Joseph 'Joe' J. Vasta
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Published in January 2025
Joseph John Vasta of Dartmouth died peacefully at home surrounded by love, on December 30th, 2024, last words uttered were “THAT’S JUST SWELL.” Co-owner of Alphagraphics Printing and Marketing, Rockdale Avenue, New Bedford, MA from 1987 – 2015 with his beloved wife Eleanor “Ellie” D. (Galvin) Vasta, who predeceased him on 4-6-2022. He was 79 years old.
Joe was born in the Bronx, NY, the first of Mildred and Joseph J. Vasta III’s two sons, and grew up in Hasbrouck Heights New Jersey at a time when relatives lived close, neighbors were family and Mass was delivered in Latin. He attended all-boys schools, educated by Sisters of Charity at Corpus Christi Elementary, graduated with honors from Bergen Catholic in 1963 and earned a Masters of Chemical Engineering from Manhattan College, NYC, in 1968.
An Altar boy, a Boy Scout 1st Class, HS football manager and member of Mensa, Joe overcame a stutter through public speaking and performed in a folk group where he met his first wife, Rita (Schurter) McKenzie. They had a daughter in 1970. Joe worked for ESSO then Polaroid in Dartmouth. After a divorce, he met Ellie at a Cape Cod night club, fell in love over popcorn and silly jokes, married and welcomed their son in 1976.
Fed-up after over a decade working for others, Joe became an entrepreneur. Together with his wife, opened a successful printing franchise, Alphagraphics, which served the community for many years. They loved the outdoors and built a vacation home in the White Mountains of North Conway, NH. A Knight of Columbus, Rotary Club member, world traveller and weekend warrior, Joe was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor, citizen and friend.
Joe lived with a rare, unnamed autoimmune disease for the last 9 years of his life. Wheelchair bound with limited hand mobility he faced each day with humor, bravery, patience and strength. Sharpest pencil in the box until the very end, determined not to let the disease keep him down. Illegitimi non carborundum.
He is survived by his brother James Vasta of Rockaway, NJ, daughter Jennifer and spouse Tom Otto of Cold Spring, NY, son Joseph and spouse Kim of Leavenworth WA, and three wonderful grandchildren.
Family will hold a Celebration of Joe’s life later this year for close friends and colleagues. Donations in his memory can be made to Compassionate Care ALS, www.ccals.org
