WILBRAHAM - Joseph Simon Assad, Jr., 83, of Wilbraham, Massachusetts, passed away on April 18 at his home surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer. Joe leaves his devoted and loving wife of 64 years, Mary (Lanctoe) Assad, their three children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Born and raised in the North End of Springfield, Joe went on to serve in the United States Navy on the USS Albany out of Norfolk, Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College. A 26-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department, Joe received numerous commendations before retiring as a homicide detective. Joe and Mary raised their three children in East Springfield, where they hosted jam-packed neighborhood parties and later Easter egg hunts and generous Christmas Eve celebrations for their grandchildren. Joe never missed an opportunity to tell his family how lucky he felt to have them, or a chance to tell an inappropriate joke. He will be remembered as a gregarious man who loved to share a laugh, meet new people and expand his circle of friends. Joe rarely went anywhere without running into an old acquaintance and made a point to join old friends for breakfast each week. He stayed busy in retirement, working for more than 30 years at the Jewish Community Center of Longmeadow, golfing in a police league for 42 years and volunteering with the SIDS Race for Life. He was also a member of East Longmeadow Unico and a longtime volunteer with the Jimmy Fund Council of Western Massachusetts. Joe will be deeply missed by his three children, Bonnie Roy and her husband Ronald of Springfield, Holly Demers and her husband Lawrence of Dennis, Joseph M. Assad and his wife Margaret of Wilbraham; his four grandchildren, James Demers of Rockland, Joseph S. Assad and his wife Jennifer of Wilbraham, Brittany Roy of Woburn and Mary-Leah Messenger and her husband Brian of Grafton; his three great grandchildren, Abigail Assad, Simon Assad and Leo Messenger; as well as his sister, Lee Panzer of Hollywood, Florida; his niece, Donna Walker of Los Angeles, California; and family friends, Gina LaChapelle and Tia Mazza. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Leona Assad; and his niece, Deborah McClain. Joe’s family deeply regrets not being able to properly celebrate his life surrounded by those who knew and loved him during this time of social distancing. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held at a future date when it is safe to do so. His funeral arrangements are entrusted to the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Joe’s name to the Springfield Boys and Girls Club, 481 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104, or online at www.sbgc.org/donate-sponsor/. For more details and to leave his family a condolence message, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com