JOE FACCENDA, age 67, died Monday, February 13, 2023 after a long, courageous, and valiant battle against cancer. Born in Wilmington, DE and raised in Kennett Square, PA, Joe spent all of his adult life in or around Newark, DE. Joe and his wife Ann lovingly and proudly built a home (in four different houses) for the original Faccenda Four in their beloved First State.
Joe loved living. He lived his life to the fullest, with no regrets and with a tremendous amount of intelligence, humor and humility. His life was comprised of a series of great achievements, well-made decisions, and quiet moments of satisfaction. Joe was an athlete his whole life – a swimmer and a triathlete. As much as he loved participating in sports, he equally loved watching ALL sports. He was a devoted Phillies and 76ers fan, but he was an avid NY Jets fan, all thanks to Joe Namath and Super Bowl III. Passionately loyal to the end, Joe will be chanting J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets forever.
Any thoughts and memories of Joe must include water… chlorinated and salted. Joe was connected to pools and swimming nearly all his life. Swim teams and swimming were his avocation… as a daily exerciser, as a competitor, as a coach, as a volunteer, and as a proud father cheering on his swimming sons. As for the salted water… the beach was his happy place for sure. The Faccenda Four vacationed in their beloved Bethany Beach every summer for decades. That tradition continued as Faccenda Party-of-Six and continues as Faccenda Party-of-Nine.
Joe’s childhood was an idyllic one on Ridge Avenue, comprised of the best and most loving family, the start of literally life-long friendships, lots of swimming, music, summers at the pool, and delicious homecooked meals. As Valedictorian of Kennett High School Class of 1974, Joe studied and learned, but found a lot of time to have fun and develop his diverse and deep love for music. From marching band to Springsteen concerts, music was infused into Joe’s life every day. Joe’s success at Kennett High School led him to the site of the start of an incredible life… Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Two Cornell University degrees (with high honors) – Bachelor of Science in OR/IE Engineering and Masters of Engineering – were among Joe’s greatest achievements and greatest sources of pride.
Joe loved his career and his profession; he loved to work. His work gave him energy and kept his brilliant mind brilliant. He was an Operations Research Engineer/Scientist from the get-go. He consulted with businesses and designed systems concerning Supply Chain long before it was a thing. Joe was able to provide his extreme intelligence, incredible skill set, and vast knowledge to many fortunate companies throughout his career – DuPont, Chesapeake Decision Sciences, Aspen Technology, CSC, and FMC. He ended his career by owning his own consulting firm – JMDA (Joe Michael David Ann) Solutions. His primary client with JMDA was DuPont. Joe was so proud and honored to have had his career come full circle.
Beyond the education and career start that Cornell gave him, Cornell opened the door to a most blessed family life. Joe met his one-and-only during Ann’s Freshmen Orientation Week at Cornell. They forged a solid friendship almost immediately, and realized they were each other’s life partners by the end of that school year. It was, from that time to forever, Joe and Ann – Ann and Joe. Joe sacrificed watching football on Sunday, November 23, 1980 to marry “the best thing that ever happened to him.” Ann often told him and others that her life began the day she met, and certainly the day she married, Joe. The charmed life that Joe and Ann began was further blessed by the hands-down, most incredible sons ever, David and Michael. All together they were The Faccenda Four, and as such they couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful life. Joe was passionate about sports, music, and his work, but nothing compared to the love, pride, and passion he felt for his beloved family.
Joe was predeceased by his parents, Robert Dominic Faccenda and Rita Barbuto Faccenda. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Ann of Newark, DE; his sons David (Lindsay) of Hockessin, DE and Michael (Valari) of Westfield, NJ; his three precious granddaughters Emilia, Mylah, and Ryleigh; his sister Maryann Simmons (Robert) of Rye, NY, and brother Robert D. Faccenda, Jr. (Deborah); many loving nieces and nephews, cousins, and in-heart relatives; and an innumerable number of dear friends.
Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Joe’s Life Service on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 11:00 am, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home (121 W. Park Place, Newark, DE 19711). On-line condolences can be made at www.spicermullikin.com .
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Western Family YMCA
2600 Capitol Trail
Newark, DE 19711
Please note in the memo line of the check, “In honor of Joe Faccenda.”
Online donations can be made through this link:
https://donate.ymcade.org/give/469389/#!/donation/checkout
