Joseph Michael Calabria (1929 - 2018)

Born 8 Jul 1929 in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey, United States

Died 23 Nov 2018 at age 89 in North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Joseph was born in 1929. He passed away in 2018.

Sources

• 1930 Census
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 01 January 2021), memorial page for Joseph Michael Calabria (8 Jul 1929–23 Nov 2018), Find a Grave Memorial no. 214961367, citing Northlake Memorial Gardens, Huntersville, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Susan I. Grills (contributor 47149766) .
• Obituary for Joseph Calabria

Joseph M. Calabria of Cornelius, North Carolina passed away on Friday, November 23, 2018, at the age of 89, after a most unusual, rich and full life.

He was born on July 8, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ. The oldest of seven children of the late Josephine and Salvatore Calabria. He graduated from A. Harry Moore School, a disability school in Jersey City, NJ. Later he graduated from Henry Snyder High School, also in Jersey City and Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ with honors.

At the age of two he survived the Polio epidemic. Seven other neighborhood children succumbed at that time. Due to the recognition of his survival he decided to help others all of his life.

After operating the only general store in Riverdale NJ for several years, and working as a Real Estate sales person for three years, he completed his Master’s Degree and Doctoral Equivalent.

He then joined the teaching staff of Union Hill High School in Union City, NJ as a substitute. He rose in the school ranks as an Assistant Principal, then Principal and then Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the most crowded city in the United States.

Appearing before Congress, he succeeded in getting funding from Congress for fleeing Cubans from the Castro Regime. He also served as Tax Collector for many months in Ridgefield, New Jersey. Before leaving Union City for Cornelius NC, he labored for many months to prepare plans for a new High School with a playing field on the roof.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Julianna L. Calabria. His first wife, Mildred passed away on April 14, 1979, from Leukemia. His four sons are, Joseph M. Calabria Jr. (Marianne) of Matthews NC, Salvatore M. Calabria (Nancy) of Cornelius NC, Matthew M. Calabria (Molly) of Fuquay Varina, NC and Gregory M Calabria of Huntersville, NC; five grandchildren, Joseph (Adrianne) Christine (Kris), Jamie, Nicholas and Eleanor; three sisters, Angela Meglio, Janet Beeckman and Jackie Olivetti and a brother, Patrick Calabria. He is also predeceased by a brother, Dominick Calabria and a sister, Gloria Petrane.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 until 6:00 pm, Sunday, November 25, at James Funeral Home, 10520 Arahova Drive, Huntersville, NC. His Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, November 26 in St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 14740 Stumpton Road, Huntersville, NC 28078. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Region, https://hpccr.thankyou4caring.org/ or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.