Obituary of Joseph John Esposito

     Joseph John “Joe” Esposito passed away peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on October 22, 2018.

     Joe was born to the late Frank and Mary Esposito in Englewood, NJ on September 26, 1947.  Joe was predeceased by his wife Mary and was treasured by his son Joseph and Rosy.  He is survived by many loving relatives, including his sister Marilyn, her husband Chris and their two children Jason and Jesse.

     Joe called Fairview, NJ home for most of his life, and his proximity to the city made him a lifelong fan of New York sports teams, in particular the New York Yankees. Joe was no stranger to the baseball diamond either having played the sport for many years. He often spent weekends and weeknights teaching his son and nephews how to pitch a ball and swing a bat.  His love for the outdoors didn’t stop at baseball as Joe also enjoyed fishing for its relaxing, and at times challenging, nature. He was also an avid bird watcher, taking his binoculars out in the backyard during warm summer evenings to spot hawks and falcons that might be soaring overhead.

     Joe’s greatest passions were threefold – the art of the deal, cars, and history. Whether they were garage sales, military shows, flea markets, or estate sales, there was nothing Joe loved more than hunting for rare finds and collectibles. If he found something, or if he was selling his own collection, Joe loved talking to people about unique items and their stories. He was a man who could sell ice to an Eskimo and ketchup to a woman in white gloves.

     When he wasn’t deal-hunting, Joe was working on his cars. Waxing, cleaning, detailing, and tinkering with his mustangs and trucks. He would often take his son and nephews out for joyrides, regularly exceeding the speed limit on backroads and highways.

     Where Joe really felt at home though was talking history with friends and family members. He could wax poetic on any period, and he had a knack for presenting a view or opinion that would make anyone rethink the course of events. At family events, sitting at the dinner table long after the plates and bowls had been cleared, Joe would captivate an audience with little-known stories from World War II and prevent dessert from ever being served. With a magnetic personality and an unyielding spirit, it never mattered how late Joe showed up, the party did not start until he arrived.

     Visitation at McCorry Brothers, 780 Anderson Ave., Cliffside Park, NJ, on Thursday October 25 from 4-8PM.  Funeral from McCorry Brothers on Friday at 9:30AM for interment in Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, NJ.