Joseph Racanelli

Joseph Anthony Racanelli, 86 of Harding Township, passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his loved ones on November 26, 2022.  On that day, the world lost a legend with a heart of gold.

Joseph, known as Joe Rac, was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey.  He was the son of the late Vincenzo and Vittoria Racanelli.  He was a graduate of Barringer High School. 

In 1958 Joe met the love of his life and wife of sixty-two years, Theresa Racanelli.  The love they shared was obvious to everyone. The two were partners in love and life and built the most beautiful family together.

Joe’s business acumen and intense drive to succeed were apparent from a young age.  While working coal routes throughout the Northeast he had his eyes set on something much bigger.  As a budding entrepreneur, Joe convinced Dunkin Donuts corporate to give him a shot, which they did as they saw his drive.  Joseph opened the very first Dunkin Donuts in Manhattan in 1977 and went on to expand to additional locations throughout the tri-state area.  Later in life, Joe expanded his business interests in real estate.

While Joe was not afforded the opportunity of higher education, he was the biggest proponent of using it for his family’s upward mobility.  Even in his early years, he insisted on his children and grandchildren attending the best educational institutions in New Jersey and ultimately throughout the nation.

His true mission in life was to leave people better than he found them and push them to be the best version of themselves.  Larger than life, Joe had a magnetic personality and possessed the ability to make everyone feel like family, and he treated them accordingly.   

Joseph enjoyed dining with friends, traveling, and most importantly cheering on his grandchildren.  He had unwavering old-school traditional values. Everyone within his world was provided for and protected and his word was his bond. 

Joseph did not live an average life. He traveled where he wanted to travel, spoke his mind freely, studied what he wanted to learn, ate what he pleased, and loved who he wanted to love. Unapologetic, he was as real as they come. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Theresa, his three children, Dr. Vincent Racanelli (Lori), Victoria Papaleo, and Dr. Joseph Racanelli II (Valoree), and his eleven grandchildren:  Joseph Racanelli, Dr. Jennifer Racanelli, Dr. Jessica Racanelli, Juliana Racanelli, Jonathan Racanelli, Lauren Papaleo Gerdes Esq. (William Gerdes), Nicole Papaleo, Nicholas Papaleo, Joseph Racanelli III, Theresa Racanelli, Nicholas Racanelli.  

Joseph will be remembered as a loving husband, father, Pop-Pop, and great friend to many people. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations can be made in his name to Church of Christ the King "We Care, We Share" Outreach Fund, PO Box 368, New Vernon, NJ 07976. 

https://churchofchristtheking.org/wcws

Visitation at the Leonardis Memorial Home, Inc., 210 Ridgedale Avenue, Florham Park on Friday from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm. Funeral on Saturday assembling at 10am followed by the funeral mass at Church Of Christ The King in New Vernon at 11 am. Entombment at Hollywood Memorial Park.

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