Center leader Joseph Georgiana

Joseph S. Georgiana, 82, of Cherry Hill, head of the board of trustees at the Center for Family Services in Camden from 2000 to 2002, died of cancer Saturday, Feb. 20 at Samaritan HealthCare & Hospice in Mount Holly.

The center, among other things, helps in "preventing those at risk from becoming victims of child abuse or neglect," a message on its website states.

In 2011, Mr. Georgiana was named an honorary board member of the organization.

A lawyer, he joined the board of directors of the Family Counseling Service, a predecessor of the center, in 1983.

After serving as its vice president in 1992-93, Mr. Georgiana was its president from 1994 to 2000.

At both organizations, Mr. Georgiana worked pro bono, Richard Stagliano, now president and CEO of the Center for Family Services, said.

Stagliano joined Family Counseling Service in 1983, the same year that Mr. Georgiana joined. In 1992, Stagliano became its executive director.

When Mr. Georgiana helped the service merge with two other agencies to form the Center for Family Services in 2000, Stagliano became its president and CEO, while Mr. Georgiana headed its board.

"He had a vision for this bigger, better organization that could serve and reach more people," Stagliano said.

"He was passionate about the mission and the work of the organization.

Mr. Georgiana was, "on a personal note, like a father, like a friend, like a brother, someone I could always rely on."

Gina Marie Georgiana said her father was "generous and kind, very honorable and caring."

Born in Woodbury, Mr. Georgiana graduated from Paulsboro High School in 1951 and earned a bachelor's degree at Gettysburg College in 1954, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, his daughter said.

Mr. Georgiana graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1958 and served in the Army Reserve.

A member of the law firm Capehart Scatchard in Camden from 1963 to 1999, he was for a time the Greenwich Township attorney, and a lawyer for the Greenwich Planning and Zoning Board and for the Cherry Hill Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Mr. Georgiana was a former chairman of the Joint Real Estate Committee of the Camden County Bar Association and a former president of the Cherry Hill Democratic Club.

He was a member of the Cupola Society of Gettysburg College and the Alumni Association of the University of Michigan.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Georgiana is survived by son Joseph L., a brother, and three sisters. His former wife, Jean Mayne, died in 2011.

A visitation was set from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 284 Cedar Rd., Mullica Hill, before an 11 a.m. memorial service there.

Donations may be sent to the Center for Family Services, 584 Benson St., Camden, N.J. 08103.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.lechnerfuneralhome.com.

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