Joseph Frank Gerardi

Joseph Frank Gerardi, 90, of Daniel Island, left this Earth on Sunday, January 24, 2021.

Joe was born on October 18, 1930, in Brooklyn New York, to Joseph and Kathrine Gerardi, Italian immigrants who came to America to start a family and open an Italian grocery store.

Joe attended Brooklyn Tech Preparatory High School and graduated from New York University with a degree in Accounting. He was the first in his family to attend college and was the President of his fraternity. He married Edna Mae Corcoran, his high school sweetheart, in November of 1953. She passed in February of 2018 from Alzheimer’s, with Joe taking care of her until her final day. They were married for 65 years.

Upon graduation Joe served in the US Army in Neosho, Missouri. He returned to Long Island, New York after his discharge and worked with New York Life Insurance as an auditor. After passing the CPA exam on the first attempt, a feat which less than 3% accomplished in 1952, he and a coworker started a successful CPA firm, Canale & Gerardi, located in Freeport, Long Island, NY. Many of his clients became his lifelong friends.

During his time in Freeport, he served as President of the Knights of Columbus, The Lions Club and the Freeport Business Association.

Joe sold his firm in 1980, at the age of 50, and retired but never slowed down. Shortly after his retirement, he and Edna moved to Charleston, SC. They lived at Shadowmoss in West Ashley and later moved to Seabrook Island, where they lived for many years and had a wonderful group of friends. Joe loved golf and was an active member of Shadowmoss Golf Club and the Seabrook Island Club. Joe was President of the Seabrook Island Financial Committee, during a turbulent time when homeowners were restructuring the Seabrook Island Club and building a new clubhouse.

Joe was an avid skier and skied the world, going on European skiing trips with young men half his age, leaving them all in the dust. His last skiing trip was at the age of 84. He studied for and obtained a pilot’s license at the age of 53, just for something to do. After he retired, he and Edna spent winters in Aspen, Colorado, where they made many friends and were part of the winter community. He also loved Las Vegas, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the NY Giants, Sunday Gravy, Broadway Musicals, and he took Italian language classes well into his 80s. He traveled the world with his wife Edna. Joe truly lived a great, rich life full of adventure.

Joe is survived by four amazing children who loved him dearly: Jill Gerardi Hiers (Clyde), Joseph Gerardi (Sharon) Joy Gerardi, and Jeffrey Gerardi (Tara); five Grandchildren: Michael, John, Christine, Spencer and Joseph. He also has six great-grandchildren and counting.

The relatives and friends of Joseph F. Gerardi are invited to attend his Funeral Service 1:30 PM Friday, February 12, 2021, at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Highway, Charleston. The family will receive friends between 1:00 and 1:30 PM at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Charleston. http://act.alz.org/goto/EdandMe

A Live Stream of the service may be viewed at https://zoom.us/j/98019763532