Joseph Francis Trombetta

Trombetta, Joseph Francis, 88, of Fort Lauderdale, FL, passed away on Saturday, October 2, 2010. He was born on November 14, 1921 in Bronx, NY. Beloved husband and father, Vice-President at the Precision Valve Corporation and a decorated veteran of World War II. A platoon leader with the 781st Tank Battalion in Europe, he saw action in the Battle of the Bulge, among others. On April 2, 1945, while commanding his platoon in support of an Infantry advance into an area the German army had been commanded to keep "at all costs," his tank was blown up and he sustained serious injuries. He was awarded a Bronze Star and his second Purple Heart. His loving marriage to Marcia Joan Varanelli lasted fifty-nine years, until her death in 2003. After receiving a bachelor's degree from NYU, he began a peacetime career ranging from accounting to hotel management. He joined IBM in the late fifties and managed several building projects in California, including IBM's West Coast headquarters on Sunset Strip, designed by noted architect William Pereira. As a senior executive with Precision Valve, he oversaw the company's leisure properties, such as Eldred Fishing Preserve and Walker's Cay resort in the Bahamas. He was known not only for his expertise, but as a mentor for younger executives. Mr. Trombetta's personal charm led celebrity guests ranging from Phil Harris to Roger Daltry to stay in touch with him after their stay. He is survived by son, James and daughter-in-law, Cornelia Emerson; son, Robert and daughter-in-law, Lori Arnold; and grand-daughter, Nico; niece, Bonnie Anne Edwards; and nephews, Edward and Christopher Boyle. A Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, at 11 a.m., in St. Pius X Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Heart Association. Arrangements Baird-Case Jordan-Fannin Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Lauderdale, FL.