More detail on this person: HAMPTON - LTC Joseph DiStefano (U.S. Army, Retired), 77, died Feb. 12, 2007, with his family at his side. Born Aug. 27, 1929, in Ceccano, Italy, to Pasquale and Marianna Carcasole DiStefano, Joe immigrated to the United States in 1934 and grew up in Long Island, N.Y., and Trenton, N.J. Joe was commissioned in the U.S. Army (Infantry) from the ROTC Program at the University of Idaho in 1954. In a military career spanning 28 years, he served stateside tours in Fort Rucker, Ala., where he earned the aviation specialty, Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Hood, Texas, The Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Fort Belvoir, Va., The JAG School, Charlottesville, Va., and the Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Monroe, Va. His overseas assignments included the U.S. European Command, Paris, where in 1960 he met his wife Patricia who was then assigned to the U.S. Embassy; U.S. Forces, Korea; U.S. Army, Vietnam, where he commanded a helicopter battalion during that war; and NATO's Southern Command, LANDSOUTH, in Verona, Italy. Joe was a graduate of The Infantry School, The Aviation School, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Among his numerous military awards and decorations, he was most proud to wear the distinctive insignia of U.S. Army Aviator. Joe was an avid and accomplished gardener and craftsman, and was a frequent volunteer in the life of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. He served on numerous church committees-usher, grounds upkeep, missions committee, and church treasurer-and often traveled with church missions to West Virginia and the Gulf Coast, where he contributed his natural skills to help reconstruct the homes of flood victims. He was a resident of Willow Oaks, Hampton, since 1979. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Patricia Fogarty DiStefano; son, Max DiStefano and his wife, Julia Monteith of Charlottesville; son, Patrick DiStefano of Seattle; daughter, Lisa DiStefano of New York City; sister-in-law, Edith DiStefano; and a niece and four nephews of Trenton, N.J. Joe was a strong and loving husband, father, and friend, and he will be profoundly missed. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church with the Rev. C. Derek Pringle officiating. Preceding the funeral, the family will receive friends at 10 a.m. in the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the names and Joseph and Patricia DiStefano to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, 179 E. Mercury Blvd., Hampton VA 23669, or the American Cancer Society, 11835 Canon Blvd., Suite A102, Newport News, VA 23606. Arrangements by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in Hampton.
This information was last updated 11/09/2018
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association