Joseph grew up in Albuquerque and then moved to Santa Fe where he met and fell in love with his beautiful bride Margaret, who had immigrated from Chihuahua,Mexico. Joseph did not know Spanish , but learned to speak the language so that he could court the beautiful Margaret “Maggie” Hernandez. They married and moved to Los Angeles. Joseph was a hard working journeyman for the Plasterers 200 union. In his spare time he was a Karate sensei where he trained his children, the neighborhood children, and eventually much of El Sereno. He even had the chance to spar with Chuck Norris in a tournament in Los Angeles. He and Maggie had 4 children; Rick, Leticia, Michael and Robert. He had 10 grandchildren; Richard, Heather, Jessica , Steven, Michael Jr, Robert Jr, Erica, Norma, Lisa and Micah. From his 10 grandchildren he had 30 great grandchildren. Joseph was especially close to his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Services will be held March 17th at a private service for the family; followed by a private burial ceremony.

A public memorial will be held at Santa Anita Park on March 22,2024.