Joseph David Formisano
October 27, 1943 - August 5, 2025
Joseph David Formisano, age 81, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. Joseph was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey on October 27, 1943 to Joseph and Susan Formisano.
Joseph attended the Valley Forge Military Academy and Junior College from 1955 until graduating in 1963. During his time at the academy, he rose through the ranks and upon graduation was Cadet First Captain Regimental Commander in charge of a corps of 1,330 cadets. During his service as the Regimental Commander, he had the opportunity to meet President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Ambassador of Great Britian Sir David Ormsby Gore.
As an alumnus of the Academy, Joseph also served on the Board of Trustees, the Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Forge Way Committee. He also received the Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Joseph served in the U.S. Army Ready Reserve as a medical corpsman for six years in the 2289th U.S. Army Field Hospital.
Joseph went into the family business in the Newark Farm & Home Supply on Main Street in Newark, DE. He later owned and operated the business for eighteen years until closing in it 1988. The business helped to sponsor many community events and employed many high school students in addition to the regular staff. The store was known as one of Delaware’s premier hardware stores.
During that time, he was a member of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the secretary to the Newark Businessman’s Association. He also organized the Charles Dickens Christmas Club, an organization that raised money for Christmas decorations for Main Street, Newark.
After closing the store, Joseph represented the National Retail Hardware Association for six years traveling the Mid-Atlantic and New England States. He then went on to represent Ace Hardware Corporation as a CAD operator drawing store plans for hardware stores, lumber yards and home centers. Following that, Joseph represented Blue Cross and Blue Shield for two years selling Long Term Care Insurance. He then spent eleven years in corporate security before retiring in 2018.
Joseph lived many years in the community of Carillon where he helped design and implement the entrance to the community.
He also served as an usher at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, DE for more than twenty-five years.
Joseph was predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Susan (Warner) Formisano. He is survived by his sister, Carolyn Fierro; niece, Susan Margaret Fierro; nephew, Joseph Francis Fierro and his wife, Kathie and their sons, Mark and Michael; and nephew, Stephen Francis Fierro and his fiancé, Wendy Gaskil and his sons, Dominick and Luke.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Monday, August 18, 2025, at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, 901 N. DuPont Street, Wilmington, DE 19805, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 am. Interment will follow in Cathedral Cemetery, 2400 Lancaster Avenue, Wilmington, DE.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to St. Anthony of Padua Parish, at the address listed above or online by clicking here; or to Humane Animal Partners, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 or online by clicking here.
Olga Torres
In loving memory of Joe, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family. Joe will be deeply be missed and fondly remembered for his kindness and the joy he brought to our lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.
Dianne and Larry Whittaker
We offer condolences to LaVon Peterson and the Formisano family. Joe broke the mold for grace-filled and humble human beings. Joe cherished his friends, always spending time with them; he often surprised them with carefully thought out gifts. He enjoyed eating out, often treating. His tomato sauce was renowned and often shared with others in their time of need. In addition, he was a wonderful cook- we enjoyed many prime rib and flounder dinners at his beautifully set table. And of course with rigatoni and sauce. He had a wonderful sense of humor and appreciated puns. He loved the black labs who were lucky enough to have him as an owner. He made many puns and appreciated puns of others. After his Friday night security shift, he would come over for Saturday breakfast-spending time with our Bichon Gemini. Joe was the only person to whom Gemini would give a loud and welcoming “happy woo.” Joe, we have huge holes in our hearts. We will love you forever.
Ronald Munn
To Joe’s family, I offer my deepest condolences. He was truly a wonderful person and one of the kindest people I have ever met. I met Joe just as he was starting his CAD position with ACE Hardware. Joe needed some training on the software he would be using. Joe was a quick learner and always had a list of questions for me. I sat with Joe in his Delaware home at least once a week for many months. Once it became apparent that Joe no longer needed my assistance we stopped our weekly meetings. But our friendship continued. Dinners at the house with his mother and the last of his labs, Brutus. I hope Brutus realized just how lucky he was, he was quite a character. My wife and I would also accompany Joe out to eat at one of his favorite local restaurants. While I will miss my conversations with Joe, I am happy that he is no longer in pain. We will see each other again my friend. Hopefully not for many years, but I know you will be there when the time comes. We will sit, talk, and laugh, while we will try to get Brutus to stop barking. Take care me friend, I love ya buddy.
Assunta & Sandro Cuccia
We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Formisano and Fierro families. The friendship that we shared with our dear friend Joe was a special blessing. We were so fortunate to have his beautiful friendship over the years. We will hold Joe in our hearts and treasure the special times we shared together. May his memory be a blessing to everyone whose lives he touched.
Kim Prata
My condolences to Mr. Formidano’s loved ones. I was his house cleaner for a short while. Mr. Formisano was always so kind and we had great conversations. I especially enjoyed his sense of humor. I was happy to have known such a nice man.
Joseph Chimenti
I will dearly miss you old friend. I will never forget you as a friend. The fine memories you left with me at both St. Anthony Church and breakfast at the Hollywood Grill every evening and the people we would talk to each night. I will always cherish the time knowing how good friend I had. I hope and pray that the our lord will bring you into his house and you finally meet my love as well. I now have four people for you to find My beautiful wife, my father and mother. God Bless you and your family and friends.
Edward Schroeder
So very sorry to learn of Joe’s passing. A friend and classmate at Valley Forge. As First Captain, Joe set the standard for The Corps. May his memory be a blessing.
James Fierro
Joe was a good man! Kind, pleasant, appreciative of our help, and dignified. He will surely be missed by all of us at the office and those who had the good fortune to have known him.
He was a friend and a gentlemen.
May God Bless Joe and may he bless his family during these difficult times.
Dr. James Fierro
Jeff & Fay Felty
My dear friend Joe, our deepest condolences to your entire family during this difficult time. The many years of working together in the hardware business were the best memories for me. I will really miss you Joe and all of those discussions and ideas we came up with for designing the best Ace Hardware stores. Many long days working in your basement office were always rewarded with your mothers wonderful Italian dishes for lunch. What great memories! I wish we could of spent more time together these last couple years but time catches up to all of us. You were a best friend anyone could have. I will sincerely miss our enriching phone calls and quality standards you lived by. Until we meet again someday Joe, rest in peace.
Your friend,
Jeff
John Foster
Sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. He was my boss @ Newark Farm & Home, when I was employed there in the 70’s. My condolences to his family & friends. He was a good man to work for & he will surely be missed.
Natalie Young
My deepest condolences to Joe’s family and those who loved him. He was a wonderful friend to my Aunt LaVon and on my few trips to DE from ND, I’d get to visit with him and he’d treat us with a meal. He was so kind and thoughtful. He also had a great sense of humor. May his memory continue to live on.
Amy Carello
I am so very sorry for your loss. I just found out that Joe passed in August. I am sorry to have missed Joe’s funeral. Joe was my parents’ neighbors for many years, which is how I got to know him, and I saw him often at St. Anthony’s. He was one of the kindest and gentlest people whom I had the pleasure of knowing. Joe always spoke of his family in the most loving terms. He was always so good to me, my parents, and my children. He will be dearly missed and will remain in my heart always.