Joseph Phillip Valentini Jr.

Joseph Phillip Valentini Jr., 82, of Westfield, formerly of Edison, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 18, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.



A visitation will be held on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains from 4–7 PM. The funeral will begin at the funeral home on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at 9 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass at St Helena's Roman Catholic Church in Edison at 10 AM. Entombment will take place at Woodbridge Memorial Gardens, Woodbridge.



In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph's name to the ALS Association. https://www.als.org



Born in the Bronx, NY, Joseph - known lovingly as "Joe Val" - lived there until age twelve before his family moved to Westfield, NJ. He cherished summers in Westerly, Rhode Island, with aunts, uncles, and cousins. He graduated from Westfield High School and went on to earn his associate's degree from Kean College.



Joseph met the love of his life, Frances Darlene Kolley, while she was in nursing school. They married in 1967 at Holy Trinity Church and shared 58 beautiful years together. After living briefly in East Orange, they settled in Edison to raise their two daughters, Kimberly and Lisa, before moving to Westfield in 2024. Family was at the center of Joe's life - he and Darlene hosted Sunday dinners with family for decades, making their home a place where love and laughter always gathered.



Joseph worked in the automobile industry for more than 40 years, spending much of his career at Mallon Pontiac, Koplin Pontiac/Volvo, Pontiac GMC Buick, and Potamkin Chevy Jeep Mitsubishi. One of his greatest accomplishments was being recognized as a top salesman for nine cars sold in a single day. He later founded JoeVal Profit Systems, supplying Krex Oil products to dealerships, before co-founding Aristocrat Marketing, an exclusive distributor of Envirolution automotive solutions. His career reflected not only his deep knowledge of automobiles but also his passion for teaching others about them.



Joseph was a dedicated member of the North Plainfield Business Association Italian American Club for over 50 years, building lifelong friendships, and was an active member of the Italian American Club of South Plainfield for 5 years.



Outside of work, Joe's happiest place was on the water, enjoying water skiing with family and friends. Boating alongside his wife and family was his lifelong joy. He was also an avid golfer, a car enthusiast, and a devoted fan of racing - from the Indianapolis 500 to the annual New York International Auto Show. Known for his quick wit and boundless humor, he had a gift for making people laugh and for turning every story into a lesson worth remembering.



Above all, Joseph was a devoted husband, father, and "Pop Pop" to his grandchildren, Perry and Leah, who adored the time spent learning from him - whether it was cars, stories, or jokes. Even during his final years, as he bravely battled ALS, he continued to share wisdom, humor, and encouragement, communicating through writing on his whiteboard when he could no longer speak. His strength, resilience, and trademark phrase "I'm the boss" became a lasting symbol of his character. To those who loved him, he was nothing short of a Superman (his favorite superhero).



Joseph was predeceased by his beloved wife, Frances Darlene Valentini, and his sister, Carol Kimble, and her husband (Kenny Sr.). He is survived by his daughters, Kimberly D. Valentini and Lisa Valentini-Ghosh; his son-in-law, Bibek Ghosh; his cherished grandchildren, Perry and Leah Ghosh; his nephew, Kenny Kimble Jr. (Valerie); his niece, Kristy Richie (Jimmy); and many extended family members and friends whose lives he touched.



Joseph's lifelong bonds with family and friends built a legacy that will live on in the lessons, stories, laughter, and love he shared with all who knew him.