JOSEPH A. GACCIONE
April 1, 1932 -December 22, 2013
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Joseph A.Gaccione was the son of Yolanda Victoria (Montalto) Gaccione of Astoria, NY, (Godmother to Frank Sinatra’s daughter (Tina), and the son of Charles Angelo Gaccione of Rome, Italy. His maternal grandparents immigrated from Florence, Italy as Italian Ambassadors. He was the nephew of the late great Oscar Montalto of Victoria Royale Fashion Designs and personal designer for Princess Grace Kelly de Monaco. He spent his childhood in Nutley, NJ surrounded by family and friends and his summers with his grandparents playing in the Famous Ringling Brothers Family Florida home and on the Jersey Shore. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School but quit with only two months remaining to join the months remaining to join the United States Air Force as Airman 1st Class and Jet Engine Mechanic serving all four years in the Korean War. He was awarded The Korean Service Medal w/1BS, United Nations Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and The National Defense Service Medal as well as a letter of Commendation from the Colonel of the United States Air Force for his remarkable feat of changing out and replacing the entire jet engine of a F-33 fighter jet and putting the jet back in the air in under 9 minutes and 35 seconds; a record still undefeated to date.
When the Korean War ended, he was honorably discharged and returned home to California where he met and married his bride, Phyllis Faye Farmer (deceased November 8, 2012) of nearly 60 years. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in search of work with their young daughter, Desiree, and there had a second child, Joette. Without a high school diploma, Joa high school diploma, Joseph became a Nuclear Engineer with AeroJet NERVA Project and NASA’s Space Program, under the guidance of Wernher Von Braun, one of the most important rocket developers and champions of space exploration, who wrote Joseph a book titled, “Nuclear Physics Made Very Easy for Joe Gaccione.” There, Joseph assisted in the development of nuclear jet rocket propulsion systems that eventually propelled the first man to the moon for the Apollo 11 mission. Joseph became a mission control operator for the space program and his contributions were recognized personally by President John F. Kennedy. As a developer of NERVA, Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application with NASA and the US Atomic Energy Commission, AeroJet demonstrated that nuclear thermal rocket engines were a feasible, reliable tool for space exploration, meeting the requirements in the 1960s for a manned mission to Mars. To date, all space mission plans use derivative designs from his contribution to the development of jet rocket propulsion systems. When President Nixon canceled the Space Program and closed the AeroJet Testsite in Jackass Flats, Nevada, Joseph left the Mohave Desert, and their horse, behind and moved his family to Florida for the building and opening of Walt Disney World in 1971. Hired first as a Safety Engineer, Joseph assisted in the design implementation of all the Magic Kingdom rides to meet the highest safety standards. His proudest creation was assisting in the building of It’s A Small World ride, which became his theme song for his life. His brilliant mind did not go unnoticed by Mr. Walt Disney himself and soon Joseph became Chief Engineer of Operations Executive over Walt Disney World and Resorts. He was on the design team for the creation of EPCOT and hosted the first international students in his own home. He hosted the first international students in his own home. He was also recognized with a Disney Design Award for his part of the development of the Grand Floridian. But it was his boiler room in the Contemporary Hotel that made history when it broke down during the famous presidential speech made by President Nixon of “I AM NOT A CROOK!” Many psychologists say that when someone lies they sweat referring to this speech, yet Nixon sweated because the air conditioning broke down and the Secret Service would not let Joseph into the boiler room to fix it! Even Jim Henson’s Muppets played in Joe’s boiler room visiting the pipes for a possible film shoot. Joseph often referred to his office as the command center with him being at the helm as Captain Kirk, his secretary Mel Miller Smith as Lt. Ohura, and his right hand man, Jack Barry, as Spock.
He never saw the impossible, only what could be, saying “you can’t put God in box.” Always looking for a smarter, better way to do things, he created the Disney program “I Have An IDEA!” for cast members to share their input and the “Mickey’s VoluntEARS Program” which allowed cast volunteers to donate their time within the community in countless ways, including volunteering at Give Kids the World, a nonprofit organization that exists to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illness and their families from around the world. He helped to co-found this organization and designed the villages under the direction of his dear friend Henri Landwirth and Joseph’s various contact relations in the Central Florida Hospitality Industry. He was impassioned about serving others, especially children. He presented the idea of TECO to Osceola County School Board to create a trade and technical school where many students bound for needed professions out where many students bound for needed professions outside of college degrees attend. In the early 1980s, he presented his plan to the City of Kissimmee to have a River Ferry Boat Cruise on Lake Toho to bring in revenue to enhance our community, which is now being brought to the city’s attention again nearly 35 years later. His foresight and vision were unparalleled. He published his first book and training manual used nationwide throughout major hotel chains as well as internationally in hospitality schools. His book titled “Principles of Engineering and Management” is quoted with his sayings on leadership that “You can’t push a chain” and Turtle Management, “You have to stick your neck out if you want to get something done.” He taught engineering at Walt Disney University, Westside VoTech, Orange County Public Schools, and Bethune Cookman University and proctored exams for the state. He was a lead consultant for the State of Florida’s state. He was a lead consultant for the State of Florida’s first mold remediation operational standards with his involvement with CH2MHill. He has friends from across the globe, but perhaps his greatest achievement was his involvement with Wider Horizons of Northern Ireland. Joseph became an American Ambassador for The Wider /Border Horizons Programme of Ireland that he helped develop to achieve peace along the border in Ireland by sponsoring numerous hospitality students for their J1 Visas and hosting them in America to learn various skills to develop Ireland’s tourism industry. By pairing young people from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and having them live and work in the hospitality industry and volunteer at Give Kids the World, students discovered they have more in common than they do differently. He implemented the program in Florida in the 1990s. Since its’ conception, the program hosts students in the US, Canada and in Spain. He and his wife were awarded in Northern Ireland for his participation in Ireland’s peace-keeping coalition and economic development. He helped to repair the heartache between Protestants and Catholics from hundreds of years and rebuild relationships between the Irish people, bringing the glimmer of light and hope to a darkened existence of the unemployed of Ireland and uplifted them by having faith in their abilities. His Italian heart beats Irish blood and he will forever remain a family member there of in the hills of Donegal, known as a grandfather to many throughout the Irish community. During his retirement, he enjoyed time with friends in the mountains of Tennessee. However, when his life was unexpectedly interrupted by a tragic accident in downtown Kissimmee, it changed the direction of his and his wife’s lives. After surviving the accident, both Joe and Phyllis lives. After surviving the accident, both Joe and Phyllis came home to live with their daughter and son-in-law for assistance. They had visitors from around the world and enjoyed seeing their family and friends.
Joseph Gaccione was a devoted and loving husband to his wife, Phyllis Faye (Farmer) Gaccione, who preceded him in death a year earlier. He lovingly referred to her as “his bride” for nearly 60 years. He loved to watch her paint and dance as his hobbies. He leaves behind an unfinished novel, “The White Wolf,” which was inspired by his beloved dog, Heidi, a great white Pyrenees. He lost his baby sister, Annmarie Werner, whom he affectionately called Annie to pancreatic cancer in 2002. He is survived by his only brother Charles “Chuck” Gaccione (wife Ava). He and Phyllis had two daughters, Desiree LaDonna Horn of Kissimmee, Florida and Joette Gaccione Tindell (husband Marvin) of St. Cloud, Florida. He was an (husband Marvin) of St. Cloud, Florida. He was an amazing grandfather to half a dozen grandchildren and was affectionately called “Poppa” by them all: Bobby Martin “Colt” Horn III, Casee La-Donna Horn, Chase Joseph Horn, Christopher Thomas Tindell, Travis Lee Tindell, and his newest granddaughter, Lilyanne Faye “Pearl” Tindell, who was the light of his life in his final days.
Joseph was a man of amazing talents and grace who was strong, yet gentle. Wise, yet full of humor and lighthearted. (he had to be, since he was born on April Fool’s day). He was always positive, always. He was told he would never walk again twice in his life, and both times he did. He was labeled “Dangerously Optimistic” by the rehab centers. He believed that with a little bit of pixie dust, anything was possible if you put your heart in it. He said that the F on the report card was for Fantastic because there was is no such thing as failure, only gaining experience in trying. He loved to hear his ure, only gaining experience in trying. He loved to hear his Natalya, and her sister Gigi, play the violin. He taught his children to go for the brass ring, to live life to the fullest, to believe in your dreams, to help others and that there are no strangers in this world, only friends we haven’t met yet. He had a beautifully strong belief in God, was a devout Catholic in his heart and helped fund the building of Holy Redeemer Catholic School. He cherished family above all things of this world. He gave away everything he owned because it meant nothing to him, only relationships did. If you sat at the table and had coffee with Joe, then you know what kind of man he was. He taught us all that it really is….. A Small World After All…
After a legendary fight, Joseph Gaccione suffered from an unexpected heart attack and the Lord has called him Home. God has gained a great worker in Heaven. He is going to be deeply, and truly, missed. He was a one of kind man. The best daddy. And the best poppa any child could ever ask for. We miss you Poppa Joe. Rest in Peace. Now you can be happy, dancing with your bride, our Mamie, in Heaven. And your knee can finally bend. “Go, Joe, Go!”
Visitation: Conrad & Thompson Funeral Home Tuesday, January 7th, 4:00 p.m. (family) 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. (public), Deacon Tommy Tate presiding. Funeral Mass: Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Wednesday, January 8th 10:30 a.m., graveside service to follow Father Tim Labou presiding.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to help towards the purchase of her parents’ headstone as Joe and Phyllis were married 60 years and wanted to remain together. To make this possible, please leave donations for the Tindell Family to collect at Conrad and Thompson Funeral Home
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Joseph Alfred Gaccione
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