Joseph Amel Yermal

Joseph Amel Yermal

Joseph Amel Yermal was born on November 21, 1943, in Hackensack, NJ to Joseph August and Mae Yermal (née Caramanna). He was a kind and good-natured child, but seemed to always have a look of mischief in all childhood pictures we have of him. He was also a loving and protective influence over his younger brother Vincent. When our dad told stories of his childhood, we envisioned something out of the movie A Bronx Tale. He'd play stickball in empty lots and would take the train to New York from NJ to catch a ball game. That old school way of life he had as a kid, he maintained until the end. His high school yearbook described him as "a sincere young man and a lover of jazz." This description was true. He was one of the most sincere persons you could meet, and was equally charming.

He could hold a room's attention of almost any type of company. His appeal was great to those rich and poor and everyone in between. And some might call him a lady's man. He loved opera, and he was among the most well-read persons you could meet. For every contemporary issue across a breadth of disciplines, he could aptly speak to it from the entire arc of human history—drawing keenly from Ancient History to the Middle Ages to the Modern Age.

In his younger years he dressed to the nines, but happily enjoyed what he referred to as his "D"-rated attire later in life. He could also be so darn funny, and we think that's how he attracted people to him, that along with his energy and intelligence.

Saying he loved his family is an understatement. He did enjoy embarrassing us as kids—pretending to trip in a parking lot so everyone could see or would make really silly faces and wave to people while driving down the highway. He was the kind of dad that would bail one out of a problem and never hold a grudge about it. He would simply call the issue "tuition" and proceed to help us process the lesson and learn from the error. Because he was such an eternal optimist, he was great at helping us see the bigger picture and developing in us a resilience and proper perspective.

He loved his dogs—from King to Sandy, and we believe he is with them now walking in the wooded mountains outside Laurel Mountain Park in Western Pennsylvania, which was one of his favorite places. "Pop-pop" was what his two granddaughters and grandson called him. He loved spirited conversation over a morning cup of coffee and a pastry, eating at diners where the silverware didn't match, and a good stromboli for dinner and a cannoli for dessert. His love for all things Pennsylvania State University almost tied with his love for family.

Dad passed away surrounded by his son, Christopher Yermal, daughter, Megan Toothman, his grandchildren Caroline, Lydia, and Charlie; and his daughter-in-law Jennifer Holmes and son-in-law Byron Toothman. He is also survived by his brother Vincent, sister-in-law Sharon, two nieces Sharon and Vanessa—and their families. His last day with us was in the comfort of his son's home on a crisp, sunny day in Wilmington, NC. We got to hold his hand and say our good-byes, and also talk to his girlfriend Sarah in Florida, former wife Salli in Florida, and best friend John Anderson in Charlotte, NC. For his amazing last day, we are so grateful. He slipped away like a whisper at 4:00 pm on March 27, 2020. Joe Yermal will be so greatly be missed by his family and friends, while we also continue to grow in our new lives not with his physical presence, but another lifetime's worth of wonderful memories.

In his honor, we invite you to get your prostate checked when it's recommended, donate to an animal rescue group, or turn off the electronic form of entertainment for a day and take a deep read into a good book.