Joseph P. Goryeb

Joseph P. Goryeb

AGE: 84 •

Joseph P. Goryeb, CEO and Founder of Champion Mortgage, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on April 8, 2015. He was 84. Born in Brooklyn, NY, Joe met and married his high school sweetheart, Marguerite. They were happily married for 58 years until her passing in 2010. Joseph was a veteran of the armed services and served as a corporal in the Korean War. After his service, he began a long and successful career in the financial services industry, working for Beneficial Finance and Suburban Finance companies. In October of 1981, he launched Champion Mortgage Co, Inc. and made the slogan "WHEN YOUR BANK SAYS NO, CHAMPION SAYS YES" a household phrase. Champion quickly became a family endeavor which included his wife, two sons, daughter, two daughters in law, and a nephew, who worked together for 20 years building one of the premier mortgage banking companies in the country.

One his greatest joys was being in partnership with his sons, Rick and Joe. During that time, Champion was recognized by INC Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing privately help companies in the United States for three consecutive years. Mr. Goryeb was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year in 1992. Of all the many accolades Joe received, the one of which he was most proud was having Champion recognized as one of the Top 10 Companies to Work for in New Jersey. Champion was involved in one of the American Cancer Society's most successful not for profit partnerships, raising more than 1 million dollars in the fight against cancer. After the sale of Champion Mortgage in 1997, Joe, Marge, and their children, Joe, Rick, and Lynne provided the seed money to Morristown Medical Center for the Goryeb Children's Hospital. Joe also served on the Foundation for Morristown Medical Center. These were just a few of his many philanthropic endeavors. Joe truly believed in giving back.

Along with all of Joe's many accomplishments, his greatest gift to all who knew him was his kindness, generosity, and infectious optimism. A lifelong NY Yankees and Giants fan, Joe was also an accomplished pool player. He truly lived the words of the Frank Sinatra song "I did it my way." Joe is survived by his son Joseph and wife, Jeanne; Rick and his wife, Leslie; daughter Lynne Goryeb-Porfido and her husband, James Porfido; nine grandsons: Scott, An thony Roselli, Steven Rosel li, Joseph V, Kenneth, Nich olas, Shawn, Ryan, and Cole Porfido, and loyal canine companion, Rita. In addition he is survived by a loving family of in laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends including his Champion family. A viewing will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2015 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm at Doyle Funeral Home, 106 Maple Ave. Morristown, NJ (www.doylefh.com). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday April 13, 2015 at 10:00am at the Church of the Assumption in Morristown, NJ with the interment following at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Joe's memory to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org).