CORRENTE, JOSEPH T., 85, of Dean Ridge Court, Cranston died Thursday November 5, 2009 at Miriam, Providence. He was the loving husband of Antonetta (Castaldi) Corrente for 55 years. A patriot of the highest order, Joseph T. Corrente, was a dedicated public servant and engineer, a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War and an outstanding community leader.
Born in Providence on November 27,1923 he was the son of the late Tomasso and Lucrezia (Simeone) Corrente of Providence. He was a lifelong resident of Providence until 1992 , when he moved to Cranston. He attended Providence Public Schools, and graduated from Providence Technical Institute with an Associate Degree in Architectural Design and Construction.
He served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations. In 1950 he was recalled to active military duty in the Korean War serving with the 1343 rd Engineering Combat Battalion.
In 1954, Joe started his 32 years of distinguished and dedicated public service with the State of Rhode Island. He was the state\'s bridge resident engineer for the construction of the Providence River Bridge and approach roadway bridges in 1955-1958. For the next 15 years, he was bridge resident in-charge of building some 20 bridges on the interstate routes and state primary highways.
From 1972 until his retirement in 1986 Joe held the position of Chief Bridge Maintenance Engineer, supervising the maintenance and repair of over 650 bridges, including the old Jamestown Bridge. In 1985, he was nominated for one of two annual Robert M. Goodrich Distinguished Public Service Award. The awards are presented to exemplary career public employees by the Rhode Island public expenditure council.
Joe also worked for the Providence Public Works Department as a special assistant for maintenance management of bridges and the hurricane barrier in 1987 and 1988. His contributions in bridge construction and maintenance engineering technology brought him a four year appointment to the examination board for the certification of engineering technicians. For this he received citations and commendations from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Federal Highway Administration, and the Nation Society of Professional Engineers.
Upon his retirement from State Service, instead of enjoying his well - deserved rest, Joe continued his community service activity by accepting four successive 3- year appointments on the Governor's Commission on Disabilities. He also served on the RI Advisory Commission on Aging, RI Forum on Aging, and Speaker of RI Silver Haired Legislature.
In 1988, He organized a successful drive by Veterans in the Performing Arts Community for the restoration of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. For his untiring efforts for this project, he was appointed to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium Foundation. He served over 50 years as a member of the Disabled American Veterans , Cranston Chapter # 10 and served as Past State Commander.
In 1994, as Executive Secretary for United Veterans Council of RI, an Advocacy Group of the eight Major State Veterans Organizations, he successfully resolved the debate to relocate the WWI monument to the Jackson-Gardner-Verrazano Park in Providence as part of the Capital Center River Relocation project.
He was the co-chairman of building the Korean War Monument and Memorial Walkway in Providence, and spear-headed and chaired a committee to build the WWII Memorial in Memorial Park, Providence which was dedicated on November 11, 2007.
In 2001, he was presented with the prestigious "Freeman Award" by the Providence Engineering Society for"Outstanding Achievement in Bridge Engineering and Maintenance Through the Application of Creativity and Innovation During a Lifetime of State Service". In February of 2003 he was cited by the Society's"Humanitarian Award", in recognition of faithful and long term community service to various civic, religious and public organizations.
On May 4, 2003 Governor Donald L. Carcieri presented Joe with the coveted 2003 Joseph Vanni Award in recognition of his many years as a leading advocate for people with disabilities, Veterans and senior citizens.
Joe was a caring and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, friend, public servant and advocate for seniors, and veterans. He is loved dearly and will be forever missed.
Besides his wife, he was the beloved father of Glenn J. Corrente and his wife Kimberly of North Providence, and Gail Theriault and husband Steven of Narragansett and the loving grandfather "Joey" to Sophia J. Theriault. He was the brother of the late Thomas Corrente.
Funeral from "WOODLAWN" Funeral Home 600 Pontiac Avenue Cranston Monday, November 9, 2009 at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Oaklawn Avenue Cranston. Entombment with Military Honors will be in St. Ann Cemetery Mausoleum, Cranston. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Sunday, November 8 from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his memory to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 www.WoodlawnGattone.com

Reported: 11/06/09 (Show all obituaries for this day)
By: Woodlawn Funeral Home (Show all obituaries and information about this funeral home)

Go back