Obituary lovingly composed by his family.
Joseph A. Sordillo
Retired Pharmacist & Business Owner
Joseph A. Sordillo, age 87, a resident of Cambridge, formerly of Somerville and Tewksbury, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.
Born in Somerville on March 2, 1937, he was the son of the late Anthony J. Sordillo and Gilda O. (Biancamano) Sordillo.
Joe was raised in Somerville, attended Somerville schools and graduated from Somerville High School.
Following high school, he attended the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, where he received his degree in pharmacology.
In 1960, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until his honorable discharge from active duty on August 8, 1962. While in the Army he met his late wife, Ethel Mae Green.
Prior to his retirement, he owned and operated the Prince Spa in Cambridge and Sordillo Drug Store in Somerville.
Joe was an athlete in his youth and adult life, having played football as a kid (he lost his two front teeth playing the sport). He also played in an adult softball league, where he was a good player and designated runner thanks to speedy feet.
Joe enjoyed candlepin bowling, speculating on games of chance, watching tennis, playing street hockey at Hockeytown in Saugus, following the New England Patriots, and his greatest love was music, with his favorite being Elvis Presley. He always had a song on his lips. On a Saturday morning, you could find him at Andy's diner serenading the servers and enjoying his favorite breakfast in Cambridge.
Joe is survived by five children, Mary G. Berquist, of Methuen, Joseph A. Sordillo, Jr. and his wife Denise, of Tewksbury, John A. Sordillo, of Tewksbury, Robert A. Sordillo, of Pelham, NH, and Nicole L. Miller and her husband Bill, of Washington, IL: eight grandchildren, Jessica, Justin, Ashley, Richard, Silvia and her husband Leo, Nicholas, Caroline, and Cameron and two great grandchildren, Clare and Arthur Preston. He was a father figure to Charles (Chucky) Donnelly, Denise Donnelly, Jeremy Lamoureux and Jonathan Lamoureux. He was the brother of John F. Sordillo, of Florida, and the late Anthony J. Sordillo, the late Robert P. Sordillo, the late Joan L. Miller, and the late Celia Pettigrew. He leaves many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Family and friends will be received on Saturday, March 1st, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. with military honors to be rendered at 4:30 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial V.A. Hospital, 135 Voluntary Service, 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730.
Or Clear Path for Veterans New England, www.clearpathne.org, 84 Antietam Street, Devens, MA 01434