Joseph A. Piazza

1924 - 2016

Piazza Joseph A. Piazza passed away at his home on Friday, May 6, 2016 at the age of 91. He was born in Meadville, PA on June 12, 1924 to the late Frank and Frances Giaccone Piazza. He married Mary Rose Calato in 1951 and had two sons, Vincent Piazza and Michael Piazza (Margaret Migliore). He was the brother of George Piazza, Leon Piazza, Catherine Modras, Roseann Piccolo and the late Samuel Piazza and Vincent Piazza. Also survived by his four grandchildren: Alex, Nikki, Mia and Emma Piazza along with numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Piazza graduated from Gannon University in Erie, PA with a Bachelor of Science in business administration and continued his studies with various graduate courses in management and human resources, attending the American Management Association Graduate School in New York. He received a Certification of Accredited Executive in Human Resources from the American Society of Human Resources. He retired as Vice President of Corporate Services and Human Resources for Pan American Life Insurance Co. where he was employed for 25 years. He continued to work for another ten years after retirement, performing consulting services for private corporations on matters of Compensation and Minority Affairs. Prior to joining Pan American, he was employed in several management positions with Talon, Inc. and the American Cyanamid Company. Active in several professional and community organizations, he served as President of the Personnel Management Assoc. of New Orleans and the New Orleans Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development, was a member of the Plimsol Club, the International House and the American Compensation Assoc. and served on the L.O.M.A. Insurance Industry Personnel and Compensation Committees. He also supported the United Way of Greater New Orleans for 30 years by serving as President of the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse for two terms and on the Board of Directors of Family Services and the Louisiana Mental Health Association. In 1989, he was appointed by Governor Buddy Roemer to the Minority Affairs Advisory Committee to the Louisiana State Commissioner of Insurance. He proudly served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army Air Corp, 1943-1946. He was a mechanic and flight crew member training glider pilots and also spent five years in the Army Corp of Military Police Reserves. Faith was also an integral part of his life. He was a parishioner of St. Edward the Confessor Church where he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, lector and usher. He also served on the Board of Directors for 16 years with the St. Jude Society and was a member of the Serra Club of East Jefferson, having been an officer and a member of the Board of Directors. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St. Edward the Confessor Church, 4921 W. Metairie Ave in Metairie, LA. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM at the church. Interment will be in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum in Garden of Memories Cemetery. The online guestbook is available at www.gardenofmemoriesmetairie.com.