Joseph Suarez

Joseph Louis Suarez   September 19, 1927 – July 31, 2024

Joe was a Brooklyn boy who grew up in a large extended family—so many aunts, uncles, and cousins that it was difficult to keep them straight.  He was the eldest of three children of Frank and Rosaria (nee Schepis) Suarez and lived most of his life in New Jersey, with the exception of his time in the Navy Air Corps, when he was stationed in Oklahoma. He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1945 where he earned letters and medals in track.  He later attended Pratt Institute earning a certificate in Tanning Technology in 1949.

He married Julia Krause in 1950, and together they raised three children and a variety of dogs, rabbits, and other pets over the years and traveled widely, from Alaska to Antarctica, Europe, and the American West.

Despite his urban childhood, he was an adventurous spirit, and in 1957 the family moved to the then more rural township of Wayne. He fought the daily traffic of the commute to Newark, where he worked over the years for Radel Leather, Seton Leather, and Ocean Leather.  Joe was a tanner, or in more modern parlance, a leather chemist, the same profession his father and several uncles followed--the oldest profession in the world, not the scarlet one most people think of.  Leather was a part of life in the Suarez household.  Joe made leather book covers and belts and purses and coasters from the scrap leather he brought home. A small piece of leather was often his fix for a squeak or hinge.

Joe could fix just about anything, even if the solution was somewhat Rube Goldberg-esque.  and he enjoyed tinkering at his workbench in the cellar, while the Met Opera played in the background. He was very frugal, saving all sorts of nuts and bolts, scrap lumber, wire, just in case . . .

Having grown up in the Big Band era, Joe admired the crooners of that time, especially Bing Crosby and Dick Haymes, and the bands popular in that day.

Joe was even-tempered and good-natured and family was his priority.  He and Julie were devoted parents who took an active part in their daughters’ lives and were always willing to help them with household repairs.  The quintessential good steward, he devoted countless hours to maintaining church property, serving many years on the Building and Grounds Committee and church council at St Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne where he was a faithful member.

Joe was predeceased by Julia, his wife of sixty-four years; sister Catherine Szap, and his parents.  He is survived by brother Richard of British Columbia, daughters Julia (David); Lisa (John); Elizabeth (John); grandchildren Christopher, Elizabeth, Alexander, Penelope, and August, and six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 395 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey 07470.