Joseph DeCrescenzo

Joseph DeCrescenzo passed peacefully on October 4, 2022. He was born on October 26, 1948, in New Haven, CT, and graduated from Wilbur Cross High School in 1966. Joe later earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Haven and his MBA from the University of Bridgeport. He worked as a Quality Assurance Engineer in various fields, including Saab-Scania of America in Orange, CT, and General Motors, in Baltimore, MD. Joe served as the Director of Quality Assurance at Wanho Mfg., in Waterbury, CT. After moving to Delaware in 2003, he worked with his brother, Jim, at James DeCrescenzo Reporting and Trial Technologies, in Philadelphia, PA, as an Administrator of Services. Joe’s greatest joy was his family. His face lit up whenever his girls and granddaughters entered the room. He enjoyed cooking and baking, especially with his granddaughters, Kylie, Natalie and Claire. Joe was most proud of baking Easter bread with them. He also enjoyed horse racing at Delaware Park and Saratoga. Joe had been an active 3rd Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council 7990, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Council, Bear, DE, and a member of Archbishop Fitzmaurice Assembly #148. He transferred from Council 2616, Fr. Coleman Council, Fairfield, CT, where he served in many of the officer positions, including Grand Knight. He was also in Assembly 118, Msgr. William Blake, Fairfield CT, serving a term as Faithful Navigator. While in CT, Joe was a District Deputy, under State Director, Fr. Donald Berry. Joe was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA2) in 2006. Ataxia is a progressive, degenerative neurological disease with no cure or treatment to-date. In 2012, Joe received the “I Am The Strength Behind Ataxia” award from the National Ataxia Foundation. He served on the Board of Directors of that foundation from 2013 to 2021; and was a member of the Executive Committee. He was also a member, and served as Treasurer since 2010, of the Chesapeake Chapter, NAF, and, with his wife Cathy, was Co-Leader of the Delaware Ataxia Support Group. He advocated continually on awareness of Ataxia and on fundraising for research of this disease. He and Cathy chaired and successfully ran (with the help of many dedicated friends/volunteers), a bi-yearly “Fun”draiser with 200+ in attendance to raise funds for research. Joe volunteered for several research programs, including research at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, and at the University of Minnesota. He was a fighter who never let Ataxia define him. He truly was our hero! Joe will be donating his brain tissue for Ataxia research. Joe leaves behind his loving wife of 45 years, Catherine; his beloved daughters, Karen (Steven) Taylor and Amy (Nathan) Lowe; his cherished grandchildren: Kylie Taylor, Natalie Lowe, Claire Lowe, Morgan Taylor, and Jacob Taylor; his three brothers: Frank (Katherine) DeCrescenzo, of North Haven, CT; Louis (Carol) DeCrescenzo, of East Haven. CT; and James (Sheila) DeCrescenzo, of Charlotte, NC; and seven nieces and nephews: Donna, Lorrie, Lou, Frank, Gabrielle, Jake, and Peter. He was pre-deceased by his parents, Grace and Louis DeCrescenzo, of New Haven, CT. A visitation will be held on Monday, October 10, 2022, from 10 AM- 12 PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 345 Bear Christiana Rd., Bear, DE 19701 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 Noon. Burial will be private at a later date. For directions or to send an online condolence visit www.stranofeeley.com In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joe’s memory to National Ataxia Foundation. PO Box 27986, Golden Valley, MN 55427. Your donations will go towards research to help find a cure for this devastating disease.