Obituary of Joseph D’Angelo

March 21, 2025

Dr. Joseph Paul D’Angelo (Joe), 85, was born in New York City on January 25, 1940, to Josephine (nee Trischitta) and Salvatore D’Angelo.
Joe was a distinguished Orthopedic surgeon since 1976, who treated over 8,000 patients throughout New York. He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Joanna D’Angelo (nee Graham), who he first met while studying medicine at the University of Rome, Italy. He is also survived by his two sons - Mark (Wife: Sarah) D’Angelo of Michigan; his two grandchildren, Andrew and Charlotte; and Thomas (Partner: Yasmin) D’Angelo of London, England; Sister: Domenica Prigge, (husband Edward). Nephews and Niece: Christopher, Jonathan and Michelle, great nephew Nathan, great niece Ariana and sister-in-law Judy Graham of London, England.
He was a man of few words when it came to expressing his feelings, but his sons filled him with pride and when he spoke of them, Joe’s face would light up with quiet admiration. Whether it was their hard work or their character, he was truly proud of them. In his own way, through actions more than words, he showed them the depth of his love and the legacy of resilience, creativity, and the integrity he passed on to them.
A beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, Joe was also an avid sportsman, biker and pilot. While dedicating his life to medicine, anyone who knew him was aware that his first true love was flying, having fallen in love with airplanes as a 12-year-old boy in Brooklyn - building many model planes to hang from his bedroom ceiling. As a surgeon, he was always voted by his orthopedic residents as their favorite surgeon and teacher, year after year, some even confessing they would have quit orthopedics had it not been for him.
He was a modern-day Renaissance man: if something needed fixing, he wouldn’t just repair it, he would find a way to make it last a lifetime. Whether it was a leaky faucet, a wicker basket, a finicky engine, or an aging appliance, Joe always had a solution. His ingenuity kept an old ice maker running for over 25 years, as well as a 40-year-old dishwasher, a true testament to his resourcefulness and determination.
Joe’s heart and mind were built like that – larger than life and unmatched in their generosity and strength. Joe was always the first to pitch in and could often be found in the operating room area, mop and bucket in hand, unwilling to wait for the cleaning crew and eager to start his next case. He always took matters into his own hands.
He will be greatly missed and remains in our hearts forever.


In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting charitable donations.

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