Joseph J. Moscati

Joseph J. Moscati, a man of exacting standards, a proud military veteran, loving husband, father and grandfather died Dec.12, 2020. The cause of death was renal failure. Dementia overtook the last few years of his life at Encore Assisted Living at Turf Valley in Ellicott City, but his sense of humor could not be extinguished by this disease. Joe was one of six, born into an Italian family in Baltimore, MD. Their Catholic faith was the cornerstone of-what he called-La Familia, and he remained a faithful servant throughout his life. In fact, Joe's interest in wine could be traced to his early years as an alter boy, where it is believed he occasionally sampled the Communion wine in the sacristy at St. Ambrose Church in Pimlico. On Dec.5th, 1944, 18-year-old Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army, and assigned to Camp Blanding, Florida for Infantry Replacement Training. Thus, began a lifelong relationship with the military. Joe was sent to the Asian-Pacific theater in July 1945. The fighting was winding down at that point, and he was assigned to a 60-mm mortar squad in Company G, 165th Infantry Regiment of the 27th Infantry Division on Okinawa. In later years, in his typical self-deprecating style, he referred to this squad as performing mop-up duty. The 27th Division was deactivated and in December 1945, Joe was assigned to General MacArthur's headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, where he worked in the 150th Finance Disbursing section. Following his tour in Japan, Staff Sergeant Moscati returned to the U.S., enlisted and served two years in the 246th Finance Disbursing section, Enlisted Reserve Corps in the U.S. Army Reserve. In October 1948, he enlisted in HQ Battery, 110th Field Artillery Battalion of the 29th Infantry Division, Maryland Army National Guard as a Corporal in the Radio section. In 1949 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In December 1962, Joe was promoted to Sergeant-Major of the 110 Field Artillery Battalion and served in that capacity until his discharge in 1965. Beyond his official military service, Joe was also a member of the Catholic War Veterans and served as National Commander and Finance Officer of the 29th Division Association. On the home front, Joe was married to Anna May Moscati (nee Hanrahan) for 45 years until her death in 1999. They produced two children, Joanne and Joe, who grew up within Joe's strict guidelines, and Anna May's compassionate heart. Joe was a conservative in the truest sense. Yes, he might have had the viewpoint of a political hawk, but he was also a child of the Great Depression. Wasting resources was equivalent to a venial sin. As was living outside your means. As was NOT saving for a rainy day. Forever a company man, Joe Moscati started his professional career below-ground, where he toiled in manholes as a cable splicer for C&P Telephone. Working his way up, he installed public exchange switchboards, subsequently engineering that technology and moved eventually into management as a cost-analyst, presenting cases before the Public Utilities Commission. He indeed knew the business from below ground up. During the 1960s and '70s, Joe served as an adult leader and committee chairman of Boy Scout Troop 976, Reisterstown MD. He enjoyed camping-or bivouacking as he called it; pressing his military terminology into service. He was a longtime member of and sang in the choir at Sacred Heart Church, Glyndon MD. His fondness for Gilbert & Sullivan musicals, astonishingly, had him singing and (more or less) dancing in the Young Vic theater productions of the Mikado and The Pirates of Penzance. Joe believed family was one of the blessings of life. For many years, he was the instigator of and Chief Grill Master at the annual Moscati Family reunions. In its heyday, the event hosted nearly one hundred family members and friends. Uncle Joe was in his element! In his retirement years he and Anna May traveled with friends to many countries in Europe. Later, his friendship with Mary Loats and her family kept him active well into his 80's. Joe is survived by his two children, Joanne Greenberg and husband Dave, of Perry Hall MD; Joseph W. Moscati and wife Jeanne Turner, of Silver Spring MD; three grandchildren, David Greenberg, Sarah Greenberg and Morgan Moscati and husband George Marshall, and a brother Robert W. Moscati of Catonsville, MD. He is predeceased in death by four siblings: Irene Taylor, Sister Ernestine Moscati SSND, Eunice Henritz and Anthony Moscati. As Joe was proud of all who served in the military, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House builds comfort homes where military and veteran's families can stay free of charge, while a loved one is in the hospital (much like a Ronald McDonald House for military families). Go to fisherhouse.org A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph's of Fullerton on Friday, Dec. 18, 2020 at 10a.m. 8420 Belair Rd., Nottingham, MD 21236. We encourage viewing the livestream service at https://www.stjoefullerton.org/ Interment at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery/Garrison Forest will be private.