Joseph C. Affanato, 86, passed away Friday March 13, 2020.

Joe was born November 5, 1933 in Milton, Massachusetts. He grew up in Milton and attended Milton High School where he played both football and baseball.  After graduating High School in 1952, Joe joined the Army and became an MP.  During his service he was deployed at various bases around the country and played football for the Divisional team.  After Joe’s Honorable Discharge he went to work for the Boston Edison Company.  While there and through the GI Bill, Joe attended Northeastern University at night and obtained a BS in accounting and then an MBA.  Joe became a Certified Public Accountant, however, choose the hospital profession rather than standard accounting.  Joe worked at the Carney Hospital in Dorchester for several years prior to being named the Administrator at Dr. J. Robert Shaughnessy Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem. In 1980 Joe was named Administrator for The Betty Bacharach Rehabilitation Hospital in Pomona, NJ (now known as the Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation) and moved his family to southern NJ.  While at Bacharach, Joe was an innovative leader where he significantly expanded the outpatient services provided by the hospital, introduced the first sleep lab in the area and was instrumental in working with Dr. Vera King Farris, former President of Stockton University, Galloway Township, NJ in instituting their Physical Therapy Program.   After leaving Bacharach, Joe worked for The Joint Commission with whom he traveled across the country conducting hospital surveys with a team of professionals for hospital certification.  After he retired, Joe enjoyed traveling and splitting his time between Cape Cod, MA and Pompano Beach, FL.

If you had the pleasure of meeting Joe, you probably have a story.  He is best described as lighting up a room when he entered.  His infectious smile, great humor, and ability to talk to anyone is legendary.  In going through his items he probably had a thousand business cards from people he met and conversed with through the years.  Joe and some of his crew attended over 25 Super Bowls and every year generated a story of how he talked his way into some celebrity or NFL party. 

Joe is survived and missed by his two sons, Mark (Elisa) of Charlotte, NC and Michael (Donna) of Longport, NJ.  He is also survived by his bother Donald and sister-in-law Ellen of Milton MA along with his loving nephews and niece. Joe is also survived by his former wife Marlene Santucci (Tom) with whom  he remained friends. The love of Joe’s life were his three grandchildren: Samson, Julianne, and Andrew.  Joe cherished his time with his grandchildren, especially Samson, and everything else was placed on hold when they were present.  Funeral proceedings will be in Milton MA at date to be determined due to the pandemic.