Joseph John Bianco

Joseph John Bianco, 87, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2020 in Matthews, North Carolina. Joe, as he was known to all his friends and loved ones, was born in the Bay Ridge neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. He was the son of Nicola and Anita Bianco, immigrants originally from the town of Torre del Greco, near Naples in southern Italy.

One of Joe’s fondest memories of growing up during the Great Depression and World War II was the time he spent as a member of a neighborhood stickball team known as the “Whizzbangs”. He and the other members of the team would continue to gather every few years throughout their lives.

Joe graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in 1951, and shortly thereafter entered the United States Army as a member of the 1st Infantry Division, known as the “Big Red One”. Stationed in Germany, he enjoyed telling of how he was able to visit Italy and return to his parents’ home town to meet his extended family.

Upon returning home, Joe began his career with The First National City Bank of New York, which would eventually become Citibank. He spent the next 37 years in their downtown and midtown Manhattan offices in a variety of roles in their operations division. During much of his time with the firm, he held the role of the ace of the pitching staff on the Citibank corporate fast-pitch softball team. His blazing windmill-style delivery led the team to several league championships.

On June 20, 1964, Joe married Vera Caramanica, also of Brooklyn, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church. They would spend the next 56 years together raising two children in Brooklyn and Staten Island. They relocated to Matthews, NC in 2014.

Joe was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fanatic, and was particularly fond of the great Duke Snider. He enjoyed telling of taking the subway to Ebbets Field, often seeing some of the players on the train making their commute to work. After their heartbreaking departure for Los Angeles, he adopted the New York Mets and followed them closely for the next 58 years. In his latter years, he was finally able to come to terms with Bobby Thomson’s home run off Ralph Branca, known as the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”, that cost the Dodgers the 1951 National League pennant. He continued to express the view that the Giants cheated by stealing signs, however.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife Vera, and his children, Matthew Bianco and Joanne Zaffarese. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, who were his great joy in life: Raymond, Bianca, and Joseph Zaffarese; and Sophia and Sonia Bianco. The second of three children, Joe was predeceased by his dear brother John Bianco, and is survived by his cherished sister Lucille Terranova.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at McEwen Funeral Service-Mint Hill Chapel in Mint Hill, NC with a prayer service at 4:00 pm. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be offered online at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.