Joseph Dominic Catanzaro, 77, of Tewksbury, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, September 10, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Deborah (Glisson) Catanzaro, with whom he shared 55 years of marriage.
Born in Boston on July 15, 1949, Joseph was the son of the late Dominic Catanzaro and the late Frances (Ciulla) Catanzaro. He was raised in Everett and graduated from Everett Vocational High School with the Class of 1967.
In February 1969, Joseph enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served his country during the Vietnam era. After completing Electronics Technician training, he served aboard many ships, spending more than four years at sea and overseas, and was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island; Fall River, Massachusetts; and Norfolk, Virginia. He also spent nine months serving with the Seabees in Spain. His final assignment was aboard the submarine tender USS L. Y. Spear. Joseph attained the rank of Electronics Technician (Radar) Second Class and was honorably discharged in February 1975.
It was while stationed at Great Lakes that Joseph met Deborah, a native of Milwaukee. The couple married on May 15, 1971, and began a life together built on partnership and adventure. After his time in the Navy, Joseph went to work for the MBTA as a service mechanic, where he remained until his retirement.
Joseph found great joy in the outdoors. He loved tending his garden and spending time on the water boating and fishing. He and Deborah shared a love of travel, and every trip was one they took together. Their journeys took them to Arizona, California, and South Carolina, as well as to favorite spots in Florida, including Naples, Fort Myers Beach, and Amelia Island. The couple also spent their winters in Florida. Above all, Joseph cherished his family, and to his grandchildren, he and Deborah were lovingly known as Ma and Pa.
In addition to his wife Deborah, Joseph is survived by his son, James Catanzaro of Billerica; his daughter; Karen Sawyer of Dracut; his grandchildren, Jarrod Sawyer, Emily Sawyer and Christopher Marsh and his girlfriend Jessie Cipriano; his great-grandson, Vincent Marsh; his sisters, Marie Cialdea and her husband John of Bellingham, MA, and Lillian Houghton and her husband Michael of Derry, NH; his brother, Dominic "Nick" Catanzaro and his wife Tracey of Baltimore, MD; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Cynthia Stankiewicz and her husband Marc, Greg Glisson and his wife Margaret, and Dan Glisson and his wife Cathy, all of Milwaukee, WI; and many nieces and nephews. He was also the brother-in-law of the late Rebecca Smith and the late Julie Zdero.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Sunday, September 13, 2026, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. A service of remembrance will be held at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joseph Dominic Catanzaro may be made to the Dementia Society of America at www.dementiasociety.org, or to AFTD, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, at www.theaftd.org. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Tewksbury Funeral Home. For additional information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com.