Final Salute

Joseph Daniel Cortese

Joseph Daniel Cortese, 86, beloved father, grandfather, husband, uncle and friend, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at home, surrounded by family, after a long battle with bladder cancer.

Joe was born Sept. 14, 1933, in Niles, to Sam and Mary Caroppoli Cortese.

He graduated from Niles McKinley High School in 1951, where he was a member of the Niles McKinley Band. As a boy, he worked at the local movie theater and then at Copperweld Steel, while in high school.

After graduation, Joe served as a Seabee for the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956. While stationed in Cuba, he established, led and played trumpet for a band composed of his fellow servicemen.

He attended Youngstown State University and graduated with a degree in accounting in 1959. Joe was very active in the Nu Sigma Rho and Sigma Tau Gamma fraternities and made lifelong friendships during this time.

While at YSU, a good friend introduced him to Claire Sozio, whom he married April 30, 1960.

Joe’s favorite job was as the director of ITT Business College and he spent most of his career as a CPA at Reali, Giampetro and Scott, from which he retired in 2001.

Joe was elected Liberty Township clerk in 1963 and was also a member of the zoning board and chairman of the committee for the new township hall. In other areas of service, he was a member of the South Side Lions Club and served on the board of directors for both the Youngstown Playhouse and the Oakland Center for the Arts.

Joe loved being on stage, especially with his daughter and son-in-law. He performed in several plays at the Youngstown Playhouse; he and his wife, Claire, worked as backstage crew for shows at the Youngstown Playhouse and Oakland Center for the Arts and volunteered at Easy Street Productions.

In 2005, Joe and Claire moved to Tallahassee, Fla., to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and grandkids. They had many wonderful years of trips to Joe and Claire’s favorite place, Walt Disney World, and even took a few Disney cruises together. In 2010, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with the family on a Disney cruise. Joe received his nickname, Turbo Joe, because of his excitement for visiting the Disney parks — he was up early to lead the pack to a day full of fun.

Joe loved building model ships, flying model airplanes (he was a member of the Seminole Radio Control Club) and watching football (especially Ohio State).

Joe leaves behind his daughter, Juliann Cortese (John Campana) of Tallahassee; cherished grandchildren, Joelie and Jace Campana of Tallahassee; sister-in-law, Noreen Sozio (Hal Matthews) of Denver, Colo.; niece, Christina Sozio Blanch of Denver; nephews and their wives (whom he was as close to as sons and daughters), Daniel and Cheryl Clark of Green Valley, Ariz. and Samuel and Donna Davis of Canfield’; nephews, Paul Davis, James Joseph Davis, Eddie Stulock and Jim Hart; and several great-nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Claire Sozio Cortese, who passed away March 6, 2019; his parents, Sam and Mary Cortese; his sisters and brothers-in-law, Rose and Paul Davis and Mary Louise and Edward Stulock; and his niece, Mary Hart.

No funeral arrangements have been made at this time. Joe will be laid to rest in Crown Hill Burial Park in Vienna at a later date.

Those wishing to honor Joe may consider having a Mass said for him at their local church or donating to their favorite charity in his name.

Arrangements handled by Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home.