Joseph Edward Vorbach

REAR ADMIRAL JOSEPH EDWARD VORBACH, USCG (ret), (88) of Midlothian, VA died peacefully on May 3, 2025 following a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. Born on April 2, 1937 in Queens, NY, he was predeceased by his beloved wife of 51 years, Alice (Gordon) Vorbach, his parents Lawrence and Lillian (Brown) Vorbach, his brother Jack and sister-in-law Joan (Ryan) Vorbach, his parents in-law William and Ann (Jones) Gordon, brothers-in-law Malcolm Gordon, William Gordon and Leon Lorentzen, and nephew Lawrence Vorbach. Rear Admiral Vorbach graduated from Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, NY in 1955, the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1959, the George Washington University Law School in 1968, and the National War College in 1981. At the Coast Guard Academy, he was a founding member of The Idlers, an a cappella ensemble still active after six decades. Early in his career, he sailed aboard three USCG cutters, commanding one, and served as commanding officer of a LORAN station on Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. He was proud to serve as a member of the United States delegation to the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, as Commandant of Cadets at the Coast Guard Academy, as the Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard, and to culminate his 34 years of active-duty service, as the Commander of the Coast Guard's 13th District in Seattle, WA. After retirement from the Coast Guard, he worked for the American Bureau of Shipping, concluding that service as General Counsel. A devout Catholic man, Joe was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle who cherished time with family and generously created opportunities for gatherings, the most memorable being a beach week tradition on the Outer Banks of North Carolina that has continued for 30 years. He also enjoyed the gift of deep lifetime friendships, some of more than 70 years. During the past decade, he was blessed by the friendship of Sue Lefko and her family. Rear Admiral Vorbach is survived by his four children Fran Babashak (Larry Friedkin), Joseph Vorbach (Colleen), Emily Gretz (Daniel), and Justin Vorbach (Anne Marie), and nine grandchildren: Alice Babashak (Andrew Gorsuch), Vincent Babashak, Erin Babashak, Dylan Vorbach, MaryFrances Vorbach, Lillian Gretz, Grace Gretz, Zoe Vorbach, and Jonah Vorbach. He is survived by brother-in-law Patrick Gordon (Kathie Richardson) as well as sisters-in-law Margaret Gordon, Irene Gordon, Anne Gordon-Lorentzen and Mary Gordon (Luke Wallin). A visitation and prayer service will be held at Saint Edward the Confessor Catholic Church in Richmond, VA on May 13, 2025 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. On Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Northern Virginia, a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. will be preceded by a visitation at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Vienna, VA. A reception will follow the Mass at Saint Mark. A private burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined. The family wishes to express its deep gratitude to Joe's many devoted and loving caregivers from Senior Insights, Yours Truly, Inc., and Compassus Hospice, especially Shaletta Katimbo and Katherine Babineaux. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Alice Gordon Vorbach Scholarship for the Studio Arts at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, VA. Donations can be made online at bishopoconnell.org/give or via check payable to Bishop O'Connell High School with a notation for this scholarship, mailed to 6600 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22213 – attention: Advancement Office.