The son of Sicilian immigrant parents Leonardo and Rosaria Digati, Joseph was the youngest of 7 siblings and spent the entirety of his life as a resident of his beloved town of Bristol, RI. Educated in Bristol public schools, he enlisted in the newly formed US Air Force after graduation and served during the Korean War.He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1953. Initially he worked for Brunelli Plumbing as an apprentice then after a traumatic back injury switched to more cerebral pursuits and got his BA in humanities from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1959. He continued with a career as an art teacher at the Middletown High School in Middletown, RI and went on to earn his Masters in Education from Providence College in 1971 and after many years he retired from his post as the art department administrator at the school. In his retirement he relished local politics and the goings on in town. From 1982-1986 he held the position as chairman of the Bristol School Committee and was a member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee for more than 40 years. A popular bartender and board member of the Cup Defender's Association, he was a local fixture that was known for his sense of humor, intelligence, brutal honesty and fairness. He enjoyed spirited debate (especially if he believed he was right...and he usually did believe he was right: and emphatically so), chess, talks of history and politics, good food and good company. He adored kids, dogs and his beloved Jazz music of which he was a particular fan of the late Chet Baker. He leaves his wife, three daughters and one granddaughter. At the time of his death he was survived by two sisters and one brother.

Joe Digati leaves a legacy of humor, intelligence, integrity, the unending pursuit of excellence and many crank phone calls.
I miss you Dad.

~JOE'S GRAND-DOG~

~JOE'S BEST FRIEND~