Joseph P Cardoza

RETIRED BOSTON FIREFIGHTER JOSEPH P. “JOE” CARDOZA

June 19, 2020

Retired Boston Firefighter Joseph P. “Joe” Cardoza, a lifelong resident of Hyde Park, entered unexpectedly and peacefully into eternal life on Friday, June 19, 2020 at his home in Athol, MA. He was 65 years of age.

Joe was born in Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on March 19, 1955, and moved to the United States as an infant. Joe grew up in the Readville section of Hyde Park where he attended local schools and graduated from Brighton High School’s Auto Mechanics Program.

Joe’s need for speed and love for anything automotive began at an early age with his first minibike, a gift from his dad, Paul.  That set Joe on a lifelong pursuit of fast vehicles.  Whether it was his Mustangs, Corvette, Datsun, his treasured ‘Bandit’ Trans Am, numerous motorcycles and trucks, he was always ‘tinkering’ to get more performance from them. When not in the garage, Joe enjoyed NASCAR, HO slot cars and RC racing. In retirement, along with his other hobbies, Joe spent his time lovingly caring for his property in the woods in Athol, MA.

Joe was appointed to the Boston Fire Department on January 18, 1978, following in his Father’s footsteps. His first assignment was to Engine Company 52 on Blue Hill Avenue (“The Ave”) and later transferred to Engine Company 24 and Ladder 23 at Grove Hall (his Dad’s station house). Joe’s last assignment was to T.M.R. where he was promoted to Tech Motor Squad and later to F.F. Supervisor Motor Squad. Joe retired on July 31, 2010 following 32 years of dedicated service to the City of Boston.  Joe was a member of The Boston Firefighters Union Local # 718.

Joe is the beloved husband to Annette (Martens) Cardoza. They reconnected late in life after a 30-year separation to continue their love affair. “Not only did I lose my soulmate, I lost my hero and a day will not go by where I won’t miss him.”

Joe is predeceased by his loving parents, Lorraine (Chatelain) Cardoza and Paul Cardoza and is survived by Mildred Lacey (Jamieson), Sturgeon, PEI.

Joe is survived by three sisters; Wanda Lacey, Victoria, BC; Colette (Lacey) Jobe and her husband Greg Jobe, Montague, PEI; Pamela Lacey, Victoria, BC; and one brother, David Cardoza and his wife Helen          (Gilmartin) Cardoza, East Weymouth. He is also survived by four nieces; Anastasia, Laurena, Christina and Jacqueline and five nephews; Michael, Broeghan, James, Adam and Scott.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Joe’s Funeral Service on Friday, June 26, 2020, 10:00am – 12:00pm at Carroll-Thomas Funeral Home, 22 Oak Street, Hyde Park.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Joe’s name to Tunnel To Towers Foundation. The donation form can be found at www.tunnel2towers.org. Mailing address is Tunnel To Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.

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