Joseph P. Sano

Joe was born in Pitcairn, Pa. to Frank and Filomina Sano (Lagana) on July 13, 1924. He is a graduate of the class of 1943 at Pitcairn High School, Pa. Joe joined the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He served on the USS Tide (a Minesweeper) during the D-Invasion of France on June 5, 6 and 7. While recovering the sweep gear on June 7, 1943, the ship drifted into upswept waters near the beach head and exploded a German mine amid ship and sank in 40 feet of water. The crew suffered 100% casualties – 28 KIA and 80 WIA. A PT Boat, Skipper Lt. Buckley took some of the wounded to an LST Ambulance Ship. Joe also served on the Aircraft Carrier, USS Lexington, named the Blue Ghost in the Pacific Ocean in 1945. The USS Lexington operated with a task force against the Japanese forces. In August the task force was steaming to attack the mainland of Japan for a planned attack. The invasion of Japan was canceled when two atomic bombs were dropped, one on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and one on August 9, 1945 on Nagasaki, Japan. The Japanese formally surrendered on the Battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. 

Joe graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a BSEE in 1954. He also received a MSEE while working at Bell Aircraft and Sylvania Electronics from The University of Buffalo, N.Y. in 1961. Joe worked at Goodyear Aerospace as an electrical engineer from 1962 to 1989. In 1983 he was nominated and won the US Navy Reliability and Quality Assurance Award for redesigning the electronic circuits on a weapon system that made it more reliable and safer to launch. In 1974, he also received a commendation letter from the program director of the US Navy stating they were very complimentary of his professionalism, technical knowledge and straight-forward answers to their questions when he escorted them through the testing of major component assemblies. 

Joe was a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Nativity Catholic Church, The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Filomina; father, Frank; stepmother, Laura; sisters, Grace, Rose, Christina and Mary; brothers, Ross and Tony; sons, Paul and Barry. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Louise; children, Joseph Jr., Judy Edwards, James and Frank; daughters-in-law, Terri, Marsha, Kim, Teresa and Hellen; 32 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; 16 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Theresa Ludwig, Carmelea Tesmer; and brother, Dominick. 

Family and friends will be received Tuesday, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Hopkins Lawver Funeral Home, 547 Canton Road, Akron, Ohio 44312. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, 10 a.m., at Nativity of the Lord Jesus Catholic Church, 2425 Myersville Rd., (the corner of Myersville Rd. and Killian Rd.) with Father David Halaiko presiding. Procession will originate from the funeral home on Wednesday. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Akron where military honors will be conducted.