Obituary of Joseph E. Esposito

On Friday, March 3, 2023, the world lost a wonderful human being with the unexpected passing of the (ret.) Honorable Joseph E. Esposito. Joe – as he was known to family and friends – was 88 years old and his family is deeply saddened by his loss.
 
Joe was born in Brooklyn on August 10, 1934 to Pietro and Anna (nee Campanile) Esposito and was such a fan of his favorite borough that aside from his education, he never left.
 
Joe had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, as evidenced by the four advanced degrees that he held, including bachelor’s and law degrees from Fordham University and master’s degrees in Law and Business Administration from LIU and NYU. He began his career at Studebaker-Worthington and then moved on to the Erie Lackawanna Railroad before becoming a judge. Joe faithfully served the State of New York for 35 years as an Administrative Law Judge in traffic court, until his retirement in 2019. Always understanding how what happened in traffic court could have a ripple effect on a person’s life, he constantly strove to be fair to those appearing before him in court, which was sometimes to the chagrin the ticket-issuing officers who gave him the cheeky moniker of “Let ‘em go Espo”. 
 
Joe married Dr. Rose Recco, the love of his life, in 1988 and they were looking forward to celebrating their 35 th  anniversary in April. Through the years, Joe and Rose had many wonderful adventures together and their travels took them throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Alaska and beyond. While he loved each of the amazing trips they were fortunate to enjoy together, Joe would always say that Italy was his favorite because of the art, the history and the fact that he could eat pasta (his favorite) all day, every day. 

 
Joe was not a big man in stature but had a big heart; he was definitely a man of the people. On each and every trip they went on, Joe seemed to make a new friend – he relished in talking to the locals and that was very much part of his everyday life at home too. After they were married and moved to their first apartment together, within a few months, Joe knew most of the building’s residents and staff by name. When Rose was assigned to night clinics at Coney Island Hospital, they were often in remote parts of the building, so Joe would come bearing food and conversation for all and to ensure that everyone made it home safely, would not leave until he was walking out the door with the last staff member in attendance. 
 
Joe was predeceased by his parents and brother Robert Esposito. He is survived by Rose, his loving wife of 34 years, in laws, Carolyn Esposito, Mary Santi, Anne &Takashi Anzai, Janice & Gene Louis & Angelo Recco and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Joe's caring nature and dry sense of humor will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Forever In Our Hearts

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Mr. Esposito’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Visitation will be Tuesday, March 14 from 2:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Marine Park Funeral Home, Inc., 3024 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY.

A Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, March 15 at 9:30 AM St. Bernard R.C. Church, 2055 East 69th Street, Brooklyn, NY.

Burial to immediately follow in St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village.

Please take advantage of the Tribute Wall tab to express your compassion and condolences over Mr. Esposito’s passing.

For those who wish to send a floral tribute to the wake service, please call Floral Fantasy Florist at: 718-238-6978 or CLICK HERE to be directed to their website.

Please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Lung Cancer Research Foundation in Mr. Esposito’s name.