Joseph J Manzo

Joseph John Manzo, 67, of White Plains, NY, kind, gentle, generous, and caring father and grandfather, passed away peacefully with his sons by his side on May 21st, 2010.

Joe (Dad, Pop, Papa Joe, JoJo) was born November 9, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY, to Vito and Geraldine "Mae" (DiStefano) Manzo. He, his parents, and his older brother, Anthony, lived in a vibrant section of Williamsburg, Brooklyn (NY) full of family and friends""many of whom he has stayed in close contact with over the years. Joe attended Most Holy Trinity from elementary through high school, then the University of Dayton""as a Marianist brother""for his undergraduate degree in Spanish Literature and Education, Queens College for a Masters in Guidance and Counseling, and, more recently, the Willsey Institute, Purchase College, and F.I.T. for certification in various areas of Design and of Arts Management.

Joe has worked extensively and thoughtfully throughout his life in the fields of education and counseling. He has been a teacher of Spanish at the Secondary level; a Vocational Counselor for the Putnam Board of Cooperative Educational Services and also for the NY State Department of Labor; a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the NY State Department of Education; and, most recently, an Adjunct Professor of Fashion Design and Merchandising at Berkeley College.

He was the sole proprietor of Joe Manzo Designs, covering everything from interior design to professional costume design, and even starting to develop a line of children's wear. He was passionate about theater and worked tirelessly throughout his life to promote theater and the theater arts""especially costuming and wardrobe, which he excelled at. He worked as a costume designer with many local theater groups, especially the renowned group at Archbishop Stepinac, and earned numerous Helen Hayes Theater Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design nominations, eventually garnering two wins.

Joe is the founder of two non-profit organizations: The Theater Arts and Technology Exchange and Most Holy Trinity Alumni Association. Joe felt very strongly about community involvement and giving back, so even beyond the two organizations he founded, he served on advisory boards, as an officer, or a volunteer for the following groups: the County Executive of Westchester, ARCS, the Mental Health Association of Orange County, White Plains Business Improvement District, the City of White Plains, Westchester LGBT, Westchester Democratic Party, and Saunders VoTech High School of Yonkers. For his efforts, he received Recognition of Contributions to the Students of Yonkers Public schools ('05), the Janice A. Burns Memorial Volunteer Award ('98), and Outstanding Westchester County Senior Citizen ('07).

Joe is survived by his sons and their families: Bill and his wife, Corrin, of Cornwall, NY; Dominic, his wife Kristina, and their daughter Emma, of Rutherford, NJ; and Joe and his wife, Heather, of Highland Mills, NY; his brother Anthony and wife, Ula of California; nieces Lisa and Maria and their families; nephews, Tony and his family and Byron; a long list of cousins on both the Manzo and DiStefano side of the family; and his constant side-kick, his dog, Rusty.

Joe Manzo had no quit in him and pursued all that life had to offer. To know him was to become part of his family and once that happened, he would do anything for you. Words don't do justice to how rich a life Joe lived, so in his death we can actively pay tribute to him by perpetuating what he himself always stood for: unconditional love, friendship, service, fortitude, and passion for life. Rather than grieve his death, he would want us all to celebrate his life and pursue happiness in our own lives, for our own families, and for the communities we are part of.