Joseph C. Porcello

Joseph C. Porcello passed away peacefully on November 18, 2010. He was surrounded by his family throughout his month-long hospitalization and at the time of his death. He was 81.Born in Salem, MA on January 4, 1929, he was a son of the late Joseph and Catherine Porcello. He grew up in a large and well-loved family in Salem. Joe enlisted in the army in 1946, and was part of the WWII cleanup effort in Europe. During his service he worked as a radio operator and upon his honorable discharge in 1948, attended electronics school in Boston. He continued his education at Northeastern University, earning a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1955. Soon after, he accepted a job with General Electric in upstate NY, and began his lifetime career of radar engineering. He met his wife, Rose, at GE, and they settled in North Syracuse, NY in the early 1970s. During his 35 years with GE, he developed, built and tested multiple radar systems throughout the US and around the world (including Israel, Iran, Thailand, etc). In the 1980s he pioneered an advanced backscatter radar technology that detected aircraft at greater distances than any other ground radar in history. His work on defense technologies with GE and the armed services helped the US win the cold war. His passion for mathematics, science, and technology led to his two sons earning multiple graduate degrees and pursuing careers in engineering and science. He began a long and enjoyable retirement in 1990. He was an avid reader, who enjoyed jogging, woodworking, home improvement, and electronic repairs. He loved spending time with family, especially his grandchildren. Throughout his long life he valued hard work and family above everything else and never missed an opportunity to help others.Joseph is survived by his loving family including his wife, Rose M. Porcello; two sons, Brian J. Porcello and his wife, Kimberly of King of Prussia, PA and Darrell M. Porcello of San Francisco, CA; three grandchildren: Connor, Kaylie and Sean; eight siblings; and over forty nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by three siblings.His Funeral Mass will be at Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem, MA on Friday, November 26, 2010 at 11:00am. The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday morning from 10 to 10:50am at the church. Interment will be private.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joseph's memory to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Donation information can be found at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/about_ninds/gift_fund.htm