Joseph Balzarotti, 78, husband of Patricia M. (Riley) Balzarotti of
52 Chattanooga Road, Ipswich, died Thursday February 4, 2010 in the
Veterans Hospital, Boston, following his long illness.
Born in Patterson, New Jersey on May 1, 1931, he was the only child
of the late Joseph and Rose (DiOrio) Balzarotti. During WWII he
served with the Army Occupation Forces in Guam and Japan and during
the Korean Conflict he served with the US Air Force on the Pease and
McDill SAC Air Force bases. Following his honorable discharge, Mr.
Balzarotti was employed as an electrician in the power plant at
former United Shoe Machine Company of Beverly. He was later
employed by Osram Sylvania, Sylvan Street, Danvers where he worked
as a master plumber, master electrician and pipefitter. An affinity
for mechanics,he could fix anything.
He was an avid recreational pilot and was owner of two airplanes.
In addition to his wife of forty-seven years he is survived by two
sons, Thomas Melling and his wife Adrienne of Amesbury and Daniel
Melling and his wife Carmel of Scituate, and four grandchildren,
Tianna, Michael, Justin and Fiona Melling.
His funeral will be held Monday February 8, 2010, 8 am from the
Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich , followed by
the celebration of a Funeral Mass at 9 am in Our Lady of Hope
Church, Pineswamp Road, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully
welcomed. Visiting hours are Sunday 1 to 4 pm. Interment with
Military Honors will be in the Cowles Memorial Cemetery, Ipswich.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions in his name to the
Spinal Cord Injury Fund, Spaulding Rehab, 125 Nashua Street, Boston,
MA 02114
