Joseph Carlyle D’Annunzio Jr. entered God’s kingdom on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 as he lay in the loving arms of his wife of 46 years, Barbara, in his Golden Eagle home where he had lived for over 25 years.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1925, Joe soon moved to Trenton, New Jersey. In school Joe excelled in academics and sports. Unable to accept an appointment to Annapolis due to an eye problem, Joe entered the U.S. Navy V-12 program. This earned him a B.S. in Engineering from Columbia University in New York City and a Navy commission. He was elected to the Tau Beta Pi engineering fraternity for having maintained excellence in academic performance at Columbia, and he lettered in Varsity Basketball. Following graduation the Navy then sent Joe to Steam Engineering school and to Norfolk, Virginia where he was stationed aboard the U.S.S.LCS (L) (3) 1 more affectionately known as “The Dirty Ace.” Joe received the Navy medal for Active service in World War II and the Navy medal for service in the American Theatre Campaign of World War II.
Following his Navy discharge in 1946 Joe enrolled in Swarthmore College, where he played varsity soccer and distinguished himself as an All-American Soccer player and Olympic alternate. He graduated with a B.S. in Psychology in 1949.
After college, Joe joined his father’s firm, D & W Blueprint, in Trenton, New Jersey, expanding the business first to a complete reprographics business and, then, to the largest reprographics business in the State of New Jersey.
In January 1970 Joe met Barbara Bates and the two began a beautiful romance that would last over 46 years. They married in July of that year aboard the Leonardo De Vinci in New York Harbor and sailed to Europe where they honeymooned in Italy before taking up residence first in Morristown, New Jersey and then in Barrington, Illinois. Their life has been a beautiful love story between two wonderful friends, witnessed and admired by many.
Joe was hired in 1969 by Keuffel and Esser, an engineering supply company, as their Vice-President of Marketing. Shortly thereafter, Teledyne Post, hired Joe away from K & E as President of Teledyne Post in Des Plaines, Illinois. Joe quickly distinguished himself and soon became known as the Teledyne “turn-around” specialist, adding to his charge eight additional companies. He reworked these eight struggling entities until they were out of financial trouble and brought them all back to profitable status. Among his many professional accomplishments, Joe was granted a patent for his development of erasable vellum paper. Joe served as the President for the National Coaters Associations. He also served as keynote speaker and in leadership positions for the International Association of Blue Printers and Allied Industries, in demand by all six regional reprographics organizations; Joe D’Annunzio was truly a giant in the industry. During this period Joe lived in Barrington, Illinois and traveled extensively for business. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Central Railroad. He was a member of the Barrington Hills Country Club, Chicago Horticultural Society, Barrington Presbyterian Church, Barrington Play Reading Group, The Meadow Tennis Club, Fox Point Bridge and Tennis Club. He was also the owner and CEO of Northstar Reprographics in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Following retirement from Teledyne Joe and Barbara moved to Tallahassee where Joe entered Florida State College of Law at the age of 72. He graduated at age 75, passed the bar exam and was sworn in on New Year’s Day 2000, by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Major Harding. Joe D’Annunzio was the first new Florida attorney of the new millennium. Joe favored employment law and worked both in companies and as a sole practitioner finally retiring at 87. He served on the Executive Board of the Golden Eagle Homes Association and was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed all the musical events at FSU especially the Tallahassee Community Chorus and traveled with the chorus to Carnegie Hall and to China. Joe loved pro football and was a faithful Patriots fan. He was proud supporter of Jimbo Bo Fisher and the Florida State Football program. For 16 years Joe was always in the company of his devoted black lab Puccini who proceeded him in death in August of 2016. Puccini and Joe were truly devoted to one another.
Joe was a total Renaissance man and enjoyed opera, bridge, computers, sailing, astronomy, theatre, downhill skiing, and business, among others things. He had the privilege of serving as a supernumerary at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for several seasons. In appearance he was sartorially elegant and well-lettered. On this paternal side he descended from the Italian Baron and Baronessa Cauli from the Italian town of Casalanguida in the province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Additionally, it is rumored that he is related to the late raconteur, poet, novelist, war hero, and lover, Gabrielle D’Annunzio (perhaps a paternal cousin).
Joe was preceded in death, by his mother, Lillian Decrescenzo D’Annunzio, his father, Joseph Carlyle D’Annunzio, Sr., by his sister, Lola, a Broadway /Film actress, and by his Aunt Jean “Jenny” Denow of Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and Tallahassee, Florida. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Barbara Bates D’Annunzio of Tallahassee. Also surviving are his older sister Lillian D’Annunzio Keephart of Ewing, New Jersey; devoted nephew William Joseph Keephart , devoted niece Lydia Fabbro Keephart , Little Nell Keephart, Lawrenceville, New Jersey; Jonathan Fabbro Keephart, Alexandra Salerno Keephart, Atlas Henry Keephart, Malvern, Pennsylvania; a niece Jo Ann Keephart, and Dave Stradling, Hamilton, New Jersey; daughter Gabrielle D’Annunzio Burke and Lawrence J. Burke, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; daughter Jolie D’Annunzio, San Francisco California; son Sandy Joseph D’Annunzio, Janet Erley D’Annunzio, David D’Annunzio, Lisa Claire D’Annunzio Thurber, Kaleb Thurber, of Piedmont California; Christine Fabbro Brunner, Daniel Bruner, Harper Elizabeth Brunner, and Hunter Leo Brunner, of New York City; Elizabeth Brunner, New Canaan, Connecticut; Glenda Fabbro, Indian Shores, Florida; Michael Allen Tierney, Marcy Olin Tierney, of New York City; Joseph Patrick Tierney, Eleanor “Elly” Tierney, of Annapolis, Maryland; a loving cousin in Aloha, Oregon, Louise Jinglesse DeCrescenzo Bohr and Mark Bohr; Sadiye Bedestani, of Yardville, New Jersey; devoted caregivers Vicky McNair and Leroy McNair; as well as a sister-in law in Tallahassee Patricia Bates Trotta, and Joseph Anthony Trotta. Additionally he has a host of dear friends in Tallahassee, the Chicago area and in New Jersey. A Celebration of Life service for Joe will be held later this spring in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
The visitation for Joe will be held at Christ Presbyterian Church on 2317 Bannerman Road on April 7th from 6:00 to 8:00p.m. The funeral service will be the following day, April 8th, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, with internment immediately following at Culley’s Meadowwood on Timberlane Road.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to:
FSU College of Law, 425 Jefferson Street Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Tallahassee Community Chorus, PO Box 13083 Tallahassee, Florida 32317-3083
Christ Presbyterian Church, 2317 Bannerman Road Tallahassee, Florida 32312
Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5428
Arrangement are being handled by Culley’s MeadowWood 700 Timberlane Road Tallahassee, FL 850.893.4177
