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Page 193: Biography of Joseph Breden Paterno [1905-1984]
Joseph (Joe) Breden Paterno was born in Castelmezzano and came to America as a very young boy. He attended St. Joseph’s Convent in New Jersey with his brothers John and Charles. In 1920, he returned to Castelmezzano for a visit and became acquainted with his young siblings.
In 1921, Joseph worked first in the office of his Uncle Charles, then on the construction of the Hudson View Gardens. He later worked with his Uncle Joseph and his brother John at various construction jobs.
Jose was a fun-loving individual who enjoyed pulling practical jokes and pranks. Many of his pranks were aimed at family members and co-workers. One occasion on a construction site, he told his brother Michael to run up the stairs to the 15th floor to ask the bricklayer foreman for a skyhook. Then the foreman sent him to the basement to ask a plumber for it. When Michael arrived in the basement, Joe and his accomplices greeted him with laughter. Joe also enjoyed revealing silly mistakes of others by making funny jokes of them. According to Michael, he was fun to be with and could convert a simple happening into an incredible tale. The two became very close and enjoyed many adventurous escapades.
Joe was married three times. The first marriage was to Margaret Master in 1924 and ended in divorce. Joe married his second wife, Connie McDonald, in 1940 when he was working for the Campagnas in Connecticut. When they separated in 1952, he moved in with his brother Michael and his wife Louise. Joe and Connie were divorced in 1953.
The partnership of Paterno Brothers, Inc. was formed in 1952 with his brother Michael J. Paterno, and John Massari, who was the brother of Michael’s wife, Louise. After three years of profitable business, friction between the three partners evolved in complete disagreement. As a result, Joseph resigned and received a settlement from the others.
In 1956, Joe moved to St. Louis to work as a construction superintendent with Joseph Campagna. He purchased a large parcel of land in Festus, Missouri. When he met Helen Taylor, both his personal and professional life improved. They were married in 1966. Joe retired after a successful business career. He and Helen moved to Festus, where he built a lovely fieldstone home. When vandals burned it down, he and Helen converted the barn to a unique county home using timbers, red cedar paneling, and stone. A large fireplace with stones from the area was the focal point of the living room. It was furnished with antique furnishings to compliment the rustic appearance of the interior. Near the house were large vegetable and flower gardens and feeders for birds and squirrels.
Joe helped his neighbors with their construction projects and also worked on improvements to the Baptist Church where Helen worshipped. The couple enjoyed their life in Festus and warmly received family and friends who visited. Joe became ill and Helen devotedly nursed him through the last few months of his life. When he died in 1984, he was buried in a plot he had selected at the church cemetery.
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