Joseph A. ABATE Jr.

ABATE, Joseph A. Jr.

Joseph A. Abate Jr., age 74, husband of Marie Tine Abate since 1959, passed away on August 9 after a long and courageous battle with brain cancer at home in Farmington, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born December 23, 1937 in New Britain to the late Joseph and Giovina (Tomasso) Abate. He attended Brown University, Central Connecticut State University, and in 1976 he graduated from the PMD program at Harvard University. Furthering his passion in music, Joe received a certificate of completion from the Berklee College of Music. Mr. Abate was employed by Tilcon Tomasso Inc. retiring in 2003 after a successful career as the President and CEO. He was a parishioner of the Church of St. Patrick in Farmington, as well as active in The Boys and Girls Club of New Britain, The Tunxis Plantation Country Club Men's League, Trustee of Saint Patrick's Church, and was inducted into the Knights of Saint Gregory, the highest station a layperson can hold in the Catholic Church. Joe was an outstanding athlete, receiving many awards and honors, and was an enthusiastic sports fan, with a love for the New York Giants and the New York Yankees. He enjoyed golfing and was an avid guitar player with a deep passion for music which he fulfilled by being a member of Suite Roc and First Class. He will be most remembered for his unselfish dedication to multiple youth sports programs with financial donations, time, and resources. Joe was known for putting others first, and will live on through the countless people's lives that he touched. Joe was a devoted family man, always caring for and spending time with his numerous relatives. In addition to his wife Marie, who he adored, Joe is survived and will be dearly missed by his son Dr. Joseph A. Abate III and his wife Joanne of South Burlington, VT, his daughters Lynne Gagliardi and her husband Thomas of Southington, Joanne Couceiro and her husband Alfredo of Newington, and Kristen Daigle and her husband Eric of Southington. Joe will also live on through his numerous grandchildren; Joseph, Michael and Tyler Abate, Danielle and TJ Gagliardi, Ashley and Ryan Dibble, and Matthew, Erica and Brooke Daigle. Joe will also be remembered and missed by his sister-in-laws Mildred Sullivan and Elizabeth Tine, many nieces and nephews, and his dearly loved cousins Angelo and Joy Tomasso, Dr. Edward and Lucy Scheer, Michael and Linda Tomasso, Nancy Tomasso, Paul Tomasso, Jimmy Tomasso, Billy Tomasso and Carol and Carl Ficks. Joe is best known for being with his family, and he was the foundation to the strong family that lives on in his name. Joe will be joining his brother Carmine Abate and his sister Lucia Houlihan in his new life beyond the one he shared with us. Joseph's family would like to give a special thanks to Nurses Milissa Collins, Mary Ellen Gaul and Darla Vaughns and his caretakers Jonas Agyekum and Nana Mensah, for all of the help and care that they provided Joe and his loved ones during his final days.
Joseph's Funeral Services will begin Monday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Saint Patrick, Farmington. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain. Visitation hours will be Sunday, August 12 from 4-8 p.m. at the New Britain Memorial Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home, 444 Farmington Ave., New Britain. In lieu of flowers, Joseph's family asks that Memorial donations be made in his memory to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 New York Ave, New York, NY 10065 or the Joseph Abate Memorial Fund at the Church of Saint Patrick, 110 Main Street, Farmington, CT 06032. For directions or to express an online message, please visit www.newbritainsagarino.com.