Joseph Charles Blasco Sr.

Joseph Charles “Joe” Blasco Sr. of Westlake Village, California, passed away on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the age of 95. He was born on March 28, 1930, at his family’s home in Chicago, Illinois, where he grew up. His parents were Santa “Sadie” Vanaria and Carmelo Blasco, Italian immigrants, both born in Nicosia, a small town in Sicily.

When Joe was born, he had five siblings ages ranging from ages 20 to 10 —Pete, John, Sam, Santo, and Mary. All, especially Mary, doted on the new baby. Yet, Joe was not the baby for long because brother Michael was born 18 months later. Joe had a wonderful childhood in Chicago with his loving family, Italian traditions, his dedication to his studies, and playing sports, especially baseball. Joe did not consider himself an Italian speaker, but when Joe would occasionally speak some Italian from his childhood, Joe had a true native accent.

Wife Loretta Bradley, his high school sweetheart and the mother of his four children, predeceased Joe. Joe dearly loved his four children: Joseph Jr. “Joey”, Valerie Marie, James “Jimmy”, and Carmelo “Carmie”. Unfortunately, Joe had to endure the sorrow of the deaths of three of his children. Joe was forever grateful that son Carmelo remained alive.

Joe’s parents and many siblings migrated to Southern California, a warmer climate like Sicily’s. In the mid-1950s Joe, Loretta, and their young children followed. For many years, his three sons loved being on baseball teams, and Joe supported them all along. He was a dedicated coach. Joe understood baseball well. Joe gave the boys endless tips on how to hold the bat, use the glove, throw, catch, etc. Joe’s daughter Valerie made him proud by being the star reader of her class. When one encounters someone from those olden days at St. Frances Cabrini School, they comment that his Valerie was the smartest in the class. All remember his son Jimmy as a very intelligent person. With his innate ingenuity, Jimmy could figure out how things operated and how to repair them when no one else could. All were amazed by Jimmy’s craftmanship and creativity, especially when he made furniture.

Joe had a keen technical mind, which led him to earning a degree in chemical engineering. Joe retired from the Arco Richfield Company as a chemical/petroleum engineer.

Joe married Anne Lawless in the early 1970s. During their happy marriage until Anne’s death in the year 2000, they resided in Sherman Oaks, CA. Both were devoted to Joe’s children and grandchildren and visited constantly with both Joe’s and Anne’s extended families --siblings, nieces, and nephews. For a hobby, Joe and Anne started taking music lessons, which began Joe’s love of playing the accordion.

During retirement, Joe faithfully continued taking accordion lessons until his early 90s. Joe was a member of the Accordionaires’ Club. He may have been the last of its founding members. Joe played with their pops orchestra, performing in various cities. Some examples: Thousand Oaks (Performing Arts Center), Santa Barbara, CA, and as far away as Portland, Oregon.

During the last 12 years of his life, Joe’s special lady was Donna Graen Larkin. They had a true and loyal closeness, watching out for each other’s health, happiness, safety, and well-being. Together they kept up with Dodger events and their families, made interesting trips, supported his interest in accordion, and attended Sunday Mass services. Joe and Donna made a nostalgic tour of Joe’s childhood neighborhood in Chicago’s south side. During Joe’s decline in health, Donna visited him almost daily and was with Joe when he took his last breath.

Joe enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading novels, and checking out the daily news’ sport section. His engineer’s mind loved to solve all types of puzzles: crosswords, Sudoku, and varied technical mind games. He played tennis with nephew Chas during his younger years and was a member of the Westlake Village tennis club until his mid-eighties. Joe had a sincere and deep devotion to his Catholic faith. Joe was a parishioner of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Westlake Village.

There were always family get-togethers. His sister Mary would gather everyone to celebrate the many March/April birthdays. In Wildomar, Joey’s daughters Theresa and Kristie held many celebrations throughout the years. Niece Maureen pulled the clan together for Joe’s 80th birthday. Joe and Donna helped organize a Carmie family reunion in Charlotte, North Carolina. For Joe’s 95th birthday, there was a wonderful assembly of Joe Blasco fans, with 10-year-old great-grand-nephew Caden reciting the traditional poem “When Grandpa was a Boy. Family gatherings were unending.

Granddaughter Kristie wrote, with input from sister Theresa: “Our wonderful Grandfather’s impact on our lives is immeasurable. He was a constant source of wisdom and love! We looked forward to spending our summers at Grandpa’s house, in Sherman Oaks, with our cousins: watching him at the kitchen table doing crossword puzzles, helping our Dads (Joey and Carmie) with house projects--Grandpa loved putting his tool bags on to show his boys how it’s done! Playing his accordion, tennis, teaching us how to cook like a real Italian, are just a few fond memories we will cherish forever. Grandpa would drive out to visit us on the weekends ever since we were little. His visits were always the best. He adored his great-grandchildren, and they loved their “Little Papa.” While Grandpa was nearing his eternal life with the Lord, we were fortunate enough to give him the news: he had a Great-Great-Grandchild on the way! We know he will watch over his pride and joy, Great-Granddaughter Kayla Blasco becoming a new mother to Axell Joseph. Grandpa had a way of making each of us feel special. His presence was always a gift, and his love will inspire us for generations to come.”

Joe was able to stay in his own home until age 93 ½ , but unfortunately, old age caught up with him, and Joe needed to move to Meadowbrook Senior Living, in Agoura Hills. During Joe’s final years, in addition to Donna and Joe’s immediate family, most of Joe’s nieces and nephews from near and quite far were able to visit their beloved Uncle Joe-- or if not able to travel, the nieces and nephews would send their Uncle Joe cheerful notes.

Joe is survived by son Carmelo, companion Donna Graen, granddaughters Theresa, Kristie, Alyssa, Angela, Alexandria, grandson Anthony, ten great-grandchildren, his many nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Marianne Blasco, and brother-in-law Jim Lawless. All Joe’s siblings pre-deceased him.

All will miss Joe Blasco—family, his accordion group, and his Westlake Village friends.

Be with God, Joe.

A service for Joe will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Wildomar Cemetery, in Riverside County, California. Joe will be buried next to his son Joey, a Purple Heart Veteran from the Vietnam War.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in honor of Joe Blasco to the Alzheimer Association, to St. Jude’s Catholic Church Westlake Village, to the Wounded Warriors Project, or to another charity of your choice.