Joseph "Joe" Pesi

Joseph "Joe" Pesi

Joseph "Joe" Pesi, age 67, of Millcreek, died Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Abington Crest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after an extended illness. He was born September 13, 1941 in Rome, Italy a son the late Erminia Battistoni Pesi and step-son of the late Guiseppe Pesi.

He was an altar boy at the Vatican and played semi-pro soccer in Rome. He immigrated to the United States with his mother and stepfather when he was twelve. He graduated from East Deer High School in Creighton, PA. He was appointed Erie County Softball Commissioner in 1989 and served for 20 years. He was an umpire for PIAA for 25 years and ASA for 30 years. He was inducted into the National Indicator Society of Pennsylvania in 2007 as an umpire. He was inducted in the Amateur Softball Association in 2007. He worked for GE for 39 years, retiring in 2001. He was a Blessed Sacrament Usher and an avid bocce player, golfer and Steeler's Fan. He was a member of the Zukor, Siebenbuerger and Sunflower Clubs. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years Jacqueline "Jackie" Mennini Pesi; two daughters, Gina Statton and her husband Charles Statton Jr. of Flower Mound, TX and Ashley Pesi of Erie; three grandchildren, Christopher, Matthew and Noah Statton; one step-brother, Merino Pesi and his wife Betty Jean of Leesburg, VA and two step-sisters, Mary Proietti of Trentum, PA and Marcella Baird and her husband Robert of Marienville, PA. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and may attend a service there on Thursday at 10:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church, 1626 West 26th Street, at 11 am Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Fund, Palace Business Center, 915 State St., Erie, PA 16501.