Joseph Passaretti of Collingdale served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945 in Africa and Europe, receiving a Purple Heart and numerous other medals.
Passaretti, considered one of Delaware County’s oldest World War II veterans, has died at the age of 106, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.
He passed away on New Year’s Eve.
Passaretti served with the 36th Infantry and 133rd Field Artillery and was involved with five invasions of Europe and Africa as a howitzer cannon artillery specialist.
He was born and raised in Hartford, Conn., and worked at Curtis 1000 Publishing in Hartford before being transferred to the company’s Broomall office. He settled in Collingdale with his wife Margaret.
The veteran was a devoted charter member of the former Joseph Marshall-Donald R. McCay Collingdale VFW Post 5428.
In celebration of his 105th birthday in 2023, a Hometown Hero banner in his honor was unveiled at the Collingdale Community Center.
Collingdale Mayor Donna Matteo-Spadea considered Parssaretti a treasured member of the community.
“He was a very kind individual, and he was always very appreciative of the attention he received. We were always honored to have him, he was one of a kind,” she said..
Find out more about Joseph Passaretti in the Daily Times.
