by Joseph RADDER
Joe Francescone...“I pray for rain sometimes just so I can stay at
home and do the wash.” At 79 years young, Joe Francescone is anything but
“retired.” Active in everything from Knights of Columbus
and the Elks to volunteer work for the Catholic Guild for the Blind, Joe spends much of
his time helping others in any way he can. He volunteers time, energy and a lot of care to
many different organizations. Why? “Because you have to have some charity. You
can’t be just greedy.”
Joe enjoys a wide variety of activities. A gourmet chef and avid lover of
all foods, Joe is also a dedicated reader. Two newspapers each morning, one or two books a
week and countless magazines are his mental diet. And his love of travel is unlimited. Joe
returned recently from a 3-week cruise through Asia. And like the namesake of his cruise
ship, the Marco Polo, Joe has traveled around the world, including Europe, the South Seas
(while serving in the Army during WWII), and every state in the US. He even recently took
his 20th cruise to the Caribbean. For Joe, sitting still is never an option.
Joe’s proudest achievement in life, however, is his only son Greg. A widower for 21 years, Joe lives with Greg and shares in his every achievement. Greg, a high school volleyball and basketball coach, has even been awarded the key to the city of Buffalo and his plaques and trophies line an entire wall of Joe’s basement. It’s obvious that Greg has picked up on and continues his father’s philosophy of keeping active and living Forever Young.
Joseph Radder is a freelance writer.