Joseph (AKA Joe) Del Vecchio left this earthly life on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 to be with his Lord, Jesus Christ. He was born on April 18, 1923 in Hackensack, N.J. Joe graduated from Bogota High School in 1941 and Montclair State Teachers College in 1948. He served in the military between 1943 and 1946 as a trained Lab Technician aboard the hospital ship U.S. Emily Weider Army Hospital Ship in both the European and Pacific areas.
After graduation from College, he and Mary Mac Gown were married in 1948 in the Congregation Church in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He continued with his education and earned a Masters Degree in Microbiology from Montclair State Teachers College. Then continued on his education earning another 72 credits in his major during a sabbatical term at the University of Pennsylvania. He taught at Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, N.J. for 19 years and the 16 years at Kean College of New Jersey.
During the working years he raised a family of four, was active in both church and community. Together they started a 4-H Club in their neighborhood, worked together in organizing CROP WALKS for the community to raise funds for world hunger and self help projects in third world nations. Joe was president in the Parent Teacher Organization, also was active in Monmouth Presbytery. He was also a delegate to Synod and General Assembly.
Joe and his family were campers and hikers. They camped in all the lower 48 except Oregon, Washington and Idaho. They hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon twice, once from the south rim when the children were still young and once again from the north rim after the children were grown up. They hiked many miles of the Appalachian Trail including the climb to the mile high northern terminus of Mt. Katahdin. Retirement began in 1982 and with it a move to Vero Beach, Florida.
Still active during his retirement years he was elected an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach and again a delegate to General Assembly. After his eldership he was elected a Deacon in the church. On two separate occasions he was part of the team that went to Ticul, Mexico on a mission tour. Then in January of 2003 both Joe and Mary departed America to become volunteer missionaries in Papua New Guinea for two and a half years. They served as managers of the Shipping Center in Lae, PNG. All surface goods for Summer Institute of Linguistics (the education arm of Wycliffe Bible Translators) arriving or departing go through the Lae, shipping center.
Joe had long been a fine wood worker making furniture or building Habitat for Humanity houses or the joy of making toys for grandchildren. When the house began to look more like a toy store, a new business was born, and given the name of MAJOCRAFTS. While Joe made toys, Mary used her photography to make note cards and together started attending craft shows making friends with other crafters along the way.

He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary, of Vero Beach, FL; son, James of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; son, Robert of Bernardsville, NJ; daughter, Ruth of Wilson, WI; daughter, Jody of Waxhaw, NC; sister Mary Fields of Southhampton, CT; sister, Bridget Criscuola of Sunnyside, NY; brother, Pasquale Del Vecchio of Birmingham, AL; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
The family will be hosting a memorial service to celebrate Joes life during his journey on this planet at 10:30am on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Associates.
WBT has a goal - Gods Word will be translated into the mother tongue of every language in the world. This has been both Joes and Marys passion for many years. Contributions can be sent to: Wycliffe Bible Volunteers, P.O. Box 6281, Orlando, FL 32862-8211
Arrangements are under the direction of Cox-Gifford-Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach, Florida. Condolences may be sent through www.coxgiffordseawinds.com