Joseph John Vicario

Joe was born in Jamestown, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 1939 (81 years old). He was the son of Antonina (Ann) and Giacomo (Jack) Vicario and graduated from Jamestown High School, class of 1958. He married Carolyn Marzullo on April 30, 1960 in Dunkirk, N.Y., and they were married over 60 years.

In 1982 the family relocated to Southern California. Joe enjoyed a long career working in sales and retired at age 79 from Marshall Tool & Supply. Always dressed in his best shirts and bow ties, he was known as “the old man in the hat”. Although he had been on an exclusively liquid diet for over 18 years, he enjoyed gourmet cooking for family, friends, neighbors and strangers. He was generous, loving and always the life of the party. He had a knack for collecting friends wherever he traveled throughout his personal and professional life. His real love was making people laugh – his jokes, pranks and one-liners will live on in our hearts and minds forever.

Joe also enjoyed, golf, woodworking projects and spending time with his family and friends while ending each day with a tall glass of whiskey (or two).

Joe was a communicant of St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Murrieta, where he served as an usher. He is a member of the Knight’s of Columbus and took pride in serving others.

Joe is preceded in death by his mother, father and brother, Jack Richard Vicario.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Vicario; sister, Carol Johnson; his three children: James (Sonia), Tracy (Greg Timmel) and Jack (Janna) Vicario; seven grandchildren: four great-grandchildren; and a host of loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and long-time friends from around the globe.

There will be no in person or virtual memorial service. Thanks to all of you for your outpouring of love and support that he experienced as his own celebration of life. He was overwhelmed through your emails, phone calls, text messages, cards, gifts and visits – thank you! Joe has requested cremation and a living memorial that will grow up from a biodegradable urn. He chose a pine tree that will be planted at the Oregon Coast where he spent and enjoyed some time. Pine trees are rugged, lean and enduring. They are long-lived, typically reaching up to 1,000 years or more and Writer Plotnik called it “a Clint Eastwood of a tree”.

Donations can be made in his name to Hospice at donate@hospicefoundation. org or the American Cancer Society at cancer.org.