Joe lived in Silver Spring his entire life, never moving more than five miles from his childhood home. He was a member of the first 8th grade graduating class at St. Bernadette’s School and then graduated from St. Charles Seminary High School in Baltimore. After marrying his wife, Jeanne Francis Lowe, he attended night school at Benjamin Franklin University (now operated by George Washington University) and earned a degree in Accounting. For 60 years he was active within the Silver Spring business community, initially as an accountant and member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, followed by 54 years as a successful CPA, which included serving as president of the Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce.
Joe often said, “there is no scarcity,” which is how he lived his life. There was no scarcity in his generosity, his honesty, his confidence, or his commitment to the people he loved. Joe had an appetite for pasta, chocolate, and life. He treated every moment as an opportunity for fun, every stage as an opportunity for an impromptu performance of his original songs, and every family gathering as an opportunity for lasting memories. His favorite conversation starter was “Can I bore you with a story?”, though his captivating storytelling ability rarely left anyone bored for long. Joe never met a stranger and made a lasting impression on anyone who met him. Whether at a music festival with his sons, on Ocracoke Island with his extended family, or in Las Vegas with his friends for the Super Bowl, Joe was the life of the party, and his charisma was undeniable. Most of this was documented on video since Joe’s video camera was an appendage of his hand. Joe made it one of his most important life rules to never miss a party, and, more importantly, a grandchild’s event. Joe had a passion for languages, mastering French and Spanish, and dabbled in Portuguese, Italian, Hungarian, Chinese, and, most recently, Irish. Music was an integral part of Joe’s life whether he was listening, researching artists/songs, writing, singing, or playing his guitar. And, for years, Joe was an avid runner, completing over 20 marathons, most of which were the annual Marine Corps Marathon held in Washington DC. He ventured as far as Honolulu, California, and Lake Tahoe to run in local marathons.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jeanne Lowe Godbout, sons Joseph “Dean” Godbout (Deanna Chamberlain), Todd M. Godbout (Monica Melan), and daughter Paula Smiraglia (John). His life revolved around his entire family, especially his grandchildren Chelsea Wall (Eric), J. Dylan Godbout (Samantha Prior), Alexandra McFadden (Josh),Karli Smiraglia (fiancé Cody Miess), Mia Smiraglia, and Matthew Godbout, as well as two great-grandchildren, Wilder and Ever Wall. He is also survived by brothers John M. (Maureen Diver), Edward (Judy Cornett), Thomas (Ann Morrison), and Stephen (Macdara "Mac" MacTigue) as well as sisters-in-law Mary and Gail Lowe. He was predeceased by his parents, Gerald J. Godbout and Mary Margaret Rodgers Godbout, brothers Gerald Jr., Richard E, Fredrick H., Peter B., sister Mary Teeter, and brothers-in-law Carl Teeter and Macdara "Mac" MacTigue. He is also survived by brothers James C., Paul B., and sister Ann Walsh.
Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at 11:15 am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20904. Donations may be made to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Foundation, Inc., 500 Seventh Avenue S. St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
