JOSEPH WAS ACTUALLY GIVEN THE NAME ALFRED ON HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE. HIS MOTHER STATED IT WAS A MISTAKE. HE WAS BAPTIZED JOSEPH JOHN IN ST.MARY'S CATHEDRAL, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GALVESTON, TEXAS. HIS SPONSORS WERE JOHN B. AND CARRIE PUPPO.(SEE LINK UNDER THE PICTURE OF ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL FOR INFO ON THE PUPPO FAMILY)

HE HAD HIS BIRTH CERIFICATE AMMENDED TO SHOW JOSEPH JOHN AS HIS LEGAL NAME IN 1960 WHEN HE WAS GETTING HIS RECORDS IN ORDER FOR SOCIAL SECURITY.

JOSEPH AND HIS PARENTS DIDNT GET ALONG WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND JOSEPH LEFT HOME AT THE AGE OF 14 AND JOINED THE MERCHANT MARINES. HIS SISTER GERTRUDE STATED THAT JOSEPH FELT HE WASN'T WANTED AT HOME BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE AND HIS FATHER ARGUED AND IT WAS ALSO SAID HE FELT HIS MOTHER CHOSE FAVORITES AND HE FELT SLIGHTED. THOUGH THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE HIM OTHERWISE HE COULD NOT ACCEPT IT. SHE SAID JOSEPH WAS HEADSTRONG TO DO THINGS HIS WAY,(ANOTHER CARUSO TRAIT PASSED ON)AND HE CONSIDERED HIMSELF " THE BLACK SHEEP".

JOSEPH MARRIED FRANCES VASQUEZ AUGUST 12,193O AND HE MADE HIS LIVING AS A BAKER OWNING A FEW BAKERIES DURING HIS CAREER IN TORRENCE AND MANHAT BEACH AS WELL AS WORKING AT SUCH PLACES AS THE EMBASSY CLUB, THE AIRPORT FLIGHT DECK AND IN 1955 HE BEGAN WORKING AT THE DAY SIDE HONOR RANCH.

HE WAS ABLE TO SET HIS PROBLEMS WITH HIS FATHER ASIDE WHEN ANTHONY NEEDED A PLACE TO LIVE. HE LIVED WITH JOSEPH AND HIS FAMILY IN TORRENCE AND IT WOULD BE JOSEPH WHO WOULD DEAL WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS TO BURY ANTHONY WHEN HE DIED

HE HAD A SET MIND OF WHAT HE WANTED FOR HIS CHILDREN AND WAS VERY STRICT ABOUT THINGS...AS A GRANDFATHER, I REMEMBER HIM AS A KIND HEARTED, SWEET MAN. I HAVE VIVID MEMORIES OF HIM. THE SMELL OF A CHERRY BLEND TOBACCO BRINGS HIM TO MIND AND I REMEMBER HOW HE WOULD SIT IN HIS RECLINER AND LAUGH. HE ENJOYED HAVING HIS LARGE FAMILY ALL AROUND HIM. I REMEMBER ONE CHRISTMAS HE BUILT WAGONS FOR ALL THE GRANDSONS AND DISH HUTCHES FOR THE GRANDDAUGHTERS. HE HAD A CAMPING TRAILER HE PARKED AT CEDAR CREEK LAKE IN CALIFORNIA. ONE SUMMER WE WENT THERE TO VISIT. I CAN SEE HIM SITTING IN A LAWNCHAIR IN HIS RED CABANNA SHORT SET UNTANGELING A FISHING LINE, PIPE HANGING OUT OF HIS MOUTH AND TEASING ALL OF US KIDS. HE WOULD CALL MY BROTHER ROBERT BOBBY GEORGE. IT WAS A NAME MY FATHER CALLED HIMSELF AS A CHILD.

JANUARY 13, 1962, WHILE OUT SEARCHING FOR PROPERTY TO INVEST IN FOR HIS RETIREMENT, JOSEPH AND "HONEY" WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. HE WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR WHICH RESULTED IN MAJOR SPINAL TRAUMA. HE WAS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN AND WOULD NEVER WALK AGAIN. FOR FOUR YEARS HE WAS IN AND OUT OF HOSPITALS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HIM HAVE TO DEPEND ON OTHERS FOR HIS PERSONAL NEEDS AND DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO DO SO..HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN AN ACTIVE MAN AND NOW HE WAS HOME BOUND. "HONEY" CARED FOR HIM AT HOME UNTIL HIS DEATH. HE DIED IN QUEEN OF ANGELS HOSPITAL, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 6, 1966 AT 1 A.M. THE DEATH CERTIFICATE STATES CAUSE OF DEATH AS CHRONIC PYELONEPHRITIS DO TO NEUROGENIC BLADDER AND SPINAL TRAUMA.

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