Joseph Porzio

What can you say about a brother, an uncle, a friend like Joey. Joey was the ultimate of these; a one-of-a-kind, special and big-hearted guy with an old soul.

Joey had a knack for refusing to leave us; as a very young child he was in a near-fatal car accident and, as many know, fairly recently beat cancer. We all felt he was just a bit more invincible than most. But the absurd and unbelievable virus plaguing us all took this wonderful man from us cruelly and too soon on April 28, 2020 at Saint Joseph’s hospital in Wayne, NJ.

Joey grew up in Hasbrouck Heights; and was an interesting kid - he loved carrots, fishing and working with his hands. The first of these would find him looking like a pumpkin when his skin turned orange and his face blew up from eating too many; the second could find him and a childhood friend bike pedaling from Hasbrouck Heights to the Ramapo River, a good 20+ miles to cast a line on a lazy summer day; and the third led him to his life’s work and passion, to be a carpenter like his namesake Saint Joseph. He attended Bergen Tech in Hackensack to pursue that goal.

As an adult, Joey loved baseball and played softball as a shortstop with a good bat. He enjoyed music but mostly oldies, doo-wops and the classic crooners, and often followed local bands to hear them. It was in these places he made and enjoyed many long-time friends, always greeting them with a big smile, hearty handshake and a warm, heartfelt greeting. He loved to invite friends and family to backyard BBQs where he manned a busy grill to keep his guests well-fed. Never without a funny or interesting story, he’d regale any and everyone.  He loved food and knew where to find the best happy hour bargains, best burgers or chicken parm. He had uncanny recollection; often opening a conversation thread with something like  “I remember it was back in 1977, on a sunny Saturday in August….” it was remarkable the things he could remember with total recall. He was a natty dresser that followed his own sense of style, complete with a sports coat, dark colored shirt and a pinky ring. And when very informal and relaxed, jeans that often slide down just a bit too low in the back...

Joey was quick to lend a helping hand; many of you reading this will have had something built, repaired or installed by him. He would do it with a smile, and sometimes for a ‘small charge’! But he never said no and would go out of his way to do a friend a favor.

Joey had a unique and unapologizing personality - in addition to all the above, those who know him best would also agree he could be a little impatient, a tad stubborn, a bit argumentative and somewhat ‘frugal’.  But Joey should and will be remembered as the kindest, sincerest, loving brother, uncle and friend anyone could have in this life. There is a hole in our world without him in it. Rest In Peace, dear Joey.

Joey was predeceased by his parents Patrick and Eleanor, his brother-in-law Larry Duca and leaves behind his siblings Pattie Duca, Donna Scarpone, Maria Porzio and Rich Porzio, brothers-in-law Doug Carhart and Tom Scarpone, his nephew Anthony Scarpone and his wife Tara and daughter Alexa, his nephew TJ Scarpone and his wife Liza and their son Thomas, his niece Mindy Brady and her sons Benjamin and Justin, his nephew Dan Duca and his partner Stephanie Parks, and his nephew Mark Duca and his wife Sara.