"Joe the Plumber," the second son of Polish immigrants, was born in Rhode Island at the Providence Lying-In Hospital. In his youth he lived at 77 Julian Street and then 33 Ida Street, both in Providence. He attended Ralph Street School, Laurel Hill Avenue School, and Oliver Hazard Perry Junior High School, and from ages twelve to sixteen he worked in a junkyard. In the mid-1940s, during World War II, Joe dropped out of Mount Pleasant High School to enlist in the service, but he was rejected due to his age. He resumed his schooling and graduated half a year late.
In August 1950, Joe was accepted into the Army National Guard and sent to Camp Stewart in Georgia. At this time he was seeing Catherine LaFazia, a former classmate. He and Kay dated briefly before high school, but took up with each other again in 1949. They married on January 6, 1951 at St. Anthony's Church in Providence, when he was on his first furlough. Kay accompanied Joe when he returned to Camp Stewart, and then followed him to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. A master sergeant in the 705th AAA Gun Battalion, Joe later shipped out for Okinawa, Japan. He was the head of the motor pool, in charge of its 250 vehicles. When he left the military Joe became apprenticed to plumber Henry J. Coupe, and he later passed his master plumber exam. He subsequently started his own business, D & R Plumbing, with George "Tex" Rickard. Joe was known for his work ethic and strength; he could unscrew bolts with his bare hands that other men struggled to loosen with a wrench. His favorite tool was the Milwaukee sawzall.
Aside from work, Joe's favorite activities included collecting coins and knives, attending auctions at Okee's Auction Barn, watching Rhode Island Reds hockey games, and fishing at the family summer house on Keech Pond. In his later years he enjoyed relaxing on his porch and spending time with friends at Dunkin' Donuts in Greenacres, Florida. He was known affectionately by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Papa Joe." He passed away at Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Florida.
In August 1950, Joe was accepted into the Army National Guard and sent to Camp Stewart in Georgia. At this time he was seeing Catherine LaFazia, a former classmate. He and Kay dated briefly before high school, but took up with each other again in 1949. They married on January 6, 1951 at St. Anthony's Church in Providence, when he was on his first furlough. Kay accompanied Joe when he returned to Camp Stewart, and then followed him to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. A master sergeant in the 705th AAA Gun Battalion, Joe later shipped out for Okinawa, Japan. He was the head of the motor pool, in charge of its 250 vehicles. When he left the military Joe became apprenticed to plumber Henry J. Coupe, and he later passed his master plumber exam. He subsequently started his own business, D & R Plumbing, with George "Tex" Rickard. Joe was known for his work ethic and strength; he could unscrew bolts with his bare hands that other men struggled to loosen with a wrench. His favorite tool was the Milwaukee sawzall.
Aside from work, Joe's favorite activities included collecting coins and knives, attending auctions at Okee's Auction Barn, watching Rhode Island Reds hockey games, and fishing at the family summer house on Keech Pond. In his later years he enjoyed relaxing on his porch and spending time with friends at Dunkin' Donuts in Greenacres, Florida. He was known affectionately by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Papa Joe." He passed away at Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Florida.
"Joe the Plumber," the second son of Polish immigrants, was born in Rhode Island at the Providence Lying-In Hospital. In his youth he lived at 77 Julian Street and then 33 Ida Street, both in Providence. He attended Ralph Street School, Laurel Hill Avenue School, and Oliver Hazard Perry Junior High School, and from ages twelve to sixteen he worked in a junkyard. In the mid-1940s, during World War II, Joe dropped out of Mount Pleasant High School to enlist in the service, but he was rejected due to his age. He resumed his schooling and graduated half a year late.
In August 1950, Joe was accepted into the Army National Guard and sent to Camp Stewart in Georgia. At this time he was seeing Catherine LaFazia, a former classmate. He and Kay dated briefly before high school, but took up with each other again in 1949. They married on January 6, 1951 at St. Anthony's Church in Providence, when he was on his first furlough. Kay accompanied Joe when he returned to Camp Stewart, and then followed him to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. A master sergeant in the 705th AAA Gun Battalion, Joe later shipped out for Okinawa, Japan. He was the head of the motor pool, in charge of its 250 vehicles. When he left the military Joe became apprenticed to plumber Henry J. Coupe, and he later passed his master plumber exam. He subsequently started his own business, D & R Plumbing, with George "Tex" Rickard. Joe was known for his work ethic and strength; he could unscrew bolts with his bare hands that other men struggled to loosen with a wrench. His favorite tool was the Milwaukee sawzall.
Aside from work, Joe's favorite activities included collecting coins and knives, attending auctions at Okee's Auction Barn, watching Rhode Island Reds hockey games, and fishing at the family summer house on Keech Pond. In his later years he enjoyed relaxing on his porch and spending time with friends at Dunkin' Donuts in Greenacres, Florida. He was known affectionately by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Papa Joe." He passed away at Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Florida.
In August 1950, Joe was accepted into the Army National Guard and sent to Camp Stewart in Georgia. At this time he was seeing Catherine LaFazia, a former classmate. He and Kay dated briefly before high school, but took up with each other again in 1949. They married on January 6, 1951 at St. Anthony's Church in Providence, when he was on his first furlough. Kay accompanied Joe when he returned to Camp Stewart, and then followed him to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. A master sergeant in the 705th AAA Gun Battalion, Joe later shipped out for Okinawa, Japan. He was the head of the motor pool, in charge of its 250 vehicles. When he left the military Joe became apprenticed to plumber Henry J. Coupe, and he later passed his master plumber exam. He subsequently started his own business, D & R Plumbing, with George "Tex" Rickard. Joe was known for his work ethic and strength; he could unscrew bolts with his bare hands that other men struggled to loosen with a wrench. His favorite tool was the Milwaukee sawzall.
Aside from work, Joe's favorite activities included collecting coins and knives, attending auctions at Okee's Auction Barn, watching Rhode Island Reds hockey games, and fishing at the family summer house on Keech Pond. In his later years he enjoyed relaxing on his porch and spending time with friends at Dunkin' Donuts in Greenacres, Florida. He was known affectionately by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as "Papa Joe." He passed away at Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Florida.
