Dr. Joseph Foresi, Jr., 82, of West Springfield, MA passed away peacefully on July 14, 2020 surrounded by his loved ones. "Dr. Joe," as he was called by friends, was born on September 18, 1938 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the South End of Springfield, MA, and graduated from Commerce High School in 1957. He received his undergraduate degree from Westfield State College where he excelled in academics and was captain of the varsity baseball team. Joe would often travel to Italy where he met and eventually married his wife Isabella Zanella. Joe and Isabella were happily married for over 50 years. A tenacious personality, Joe devoted his professional career to education. He obtained Master of Arts degrees from New York University and Hunter College, a Sixth-Year Certificate from Fairfield University and a Ph.D. in Organization Behavior from Cornell University. He held various positions in higher education and authored several publications and a book, Administrative Leadership in the Community College . He was Assistant Professor of Administration and Higher Education at San Jose State University, Executive Director of Los Rios Community College Teachers' Association in Sacramento, CA, Dean of Academic Affairs at South Central Community College in New Haven, CT, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, KS, and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL. He finished his career as President of the Massachusetts Career Development Institute in Springfield, MA. After retiring, he continued to serve as a consultant and contribute to his community, proudly serving on the West Springfield School Committee for 13 years. Joe enjoyed watching and playing sports, listening to music, traveling and spending time with family and friends. His family believes his greatest accomplishment was his 35 year heroic battle against Parkinson's disease. Joe is survived by his wife Isabella, and their three children: Sabrina Zanella-Foresi and her husband Antony Flackett, Joseph D. Foresi and his wife Sarah Herchel, and Mark Foresi and his wife Allison Di Vito, and his four grandchildren Dashiell and   Clio Flackett, and Julietta and Joseph H. Foresi. He is also survived by his brother, Carlo Foresi, and his sisters, Marie Foresi and Josie Stabilo, and their families. Visitation will be from 9:30 am to 11:00 am on Saturday, July 18, 2020, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 47 Pine St., West Springfield, MA. A Funeral Mass will immediately follow at 11:00 am, which is open to the public. Masks will be required for all events and the family kindly asks that social distancing be practiced and that no congregating happen in and around the church. Burial services will be private. Curran-Jones Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. For more information or to make online condolences please go to curranjones.com. Tax-deductible donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Dopafit, specializing in research and evidence-based exercise for people living with Parkinson's Disease. Information can be found at www.dopafit.com . Your family loves you, Joe. You did it your way!