Obituary
Joe Terranova, 98, of Winter Park, Fl, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday,
August 28, 2023, grateful that the dream of his lifetime had been realized. He had been
called just less than one week before he passed with the news that his autobiographical
book, My Destiny, had been accepted for publication.
Joe was a remarkable man who led an exemplary life of service and commitment to
every endeavor. He stepped up, rolled up his sleeves and did whatever he could for his
community, his friends, and even strangers. He was disciplined, wise and bursting with
an infectious optimism. He was a humble soul and his driving force was love and
respect for others. Joe’s life was a testament to the power of fatherly love, possessing
an unwavering devotion to his two surviving daughters, Jaime and her husband Vic, and
Elisa, making their world a better place with his enduring love.
Joe was born in 1925, in Washington, D.C., to doting parents Joseph and Luisa, both
immigrants from Italy and Poland, respectively. Even as a very young man, he was
always a principled person of great integrity. He and his younger brother Richard, both
served proudly in the Army during World War II. He was stationed in Germany where he
served in the 14th Armored Division, 25th Tank Battalion where he took on, with full
conviction, the Great War on Tyranny. Afterwards, he graduated with a degree in
Accounting and Economics from George Washington University where he successfully
completed his CPA exam.
Joe was an exceptional person and he lived a life of service, traveling around the world
with a distinguished thirty year career in the Foreign Service. His travels brought him to
many exotic places and he lived on every continent in the world except two, Antarctica
and Australia. This exposed him to a multitude of differing religions and cultures, having
met leaders of countries, African tribal members, American Presidents, and even the
first Astronauts, all of which inspired his open-mindedness which would serve him well
in life.
After his retirement in 1980, he relocated to Winter Park, Florida where he was destined
to eventually meet and marry the love of his life, Agnès. Joe was a man with a vision,
and coupled with his energetic devotion to Winter Park, he immediately set out
implementing plans for his community and its future generations. Joe was a man with
foresight, and his ability to listen earned him a reputation as a respected and honest
leader. He served as both City Commissioner and Mayor and his accomplishments
were numerous. These included serving on the committee that helped create the
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, which features one of the foremost
collections of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glasswork, which Joe was very proud of. He was
also a member of the University Club and proudly served as its past President and
aficionado in the art of joke telling. Additionally, he served as a member of the Winter
Park Historical Association as well as the Winter Park Library Board of Trustees.
Nothing brightened up Joe’s life like making people smile and he always had a joke up
his sleeve. Joe’s generosity and energy knew no bounds. His acts of kindness were
countless, touching the lives of family, friends, and many strangers. He was the epitome
of a humble, matter-of-fact man with a heart of gold that knew no bounds. Every year he
relished dressing up as the town Santa Claus and delighting all the children. Embracing
the power of diversity, Joe was also a tireless and quiet champion for underprivileged
minorities, the disabled, and the LGBTQ community.
Food was the epicenter of Joe’s life. He had been somewhat of a gourmet cook back in
his day, but more than anything else, Joe loved to eat, a lot. All of Joe’s friends were
convinced that the man had two hollow legs. No other explanation could be found as to
how a man could pack all that epicurean cuisine into such a slender frame. He was a
self proclaimed chocoholic, and could never turn down a very, very dark piece of French
chocolate. Joe also cherished entertaining and was often surrounded by large groups of
friends that he welcomed to his home. But those intimate early morning breakfasts with
his closest friends, Scott, Mark and Rob was what he enjoyed most.
Joe was a devoted husband and was survived by his beloved French wife Agnès, with
whom he shared a journey filled with their mutual passion for Art, French Cuisine and
their love for animals and birds of every kind. This took them on various trips to several
countries in Africa, as well as Costa Rica’s Rainforests and countless trips to Europe.
His departure from this world leaves a void that can never be filled, but his memory will
continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He leaves behind a legacy of love,
kindness and optimism that serves as an inspiration for us all.
After his passing, he will once again be reunited with his loving parents, Joseph and
Luisa and his younger brother Richard. He was predeceased by his first wife Joy,
mother to his children, and wives, Helen and Pat.
As we say goodbye to Joe, let us remember the wisdom he taught us: to give selflessly,
to love unconditionally and to cherish every moment we have left with our loved ones
and with this beautiful planet. We can honor his legacy by striving to make the world a
better place, one charitable act of kindness at a time.
A private funeral will be held for the family at Baldwin Brothers Funeral and Cremation
Society, and in lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that you plant a tree in Joe’s
honor, who was a fervent environmentalist.
Joe was often quoted as saying, “I have never hated anybody or anything except war
and guns.” And his motto was, “Moderation in all things, including moderation.”
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