Lasting Memories

Joseph L. Giarrusso
Feb. 21, 1926-July 25, 2015
Menlo Park, California

Joseph Giarrusso, of Menlo Park, CA, passed away peacefully on July 25, 2015. He was born in February of 1926, in Johnston, RI, the 9th child of Italian immigrants Giovanni and Marianna (Pampa) Giarrusso and grew up in the Italian district on Federal Hill in Providence, RI.

In 1944, he was drafted and served as an infantryman with the 87th Inf. Div. in Gen. Patton?s 3rd Army, seeing action in the Battle of the Bulge. At the end of the war in Europe, he was in the process of heading to California to be re-outfitted and trained for the anticipated invasion of Japan when the war ended and was transferred to Dibble Army Hospital in Menlo Park to serve as a technical specialist until his discharge in 1946.

It was during his time that he met Patricia Patterson, descendant of a pioneering Menlo Park family, at a USO event and they were later married in May of 1946.

Upon his discharge, he joined the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union and became a journeyman tile setter. In 1967, he formed Quintana Tile Company with his partner Ernest Quintana and the company was successful until their joint retirements around 2000.

He was an active member of the American Legion Post 474 in Half Moon Bay as well as the Italian American Social Club in Menlo Park.

He is preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Patricia Giarrusso and second wife of 5 years Elizabeth Seitz. He is survived by his daughter, Mary Ann McDonald and her husband Lance of Half Moon Bay, his son, Joseph Giarrusso and his wife Caroline and two grandchildren, Hannah and Lucas of Menlo Park and his brother Orlando Giarrusso of N. Providence, RI. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.