Joseph A. Sacco

SACCO, JOSEPH A., 70 - of Hammonton, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer, on December l8, 2013, with his loving family at his side. Born in Hammonton, N.J., he was a graduate of Hammonton High School, and earned both bachelors and master's degrees in music education and conducting at Glassboro State College. He spent his entire teaching career in the Hammonton schools, first as an instrumental music teacher, and later as an administrator, retiring as Director of State and Federal Programs. He was an accomplished musician and was well-known in the area, performing on the saxophone and clarinet with various groups in the Atlantic City casinos and area restaurants as well as individually as "Sax Appeal." He was also a featured performer on many recordings, and earned many honors for his musical prowess throughout his career. As a musician, he was asked by the Town of Hammonton to organize a band for the town's bicentennial in 1974. The 65-member group of local and area musicians that resulted became the exceptional Bicentennial Band which played many concerts in the town and throughout South Jersey from l975 through 1980. As its conductor and organizer, he received many awards for his service. He was also chosen to be one of a seven-piece band formed as an "Ambassador Exchange Group" from the United States which toured Italy, playing concerts throughout the country. He was also the saxophonist for the select Atlantic City Jazz Band. As an educator, he formed the first Elementary/Middle School Band in the Hammonton School System as well as the first Elementary/Middle School Jazz Band. As an administrator, he established the In-District Pre-School Handicapped Programs, the PRIDE Program, organized and implemented the district's first State of the Art Interactive Computer Lab, and founded the School Aged Child Care Program. In this capacity he was chosen as the recipient of the prestigious Leadership Award presented at the National Federal Program Administrators Conference in Washington, DC. Joe was predeceased by his parents, Paul and Helen Sacco, and his brother, Paul Sacco, Jr. He is survived by his children, Paul J. and Lisa; his sister and brother-in-law, Rose Marie and Frank Reid; and his fiancee, Lana Alliano, all of Hammonton. Friends and relatives are invited to a visitation Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. when funeral services will be held, at Marinella Funeral Home, 102 N. Third St., Hammonton, New Jersey. Entombment will follow at Greenmount Cemetery in Hammonton.

Funeral Service

Saturday, December 28, 2013
Marinella Funeral Home, Inc. 102 N. Third Street Hammonton, New Jersey, United States 08037

Interment at: Greenmount Cemetery

Saturday, December 28, 2013
Greenmount Cemetery 124 S. 1st Road Hammonton, New Jersey, United States 08037