Joseph D. Zasa

Joseph D. Zasa, 95, previously of Mountain Brook, AL, died in Dothan on April 16, 2017 (Easter morning). Born in Newark, N.J. on October 10, 1921, he was the son of Saverio and Lenora Zasa.

Joe is preceded in death by his beloved wife Lucia Lu Ferrara Zasa, mother of his four children, his sister Lenora Zasa Nufrio, and second wife Joan Hopper Zasa. Surviving Joe are his children Robert J. Zasa, Donna Zasa (Ted) Paulk, Joan Zasa (Eric) Guthrie, Joseph S. (Brooke) Zasa; his grandchildren Allison Paulk Wall, Wesley Paulk, Andrea Zasa McCallister, Jason Zasa, Warren Guthrie, J.D. Zasa, Hunter Zasa, Savannah Zasa; great grandchildren Katherine Wall, Grant Wall, Elle McCallister, Parker McCallister, Madeline Zasa, Duncan Zasa and Zachary Zasa.

Joe graduated the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and was an active member of Delta Sigma Phi, Denny Society, Capstone Society and the A Club. He was later named Distinguished Fellow in Engineering at U of A and was a Certified Professional Engineer. After careers with General Electric, Texas Instruments and Bendix Corporation, Joe moved to Mountain Brook and formed J. D. Zasa Associates, an engineering sales group.

He served in WWII as an officer in the Corps of Engineers in the Pacific and Japan. Joe received the highest non-combat medal, the Army Commendation Medal, for his work in occupied Japan before returning to civilian life.

An accomplished and professional accordionist, he played stage, radio and local clubs over the years and was a president of the Alabama Accordion Society. Joe was active in the Metro Sertoma Club, Birmingham Sister Cities Commission and Sons of Italy.

Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 21 at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 2061 Patton Chapel Road in Birmingham, AL 35216, with visitation beginning at 12:30 pm. Graveside services at Elmwood Cemetery, where Joe will be interred alongside his wife, Lucia Zasa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joe's name to Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama Sacred Heart Monastery 916 Convent Rd NE, Cullman, AL 35055 or the University of Alabama National Alumni Association directed to: Joseph D. Zasa Endowed Scholarship mailed to University of Alabama NAA, attention: Scholarship Dept. PO Box 861928 Tuscaloosa, AL 35486.