Joseph Desmond

Joseph Francis Desmond passed peacefully from this world at his Fresno home on Sunday, August 19, 2007. He was born in New York City on August 25, 1920, to Joseph Francis Desmond and Helene Wagner Desmond. His early years were spent in Montvale, New Jersey. His father died when Joseph was eight years old, and this event, particularly with the Depression, forced him to grow up quickly. Graduating from high school at age 15, he ended his formal education and joined the work force when the family moved to San Francisco. A tremendously hard and smart worker, Joseph moved from dishwasher to dining room steward in one day at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Later, while working at the Philip Morris tobacco company, he met the love of his life, Edna Henbury. The two married in 1942 and had two daughters, Margaret Desmond Hughes and Joan Desmond Gaskins. Edna predeceased him in 1996. In 1942, Joseph entered the U.S. Marine Corps and fought at Guadalcanal and other WWII battle sites in the South Pacific. Wounded in battle, he received an honorable discharged from the Marines. He later managed the Officers' Club at Travis Air Force Base. In 1948, he became manager of Hart's Restaurant, an iconic meeting place in the history of downtown Fresno. Joe and Edna bought the restaurant in the mid 50's and kept it until the late 60's. Always entrepreneurial, and with a keen sense of the future, Desmond was one of the first businessmen to risk moving to north Blackstone in Fresno where he opened Uncle John's Pancake House in 1959. He was one of the first ten franchisees with Colonel Sander's Kentucky Fried Chicken, and was the first franchise owner west of the Mississippi with Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. He was also extremely proud of his walnut farm in Butte County. Joseph's service and achievements over his 70 years in business gained him many honors. He was a past member of the Fresno Planning Commission; served as president of the California Restaurant Association, the first to do so from Fresno; was named Outstanding Restaurant Operator of Fresno in 1997; was selected by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce as Businessman of the Year in 2005; was honored nationally with the Wendy's Dave Thomas Founder's Award in 1990; and entered the Dave Thomas Wendy's Hall of Fame in 2005. He was also a 50 year member of the Knights of Columbus. A firm, yet fair businessman and kind mentor, he encouraged people from all walks of life to be better by believing in themselves and their dreams. He believed in quality, fairness, and value in both his business and personal life. Joseph himself never stopped learning, developing new ideas, and acquiring greater knowledge. His generosity and kindness to individuals, as well as to many Fresno community institutions, allowed them to be better than when he first met them. Joseph is survived by his loving daughters, Margaret Hughes, and Joan Gaskins; sons-in-law, Joseph P. Hughes, and James E. Gaskins; sister, Patricia Desmond Fitzgerald; brother-in-law, Leonard Henbury; grandchildren, Elise Hughes, Joseph B. Hughes and his wife Sonya, Amy Hughes, Philip Hughes, Anne Gaskins, Katherine Gaskins, and James D. Gaskins; greatgrandchildren, Grace, Ella, and Joseph Bryce Hughes; numerous nieces and nephews, and a multitude of good friends and loyal employees. Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Friday, August 24, 2007, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Friday, August 24, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Saturday, August 25, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery. Donations may be made in his name to the Fresno Philharmonic, The Fresno Right to Life and the Nancy Hinds Hospice. WHITEHURST