Joseph Rado Jr.

Joseph A. Rado, Jr. 75, of Wyomissing, died April 25, 2014, peacefully in Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. He was happily married for 49 years to his wife, Elaine (Fugo) Rado.
Joe was born in Bloomsburg, the son of the late Joseph A. Rado Sr. and Margarite Jones. He was raised in Berwick by Joseph and Kay Rado.
Joe was a 1957 graduate of Berwick HS, and a 1958 graduate of the Perkiomen School. His higher education includes a B.S. in elementary education from Bloomsburg University in 1963 and a master's degree in education from West Chester University in 1970.
Joe's admirable work career spanned many successful professions, including education, coaching, insurance sales and business leadership. For all those who knew him, his inspiring and positive nature brought out the best in the people.
Upon graduating from Bloomsburg, Joe became a teacher and a coach. His first position was at Upper Merion High School, where he taught special education and coached football and wrestling from 1963-1965. His next position was at Lourdes Regional High School from 1965-1974, where he taught health and physical education and coached football, wrestling and golf. His success as a wrestling coach at Lourdes produced eight years of Central Pa., Catholic Wrestling Team Championships, one state champion wrestler, and 23 regional wrestling champions.
Joe was a go-getter. In 1974, with four daughters at home, and another baby on the way, Joe started to sell insurance and became one of the most successful agents for Metropolitan Life from 1974-1986. He was ranked eighth in the country amongst his peers in the company in sales and received five President's Council Awards and 12 Leader's Council Awards and was named a member of the Million Dollar Round Table.
In 1986, Joe had the opportunity to purchase a small elevator board repair business called WORLD Electronics. Joe took this small company of eight employees, then located in West Chester, Pa., moved it to Morgantown and expanded into contract manufacturing. In 1998, Joe moved the company headquarters again to Muhlenburg Township in a state-of-the art, 84,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that has been recognized, over several years, as one of the Top Places to Work in Berks County. Today WORLD Electronics has two locations in Pa.: one in Indiana, and the main headquarters in Reading with over 100 employees. Joe's motto for success was, "We do things other people don't want to do."
He figured out that WORLD could make any kind of electronic assembly and with his dedicated family of employees he grew WORLD Electronics to be an international manufacturing facility.
Joe served on many professional advisory boards over his career. He loved to bring enjoyment into every endeavor and famously coined the phrase, " Have some fun today." One of his most heart-felt associations was his Alma Mater. Joe was on the Advisory Board for the College of Business at Bloomsburg University. In 2012, the lobby in Sutliff Hall at Bloomsburg University was named the Rado Lobby in recognition of the many contributions of Joe and his wife, Elaine. In addition, Joe was a charter member of the International Alumni Council at Bloomsburg University. Joe was a former chairman of the board of the Agile Web, he was also on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Elevator Contractors, the National Association of Surface Mount Technology and the Board of Directors for the Manufacturers Association of Berks County. His community affiliations are member of Sacred Heart Church in West Reading, former head wrestling coach for the Wyomissing Grapplers, a charter member of the Pennsylvania chapter of Unico, and a Pennsylvania ambassador from 2000-2007. He was a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Berkshire Country Club for many years, as well as the Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America ? The Hawk Mountain Council.
Joe's awards over the years include All-State Football Player; Berwick Senior H.S., 1956; Service Key at Bloomsburg University, 1963; Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee at The Perkiomen Prep School, 1987; Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 1992; Academic Hall of Fame Inductee at Berwick Senior H.S., 2003; National Leadership Award/ Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council, 2004; Distinguished Alumni Award, Bloomsburg University, 2004; United States Army Reserve Patriotic Support – Operations Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom – 2004, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame – Bernie Romanoski Chapter – 2005, Boys & Girls Clubs of America – Centennial Award, 2006; 1st Honorary Member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Bloomsburg University, 2007; and Who's Who of the Heritage Registry, 2006-2007.
Joe loved people, golf, Tuesday night cards, football, photography and kids' sports, which extended to his children and his grandchildren.
He is survived by his stepmother, Catherine Rado of Berwick; and four brothers, Tony Rado of Orangeville, Pa., Charles Rado Esq. of Dallas, Pa., Michael Rado of Douglassville, Pa. and Rick Rado of Berwick, Pa. His only sister was the late Catherine Rado of Reading, Pa.
Joe will be greatly missed by his five children and five grandchildren: Stephanie Rado Taormina of Wyomissing and her two daughters, Allegra and Gabrielle; Lisa Rado of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; Susan Rado Duddy and her husband, Mike Duddy, and their three children, Michael, Gia and Bella Duddy Joselle Rado of Wayne, Pa.; and his only son, Christian Rado of Manhatten Beach, Calif.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church in West Reading on Friday, May 9, at 10 a.m. Inurnment will be in Gethsemane Mausoleum, Muhlenberg TWP.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Joseph A. Rado Jr. to Bloomsburg University, School of Business; Berks Catholic Scholarship Fund; The Penn State Dance Marathon and sent to the THON office: ATTN: Finance THON Office, 210 HUB University Park, PA 16802 or online at thon.org/donors/howtodonate; Penn State Chapter of Uplifting Athletes – 112 Market Street, Suite 301, Harrisburg, PA 17101 : On-line donation: http://give.upliftingathletes.org/ state-college/events/penn-state-lift-for-life-2014/e32671.
Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.