Joseph John Brancato Jr
(Though I always want to be known as "Joey" to my family).
Born: April 6, 1961
My father is Joe Sr., he is the second to last child born to Susan (Santa) and Peter Brancato. He has always been called "Sonny" by everyone in his family. Similarly, I have always been referred to as "Joey" by my family. To everyone outside of the family I am called "Joe", but I wouldn't want to be called anything else but "Joey" by my relatives (except, I really like it when Aunt Bea calls me Giuseppe, and Aunt "Do" calls me "Joseph").
My mother's maiden name was Joan Mary Dettmann. She is the youngest of 4 children. She and my dad met when they were teenagers in the Drum & Bugle corps. Dad played a mean trumpet, and mom marched. Together they had two children, Sharon (born June 24, 1957) and Joey. Sharon & I fought like typical siblings, until I was 12 and became stronger. Then for some reason Sharon wouldn't hit me. :-)
I consider my family one of the greatest blessings in my life. Everyone of them has been a tremendous gift. I wish I could go back in time so that I could re-visit those that have left us. Grandmom was a beautiful woman, both inside and out. And could she cook! I'll never forget the time I was little. I think it was a Sunday and we had just eaten a big meal at my parents house, anyway we visited gradmom and she of course offered some chicken soup with pastina. (I never remember a time not eating at grandmom's, it would have been an insult not to eat.) I was already stuffed and declined but, being Italian, she didn't give up. Needless to say I had at least one, maybe two bowls of soup. After I ate, my grandmom smiled and said "See, I told you, you were hungry"
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