Joseph John Ambrosio

Joseph John Ambrosio, 79, of Lancaster, SC, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023. He was born in Bayonne, NJ. He resided in Jersey City, NJ, Edison, NJ, Jackson, NJ, Charlotte, NC, and Waxhaw, NC, prior to settling in Lancaster in 2020.

He was a proud member of the U.S. Army - Specialist 5th Class - 1968-1970. He was a Computer Programing Specialist in Fort Dix, NJ - Hunter Army Airfield, GA - U.S. Army War College Carlisle, PA. Joe was a recipient of the National Defense Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honored to be assigned to the Pentagon to study computer systems that had to be duplicated at Carlisle Barracks.

He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1978 with a B.S. in Business Administration. Joe spent over 30 years in Pharmaceutical Distribution and Salesforce Automation. He was the Director of Operations for all single-source sampling of both prescription medications and controlled substances at his company. One of his greatest career accomplishments while working at Fisher-Stevens was leading the Tylenol recall project in 1982. After retirement, he accepted a rewarding position as a Customer Service Representative at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Basking Ridge, NJ. Joe was the familiar face at the desk that all patients loved. It was a privilege and honor for him to provide patients and their families with laughter and comfort.

As a teenager, he was a member of the Romans and his friends called him “Joe Cool.” At Four Seasons South Knolls, Jackson, NJ, he was a member of the Men’s Club, Bowling League, Bocce League, Italian American Club, Showtime Club, and the Veterans Club. At Tree Tops, Lancaster, SC, he was a member of the Pickleball Club, R.O.M.E.O., Bowling League, and Veterans Group. Joe loved to host the Wednesday morning cafe in his driveway where he proudly served coffee to all his friends and neighbors. Joe was a born storyteller who cherished the opportunity to make people laugh. He enjoyed shopping at Costco and driving his “big rig.” More than anything, his joy in life was spending time with his four grandchildren. You will never meet a nicer man than Joe.

He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Frances Ambrosio, his brother Michael Ambrosio, and by his loving wife of 52 years, Josephine Ambrosio. Joe is survived by his daughters, Nicole Magalhaes and her husband, George of Waxhaw, NC, and Kristen McGarry and her husband, James of Waxhaw, NC; his four grandchildren, Sofia and Anthony Magalhaes of Waxhaw, NC, and Thomas and Caroline McGarry of Waxhaw, NC; his sister Margaret Mustillo of Charlotte, NC, and by his granddogs Harley Magalhaes and Laddie McGarry.

Although we are saddened by the loss of Joe, we take comfort knowing he is with Josephine again, the love of his life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Joe’s memory to the Vietnam Veterans of America (www.vva.org).