My condolences to Arlene and family and friends.

My sincere condolences to the family. Joe was  an amazing, caring and positive individual who always had a smile on his face every time he visited me at School 19 when it was time for our school pictures.  Always had a box of Jersey Mike’s sandwiches. We had great conversations every time. He will be missed but not forgotten. R.I.P. Joe! Heaven received a great Angel. 

Sincere condolences,
Marcos Ortiz

So sorry for your loss. Joe came to PS #5 in Paterson often to photograph the kids. Such a kind, generous and personable guy!

Joe, your buddy is there waiting for you, Try not to get into too much mischief 🙏
 I’ll never forget how we both treasured yours and Arlene’s  friendship .  The laughs, fun times, great dinners , conversations . crazy hatchet throwing … but most of all how wonderful you were when Sal was so sick and spent time with him during those difficult days.  
Many treasured memories , you will always have a special place in my heart . Love you and will miss you greatly . ❤️‍🩹🙏

It was with deep sadness to hear that my dear friend of over forty years has moved on to his resting place. I will always cherish our conversations about family which always outweighed the talk about business. Joe has always been an advocate for Paterson Schools and supported me in all the schools I have taught and currently lead.  Our friendship will be greatly missed. You are a true friend indeed.
Rest well my friend . I will never forget you.

Mr. Derwin W. Smith
Principal
Dr. Frank Napier School of Technology
Paterson, NJ

Joe was a true gem.  He always had a smile on his face and loved to chat.  He always held my dad “doc” in high regard and would ask about him whenever he saw me.  Little did he know my dad felt the same way about him. He admired Joe and his business acumen.  May he rest in eternal peace surrounded  by all those who went before him.  🙏🕊️

Joe, I can't tell you what a pleasure it's been knowing you for over 4 decades. 
I will never forget the work we did together. The great conversations we had and the advice you always gave.
You've been like up Big Brother to me all these years. 
John Zolnier

OBITUARY

Joseph G. Crescione

September 8, 1953 – April 19, 2025

Royal Palm Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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