Joseph B Locatell

Joseph B. Locatell, known to many as “Joe” of Hillsborough, NJ, passed away on Thursday, May 11, 2023, in Philadelphia, PA, with his loving family at his bedside after a valiant but swift battle with AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). He is survived by his devoted wife of 42 years, Kathleen (Keegan) Locatell, his son, Joseph S. Locatell and his daughter, Clare C. Locatell, his brother, Michael T. Locatell and his sister, Diane Locatell, as well as beloved aunts, an uncle, cousins, nieces, and nephews, for whom he had tremendous love. He was predeceased by his father, Joseph P. Locatell and his mother, Regina E. Locatell, as well as his sister, Mary Locatell. Joe was born in New Brunswick, NJ. His family moved to North Brunswick, NJ, where he lived until the age of eight, after first having met the love of his life, his neighborhood sweetheart, Kathy. Joe’s family moved to Connecticut, and then to Basking Ridge, NJ, where he attended St. James School and then Basking Ridge High School, graduating in 1976. Joe held records in track and played football with a passion, which led him to enroll in the University of South Carolina, to play football, his favorite sport. The direction of his life changed, and he chose to return to New Jersey and attend Rutgers University while employed as a bartender at the infamous Royal Manor in North Brunswick. That move reunited him with his childhood sweetheart, Kathy, from whom he was separated for fifteen years, and they were married on May 9, 1981, at Saint Mary’s Church in New Brunswick, NJ, less than a year later. Joe was director of American Bartending School and began investing in real estate near the colleges in New Brunswick. The day after their wedding, he began purchasing, renovating, and renting properties in partnership with various other investors during the revitalization of the City of New Brunswick. He opened his own real estate office, Real Estate USA. He expanded his portfolio of multi-family properties to include the City of Trenton, where he became involved not only in real estate, but also in a youth mentoring program with the Mayor and Council. That passion for mentoring led him to become deeply involved with an international men’s group, the “Mankind Project”, also known as New Warriors (NWTA), where he staffed hundreds of training adventure weekends across the country, as well as in Europe. He counseled countless men who had suffered some form of trauma or tragedy. Joe loved helping people and talking to people, and he listened attentively. He was always there when you needed him the most. He touched the lives of many people in his 66 short years on Earth. After relocating to Hillsborough with Kathy in 1985, Joe joined an Over 30 Basketball League, which then became an Over 40 Basketball League. The friendships that came from that became known as the “basketball couples”, who enjoyed many years of parties, dining, and dancing. Those cherished friendships continue to this day. Joe’s passion for reading and love of books led him to open numerous bookstores, the most popular being Half Price Books in Skillman, which became a successful venture and provided books for the entire extended family, who shared his love of reading. Joe loved shopping, having been taught at an early age by his mother, he especially loved finding a bargain. He was the king of bargain shopping and when he found a “good deal”, he would purchase as many of the items as he could, since he just couldn’t pass up a bargain. He and Kathy enjoyed garage sales, the semi-annual Visiting Nurse’s Rummage Sale in Peapack and appreciated antique tools, furniture, crystal decanters and especially, books. In the final years of his life, after all was said and done, his love for family, his generosity in giving to those in need, especially wounded veterans, or anyone struggling with a problem, are the greatest testament to his kind, caring and giving soul, and he will be deeply missed, beyond words, by all who knew and loved him. Joe did not want a wake or a funeral mass. He wished to be remembered at a celebration of life gathering to be scheduled for a date in late July or early August. Please refer to the Lewis Funeral Home for further information which will be posted in the near future.