Joseph J. Esposito, aerospace technician

Joseph J. Esposito, 91, of Philadelphia and later Bensalem, a retired aerospace technician, died Saturday, Oct. 1, of respiratory failure at Wood River Village.

Mr. Esposito was a graduate of Olney High School, where he played football. After high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in World War II from June 1943 until January 1946, when he was honorably discharged. A machine gunner, he fought on the island of Okinawa in April 1945.

Mr. Esposito began his career as a repairman for Hotpoint appliances in Philadelphia and later was employed by General Electric, working both at the firm's offices at 32nd and Chestnut Streets and at its plant in King of Prussia.

He was a technician, helping build aerospace crafts and missiles designed by others. He retired in 1988.

"He was very handy," said daughter Gina Esposito Gilbert.

He enjoyed visiting many states for business and pleasure.

An amateur photographer, he documented his travels on film, with slides, and with videotape he showed on a VHS player and, later, a DVD player.

In 1981, Mr. Esposito won an award from the Fairmount Park directors for the best photograph depicting the park that year. The image was of the 17th century-style Japanese House and Garden.

After retiring, he worked as a videographer, documenting weddings, and transferring pictures and film onto videotape.

Mr. Esposito enjoyed music and had an extensive collection of big band and popular music.

He was a cofounder of the Torresdale Boys Club and later was a basketball coach for Penn Academy Athletic Association.

A longtime resident of Academy Gardens in the Far Northeast he was a member of St. Katherine of Siena parish on Frankford Avenue and the parish's Holy Name Society.

He was married to June E. Martin Esposito. The couple had three children. After her death in 2008, he retired to Wood River Village in Bensalem, where he sang bass in choral productions and was a featured soloist.

Besides his daughter, Mr. Esposito is survived by a son, James; a grandson; a great-grandson; a sister; and a brother. A son, Joseph Jr., died earlier.

Funeral services were Wednesday, Oct. 5, with burial in St. Dominic Cemetery, Holmesburg.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

bcook@phillynews.com

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