Joseph L. Cotti

Joseph Lewis Cotti, 90, of Palm Bay, Florida, passed away peacefully Thursday morning in Malabar, Florida.
Born in New York, Joe was a lifelong fan of music and the military. At the tender age of 9, he played drums with The American Blue Jackets. He studied at the New Center Music Conservatory and A.B. Davis.
At 16, he joined the Maritime Service and was a proud and highly decorated member of The United States Marine Corps where he was an airplane mechanic crew chief. He saw battle in Korea and received a Purple Heart. He also served in the Army Air Corps (later the Air Force).
As a young man, Joe frequented many famous New York City jazz clubs and once said, "I chased Gene Krupa all over NY as a kid. He was the greatest thing since sliced bread." He was a contemporary of Louie Bellson and Louie Rich, recorded with Duke Ellington and played with many famous jazz bands in The Big Apple until he moved to Palm Bay with his young family in 1972.
Mr. Cotti frequently entertained at many area nightclubs in such groups as The Satisfiers, The Swingtime Municipal Band and Joe Cotti and the Regents.
He is survived by his son, Bruce and grandchildren Eric and Deanna Cotti and Michael, David Minshall, Lisa Minshall Johnson and granddaughter, Jillian Johnson.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife, his beloved Lillian Greenbaum Cotti and his daughter, Susan Cotti Minshall.
Services will be held at Foutainhead Memorial Park, 7303 Babcock St. SE., Palm Bay on Saturday, November 17 at 1:00 pm.