Joe hails from Tracy, California and was the third child born to Italian immigrant parents who taught him not only moral and ethical values, but also instilled in him a work ethic.

 

            After high school he worked many jobs, including the Army Supply Depot, H.J. Heinz Co. cannery, and the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, where he began as a laborer and worked his way up to railroad car inspector.  He was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving overseas during the Korean conflict.  Upon receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to his job at the railroad.

 

            While working full time, he attended Modesto Junior College, taking advantage of the G.I. Bill.  After receiving an Associate of Arts degree in Criminology, he transferred to San Jose State University.  Upon graduation, Joe was recruited by the Santa Clara County Chief Probation Officer where a lifetime career followed.  While working as a probation officer, Joe attended night classes at Golden Gate University, earning a Master’s Degree in Federal, State, and Local Governances.

 

Joe and Linda met in the early ‘60s while she was employed at the District Attorney’s Office.  They married and are proud parents of John, Julia and Joe, Jr. and loving grandparents of Michael and Sophia.

 

            Joe was in on the ground floor of the chartering of the San Jose Scales of Justice Lions Club in June of 1997.  He has been Club President, Bingo Chairman for seven years, and Board Member for nine years.  As Visitation Chair, Joe won both club and personal District awards for most clubs visited during the three years in that capacity.  He has been Club Lion of the Year twice.  He has served repeatedly on the Citizenship and Flag Day Committee, White Cane Days, the Student Speaker’s Contest, and on numerous fundraising and service committees.

 

Joe is a Certified Guiding Lion and also holds a certificate from the International Association of Lions Clubs’ 2004-2005 Senior Lions Leadership Institute.  He is a Melvin Jones Fellow. 

 

He has been a co-guiding Lion in the formation of two new Lions Clubs, the Milpitas Vietnamese Lions Club and the Bay Area Indo-American Club, receiving the Extension Award certificate and medal from International President Ashok Mehta on June 8, 2006 for service rendered in forming that club.

 

            At the District level, Joe has held many assignments, including City of Hope Committee Member, Membership Chair, Retention Co-Chair, Extension Chair and Lions in Sight Representative as a Director at Large for the main Multiple District LIS Office.  He participated in an eyeglass mission to Zacatecas, Mexico with Lions in Sight.  Joe is currently serving as Vice District Governor of District 4-C6.