Joseph A. Rando

Waltham – Mr. Joseph A. Rando, Sr., of Waltham, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 95.

Joe was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 10, 1920, a son of the late John and Rose (Cafarella) Rando and moved with his family to Waltham as an infant. He was a 1937 graduate of Saint Mary's High School.

He joined the United States Army in January, 1941 and was among the first to fight when the surprise Japanese attack came eleven months later at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. In January, 1942 his unit was sent to the Pacific and Joe wouldn't see home again for another three and half years.

He saw action in the Southern Philippines, at Guadalcanal and in the Northern Solomon Islands; all island battles that turned the tide of the war. He earned a Combat Infantry Badge in March, 1944 and was awarded the Bronze Star for gallantry in action against the enemy.

Like so many of his generation he returned from the war and on the GI Bill attended the Vesper George School of Art in Boston. For the next thirty-eight years he worked as a commercial artist for the Boston Globe and was a member of the Globe Quarter Century Club.

He would tell you that his greatest achievement in life came when he married Watertown native Nancy Sabato on June 27, 1948 at Saint Patrick's Church on Main Street. The pair lived in Waltham for their entire married lives where they became active members of Our Lady's Parish. Joe was a longtime usher at Sunday masses and was a Third Degree member of Our Lady's Knights of Columbus Council No. 14710.

The couple enjoyed more than sixty-two years of marriage until Nancy's passing on March 15. 2011.

Joe was a member of the Joseph F. Hill American Legion Post No. 156 in Waltham. In retirement he used his background in commercial art to become an accomplished watercolor artist whose paintings adorned the homes of family and friends.

He may best be remembered for his piercing blue eyes and ever present smile. He brought joy to those around him and to his neighbors at his home at Waltham Crossings he handed out flyers with the motto he lived by printed on it . . . "Smile and the world smiles with you."

Joe leaves his children, Nancy L. Rando and her partner, Ron Aten, of Severna Park, Maryland, Patricia A. Ryan and her husband, Edward, of Woburn, Joseph A. Rando, II of Norwood, Linda M. Frank and her husband, Michael, of Framingham and Cheri M. Galvez and her husband, Julio, of Waltham; his grandchildren, Michael Ryan and his wife, Danielle, Shawna Clifford and her husband, Scott, Joseph A. Rando III, Jessica Rando, Alexander Frank, Emily Frank, and Julio Joseph "JJ" Galvez; his great-grandchildren Julia Ryan, Matthew Ryan, Dylan Ryan and Logan Clifford; and many nieces and nephews.

He was the grandfather of the late Erika Rando and a brother of the late Thomas Rando and John Rando.

Family and friends will honor and remember Joe's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, April 11th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to Honor Flight New England, 1193 Hooksett Road #2, Hooksett, NH 03106 or to Hope for the Warriors, 5101C Backlick Road, Annandale, VA 22003.