Joseph Calitri, 83, of Danvers, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, December 9, 2013, at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts. He was the devoted husband of Anna (Gesualdi) Calitri, with whom he shared nearly 60 years of marriage.
Born in Panni, Italy on October 15, 1930, he was the son of the late Antonio and Raffaella (Totilo) Calitri.
He immigrated to the United States in March of 1947, obtained his barber’s license, served in the United States Army, and went back to Panni, Italy to marry his young bride on May 13, 1954.
Following their marriage, the couple settled in Danvers, Massachusetts where they raised their seven children. Together the couple worked tirelessly to not only live the American dream but to epitomize it.
Joseph co-founded Sam & Joe’s Restaurant in 1956 and Calitri’s Restaurant in 1970. He was a loyal family man with a strong desire to learn. Joseph was an avid storyteller, often sharing his life experiences, which were a great inspiration to many.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his seven children, Antinetta Ryan and her husband, Philip, Maria Bettencourt and her husband, Antonio, Ralph Calitri and his wife, Tracy, Theresa Fleury, Angelina Calitri, Anthony Calitri and his wife, Pam, and Joanna Giampietro and her husband, Walter. He is also survived by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Joseph Ryan, Courtney Ryan, Jill and Mark Anderson and their children, Bree and Cole, Jolene Bettencourt, Rachael and Tyler DeStefano and their son, Harrison, Katherine Calitri, Rosa and Matt Langlais and their children, Tyler and Dylan, Angela and Jeremy Sprenger, Peter Calitri, Angela Fleury, Michael Fleury Jr., Michael Calitri, Joseph Calitri, Nicholas Calitri, Haley Giampietro, and Marissa Giampietro. He was the brother of Antinetta Ciruolo and her husband, Sam, Anna Lapolla and her late husband, Antonio, and Mary Brooks and her husband, Donald. He was the brother-in-law of Grace Mastrangelo and her late husband, Angelo, John Gesualdi and his wife, Guiseppina, and Maria Tofalo. Joseph is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, including his godchildren, Anthony Ciruolo, Stan Gesualdi, Vito Mastrangelo, Anthony Brooks, and Michelle Sutherland. He was predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, Arcangelo and Constanza Gesualdi, and his son-in-law, Michael Fleury Sr.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 9AM in Saint Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant St., Danvers. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4-8PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. Memorial donations in his name may be made to the Danvers Lions Club, P.O. Box 81, Danvers, MA 01923 of which he was a past member and president.