Joseph Frank Fodera, 91, died Aug. 26, 2014, at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick, after a long respiratory illness.

He was born Nov. 12, 1922 in Brooklyn, New York to Vincent Fodera and Vita Giola (translated Joy of Life) who were Sicilian immigrants from a town near Palermo, Sicily.

Joe was proud of his Sicilian heritage. He was known for saying “There are two kinds of Italians: Sicilians and those that want to be.”

He was also very proud of his parents. His father learned English in order to give the oath of citizenship in English. Joe’s mother spent every Saturday night making and stirring pasta sauce. She made eight loaves of bread one day of the week. Joe said that was the best day of the week.

Joe graduated from Bayonne Technical High School, Bayonne, New Jersey at the age of 16. After high school, he worked at the Civilian Conservation Corps (known as CC camps), constructing roads in Lovelock, Nevada for six months. His dream was to go to Notre Dame, but knowing his family could not afford it, he joined the Navy on June 24, 1941 at the age of 19.

He and a buddy were at the movies on Dec. 7 and suddenly an announcement was made, “All service men report to your commanding officer.” One looked at the other and said “Where is Pearl Harbor?” Joe, armed with only a .45 pistol, spent a cold December night in an outpost not knowing if the Japanese were going to attack.

During World War II, he served in the South Atlantic, Africa, Europe and the United Kingdom. Joe served on five carriers, to include the USS Omaha, USS Champlain, and USS Savannah. He always talked about the difficulty of being separated from family during his time abroad. Joe said that he would always sit at night near the fan tail, located in the stern, watching the waters turn from navy blue to purple. He had a great respect for the sea and said, “She was cold, dark and deep.” Joe was a rear gunner on the dive bombers and a crewman on the PBY, his favorite plane. This was the same type of plane that discovered the Japanese fleet at Midway.

Joe was involved in the Berlin Airlift, helping provide food to the residents of Berlin after the war. While serving in the Navy, he coached boxing. Joe was always a sports enthusiast, especially football and boxing. He attended many Army vs. Navy football games. He served during the Korean War and retired after 30 years of service to his country.

Joe married Frances Rosato in 1947. Together they had three children: Joe, Jo Annette and Vincent. In the early 1980s, Frances died.

After the war, he worked for Republic Aviation Company in Farmingdale, New York as a service representative and as a technical writer until his retirement in 1985. Joe worked on the Space Shuttle program and in the development of the pilot ejection seats. He also coached little league football in Plainview, New York.

He then married Grace Climo of Southport in 1986. They ran the Southport General Store for a time. They eventually sold the store and spent much time traveling abroad. In 2003, Grace died. In 2009, Joe married Joan McLean of Boothbay Harbor.

Joe was a member of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Boothbay Harbor. He was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and was District Deputy for the Knights in Midcoast Maine. He helped start many Knight Councils including one in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York. He helped establish the outdoor chapel at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle. He was a supporter of the Covenant House in New York City, which helps homeless people. He was involved with The Little Flower and the Sacred Heart. Because of his love for Brazil, where he spent time in the Navy, Joe, along with his wife Joan, helped to support five children still there.

Joe had a thirst for knowledge and inspired other and became a mentor to many. He believed integrity, truth, loyalty and commitment. He was a religious man devoted to the service of his country. He enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. Joe believed in the sanctity of marriage and believed that love was more than just a word, and should be shown everyday. He was a special man and will be missed sorely by all who loved him. In his final years, Joe received great pleasure from his cat, Yummy and Hannah, an English Bulldog, and his buddy, a Parson Jack Russell named Ziva.

Joe was predeceased by his first wife, Frances and by his second wife, Grace.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Fodera; sons, Joseph Fodera, Vincent R. Fodera; daughter, Jo Annette; sister, Sarah Bell; grandchildren, Toni, Jennifer and Scott; great-grandson, Giovanni; stepchildren, Smith Climo, Leslie McAllister, Juliette Cohen; stepgrandsons, Louis and Adam Climo, Ryan and Megan McAllister, Quincy McLean Coombs, Jenna and Kayla Cohen; many nieces, nephews and cousins

Friends joined the family for a time of Visitation from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 1 at Hall’s of Boothbay. A Mass of Resurrection was held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2 at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Boothbay Harbor. There was a reception immediately following Mass, in the Parish Hall.

Memorial gifts can be made in Joe’s memory to The Covenant House, c/o Sandra Latchman, Donor Communications, 461 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001-1810.

You are invited to share your condolences, stories and photos with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Boothbay, 975 Wiscasset Road, Boothbay.