Joseph Anthony Albanese

He was born in Bay Shore, Long Island, NY on February 20, 1932, to parents Joseph Anthony Albanese, Sr., and Helen Jeanette Bendl Albanese.

Joe was a graduate of Mercersburg Academy in 1950 and Yale University in 1954, where he majored in economics and was a member of St. Elmo Society. He was a letterman in track and field at Yale, specializing in the 880-yard (half-mile) running event and the mile relay. He ran on the cross-country team as well.

He was a member of the United States Marine Corps from May 1951 to December 1959, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. While at Yale, he took part in the Platoon Leaders Class (PLC). After graduation, he spent two years in the Far East, serving in Yokosuka, Japan, and briefly in the Korean War..

On May 7th, 1960, Joe married Jean Warren, daughter of Dr. Charles Ford Warren and Alice Faul Warren, in Brooklyn Heights, New York.

He had a career in advertising and marketing, notably at General Foods in White Plains, NY; R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem, NC; and Dancer, Fitzgerald & Sample advertising agency on Madison Avenue in New York City. At General Foods, he introduced the Kool-Aid smiling face pitcher.

Joe and Jean lived for several years in Chappaqua, NY where they raised their children, John Warren Albanese, Arden Bendl Albanese, and Dr. Caroline Anne Albanese Paul. Joe was a typical commuter, traveling by train into Manhattan each workday. While in Chappaqua, he was elected to Councilman in the Town of New Castle, Westchester County, serving for two years. Later he and Jean became proprietors of a sporting goods store with branches in Chappaqua and Mount Kisco, NY. In 1996 they moved to Mount Pleasant, SC where they continued in the sporting goods retail business, specializing in swim team supplies, until retirement.

During most of his adult life, Joe was an avid game bird hunter and competitive runner. He ran over 50 marathons in the U.S. and Bermuda. His best time was 2 hours and 48 minutes achieved in the Boston Marathon in 1979.

In 2011, Joe and Jean moved to Trent Woods, NC. Joe spent his early retirement volunteering at the Craven County Sheriff's office and participating in Marine Corps League activities. He taught English as a second language to Burmese students at the Craven Literacy Council. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and the Colonial Branch of the English-Speaking Union in New Bern.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves his wife Jean; children John, Arden, and Caroline; grandchildren Madeleine C. Albanese, Jennifer “Jenny” J. Paul, Mary L. Paul, Alice E. Paul, and Steven Thomas “Tommy” Paul; sister Nancy A. Ciaburro; Nancy's daughters Arlene Cummings and Donna Ball; and son-in-law Dr. Daniel “Danny” E. Paul.