Joe died May 17, 2020.
Joe was part of the USNR 1946 contingent sent from Princeton to Cornell in 1945, where he majored in electrical engineering; he later earned a master’s degree in plastics engineering at Princeton.
After Joe’s service in the Navy as a lieutenant, he spent seven years with Dow Chemical as an engineer in the plastics technical-service department. He then became one of the founders of Sweetheart Plastics, then Maryland Cup. He served as the vice president of operations for 28 years, with a stint in England to run the company’s English subsidiary. As a pioneer in the plastics industry, he never stopped working to improve the industry and was a board member and president of the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Joe was an avid golfer, tennis player, and pool player. He and his wife were founding members of Nashawtuc Country Club. Joe kept himself busy outside of work as a religious education teacher and Little League coach. He recounted his philosophy of life as maintaining a great family, raising the kids properly, and improving upon everything that he participated in, whether that be a committee, a friendship, or a community.
He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mary. Joe is survived by children Laura Vilain McDonald, Linda Ziemba, Tim, and Greg; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.