Joseph A. Cortazzo

Joseph A. Cortazzo, 91, of Roseto, died on January 5, 2025. Joseph was born in Washington Township, PA, a son of the late Anthony and Angeline (Cimino) Cortazzo. He graduated from Bangor High School and Temple University majoring in Electronic Technology. Joseph honorable served in the US Army during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion Post 750 of Roseto. In 2014, he was nominated and selected to be inducted into the Bangor Area High Alumni “1885” Club. This prestigious honor is only bestowed on graduates who have achieved great honor and distinction in their communities and/or chosen fields of endeavor. After graduating from Temple University was employed by General Electric Company at Cape Canaveral, Florida on the guidance system of our country’s first generation I.C.B.M., the Atlas Missile, participating in launch countdowns He was then assigned to Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Atlas Missle guidance systems installations and to check out the system performance. While on assignment at Warren Air Force Base, he met his wife the former Jacqueline March, also from Pennsylvania and they have been married for 64 years. Then was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base to train Air Force personnel in the operation and maintence of the guidance systems. After completing participation in the Atlas Projects was assigned to work on a prototype Nuclear Detection System that covered the Washington, DC area. His next assignment was to return to Kennedy Space Center to work on the Apollo Moon Landing project. Work consisted of the installation of checkout stations and launch countdowns of Apollo command Modules and the lunar Excersion Modules which landed on the Moon. After leaving General Electric returned to the Slate Belt area, working at M&M Mars as a trainer for electrical Maintenance personnel. Also was an instructor at the Career Institute of Technology Adult Program in Programmable Controllers. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Roseto In addition to his wife Jacqueline, he is survived by a son Anthony, a daughter Agnes Schwartz, and her husband Bruce, twin granddaughters; Nicole and her husband Scott Smith, and their twins Jackson and Joslyn and Angeline and her husband Bruce Carney and their daughter McKenzie. He was predeceased by a sister Carolyn and a brother Daniel. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Third & Garibaldi Avenues Roseto. There will be no calling hours. Entombment with Military honors will be in the Queen of Heaven Mausoleum, Roseto. Services are under the care of the Fiore Funeral Home 230 Market Street Bangor. In place of flowers, memorial donations should be made in Joseph’s name to either The Sanctuary at Haafville, 901 Nestle Way Breingsville, PA 18031, or Awson Animal Shelter PO Box 13 Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Online condolences may be offered at www.fiorefuneralhome.com

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Joseph A. Cortazzo

February 23, 1933 - January 5, 2025