Joseph A. Persivale Jr.

Age 75
WhiteHouse Station

Joseph "Joe" A. Persivale Jr., while on vacation in Massachusetts, died unexpectedly after a very brief illness on Thursday, May 16, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA.

Joe was born in Muhlenburg Hospital, Plainfield, New Jersey, on April 29, 1938 and grew up in Bridgewater. He attended Finderne Grammar School and graduated for Somerville High School in 1956. He went on to graduate from Cornell University, Class of 1960, and the attended William and Mary Graduate School. He always spoke of Cornell and Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity with great pride.
Mr. Persivale was a Research Pathologist (senior scientist and supervisor of Histopathology) for many years at Ethicon, Inc. in Bridgewater until his retirement in 1995. He then worked a short time for Bristol Myer Squibb. Until his death, Joe was also employed by Corbo's Gulf Station in North Branch, NJ.

He enjoyed playing golf, liked to bowl, ski and attend classic car shows. He was also an avid New York Yankees fan. As a father, he also enjoyed travelling with and supporting his children's competitive sports such as soccer, wrestling, gymnatics and ballet. Joe enjoyed spending time travelling with his family to Cape Cod, the Berkshires in western Massachusetts and the Jersey Shore.

He is survived by his former wife Eugenie ("Genie"), married for over 40 years of Whitehouse Station; two wonderful children, Joseph A. III and his wife Caroline of Des Plaines, IL and Leigh A. Alo and her husband Joseph of Lansing, NY; four grandchildren Emily Marie, Natalie Joan of Des Plaines, Stephen Joseph and Elizabeth Leigh of Lansing; one cousin Emily Persivale-Mortara and family of Flemington, NJ and the Pellerano family of Plainfield; his nieces Suzan Charon and Paula Wol. Joe was predeceased by his parents Joseph A. Persivale and Jeannette Cieri-Persivale, both born in Italy. He will be sincerely missed by his family and friends.

Visiting hours from 6pm to 9pm on Thursday, May 23, at the Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville