Joseph J. Desanctis Jr., 78, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on May 24, 2014.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Barbara (Ehrmann); two daughters, Joanne (David) Kirk, and Patricia (T. Emmett) Guiry; granddaughter, Kathryn Kirk; brother, Richard; and two sisters, Marie (Thomas) Doherty, and Rita (John) Wittenberger; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews and their families.
He was predeceased by his son, Paul Joseph in 2005.
Born in Philadelphia, Penn., on Oct. 19, 1935, he was the son of Joseph J. DeSanctis and Marion (Adams). A 1953 graduate of St. Joseph’s Prep, he received his BA in History from St., Joseph’s College in 1957.
Following his college graduation he was accepted into the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He was commissioned and assigned to the USS Bold in Charleston, S.C., for one year and later served as a Watch Officer to the Director of Naval Intelligence at the National Security Agency.
In 1961, after earning the rank of Lieutenant, Desanctis returned to civilian life and pursued his childhood desire of becoming a doctor. He graduated from Temple Medical School in 1968 and completed his internship and residency at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center.
Desanctis remained connected to Reading Hospital establishing a private practice in Internal Medicine in 1972. He continued practice of medicine until his retirement in 2006 when he and his wife relocated to the ACTS Retirement Community in Vero Beach.
For the convenience of family and friends, a Memorial Mass will be held in Philadelphia at a later date. Contributions may be made to VNA Hospice 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960, Fisher House Foundation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 George Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20307, and The Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth, 501 N. Church Road, Wernersville, PA 19565. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com.
