Joseph Pazdan Obituary

Joseph John Pazdan GREENVILLE, SC - Joseph John Pazdan was born June 21, 1930 in Trenton, NJ. He died on Thursday, September 29, 2022 in Greenville, SC. Joe was the son of the late Blanche Witalek and Joseph Martin Pazdan. A 1953 graduate of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he graduated with a double major in Math and in Education. He lettered in varsity baseball as a pitcher, and also played varsity soccer for one year. At UNC, he was inducted into the Order of The Old Well and in The Monogram Club. The life of "Papa Joe" was a storied one - his vocations and interests were plentiful. To help his family make ends meet, he worked in a bowling alley, pumped gas, sold produce, and cooked hamburgers- all before the age of 14! In high school, he managed inventory for a plumbing distributor and worked as a playground instructor. His forays continued into college, where he worked as a mailman, referee, waiter, ROTC cadet, and underground sandwich salesman. His later college years included bouts of semi-pro baseball in Nova Scotia, for which he earned a spot in their Baseball Hall of Fame. After college, Joe spent two years in Alaska and Mississippi, where he served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force. He received the National Defense Medal for his service. For those who knew Joe, it should come as no surprise that his next endeavor was in sales. Armed with a quick wit, Joe spent the next 35 years of his life as a sales engineer for Spaulding Fibre Co. and Glastic Corp. On the side, he expressed his culinary skills as co-owner of three Shakey's Pizza Parlors. A go-to family gathering spot with live banjo music and classical reel films, Shakey's is still fondly remembered to this day. A lifelong devout Catholic, Joe attended St. Mary's Catholic Church. In January 2019, he was awarded the Pro Ecclesia of Pontifice Cross by Bishop Robert Guglielmone on behalf of Pope Francis. This is the highest honor a lay member can receive from the pope. His Catholic devotion spanned far beyond St. Mary's. Bon Secours St. Francis hospital, St. Joseph's Catholic School, and the entire Diocese felt the tenderness of his faith and charity. In addition to his parents, Joe was predeceased by his brother, John and his beloved wife of 59 years, Mack. He is survived by his five children, Judy (Bob) Lytle, Mary Beth (Doug) Cross, Joe (Ginny) Pazdan, John (Emilie) Pazdan and Donna (Randy) Friedman; 16 grandchildren, Joe and Julia Lytle, Chad (Jean Rose), Mack (Ashley) and Carl (Kenzie) Cross, Virginia (Thomas) Powers, Allie and Martin Pazdan, Mary Bradley, Susannah and Sam Pazdan, Brian (Robin), Will, Jack, Grace and Drew Friedman; eight great-grandchildren and his three beloved nieces, Christine Durling, Dianne Formica and Karen Marut. His loving caregivers included Paulette Anderson, Maria Berrera, Chernee Dickey, Sandy Lindsey, and Kathy Ochoa. Family will receive friends at 29 Chanticleer Drive on Thursday, October 6, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, October 7, 2022 at 12:00 noon at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Reverend Jay Scott Newman officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 111 Hampton Avenue, Greenville, SC, 29601; St. Francis Health System Foundation, 1 St. Francis Drive, Greenville, SC 29601; or St. Joseph's Catholic School, 100 St. Joseph's Drive, Greenville, SC 29607. Condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com. Visit our guestbook at legacy.com/obituaries/charleston