Founder's Circle of the WWII Museum in New Orleans: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/ National Parks Foundation: https://www.nationalparks.org/ U.S. National Forest - A Living Tribute: https://shop.alivingtribute.org/collections/a-living-tribute/products/tree-planting-with-commemorative-card

Joseph Anthony Vitale was born on August 26, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Flatbush. Joe passed away on February 7, 2024 at the age of 99. Joe served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946 during WWII with the 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, mechanized, including the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes, Central Europe and Rhineland. He was wounded in action and awarded the Purple Heart and was honorably discharged after the war ended in 1946. Upon returning home in 1946, Joe resumed working at the Brooklyn Army Base as a clerk typist, attended Brooklyn College and City College (Baruch) to attain his BBA and eventually became the Chief of the Manpower Division. In 1969, he became the Chief Administrator for the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York until 1981. Upon his retirement from government service, he worked as an administrator in the private sector until 1991 when he fully retired. Joe enjoyed spending time with family, reading, doing crossword puzzles, bowling, billiards and poker. Joe married Joan (nee Pecoraro) in 1950. Joe & Joan (d. 2003) had 2 children, a daughter, Susan (Jay) Lipman and a son, Paul (Marie) Vitale. In addition to his children and their spouses, Joe is survived by his 5 grandchildren Timothy Lipman (Hilary Walters), Sarah Eve (Ryan), Michelle Dounis (Spiro), Stephen Vitale (Ali Clark) and Jaclyn DeCarlo (Nicholas) and 4 great-grandchildren, Matthew & Korri and Theia & William as well as many nieces and nephews. Joe was a kind, considerate, loving, caring, generous man throughout his life. He made everyone feel welcome. We loved him dearly and we will always remember him.