Joseph Giacalone

Joseph Steven Giacalone

July 3, 1962 ~ October 16, 2016

It is with sadness in this life, but happiness in the next, that we announce that Joseph Steven Giacalone (Aka Joey, Tiger, Dr. G) passed away peacefully on October 16, 2016, surrounded by his family, after a five year battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer.  Through his heroic struggle with cancer, no one ever heard a word of complaint from Joe.  Born July 3, 1962 in San Diego, CA to Joe and Ann Giacalone, he was the fourth of six children.  Exceptionally bright and tremendously determined, Joe’s first words, coaxed out of him at the age of three were, “You know what I want.”  From then on no one could say they did not know what Joe wanted because he set out and always accomplished it.

He wanted to learn everything he could, which he did, spending a lifetime studying and reading.  He wanted to serve and LDS mission in Italy, which he did, serving in Milan.  He wanted to become a surgeon, which he did after graduating from BYU and the University of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa and doing his residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT.  He wanted to marry the perfect woman, which he did on August 8, 1991 when he was sealed for time and all eternity to Heather Van Orden, daughter of Sterling and Betty Van Orden, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple.  He wanted to be a great father, which he was, a hero to his four sons, Joseph, Nicholas, Vincent and Ethan.  He wanted to help people, which he did.  In addition to a lifetime of serving in the LDS Church, where he loved to teach Gospel Doctrine, he spent his medical career primarily working with diabetic patients, whom he considered his friends, saving limbs and repairing damage.  He wanted to live an honorable life and return home to his Father in Heaven, which he did.

He is survived by his wife, Heather, and his four sons, Joe, Nick (serving in the Birmingham, Alabama mission), Vince, and Ethan. Also survived by his parents and siblings: Valarie Giacalone, JoAnn (Bruce) Sevy, Sharon (Mike) Denning, Cara (Allen) Puckett, and Matt (Kari) Giacalone.

Funeral services will be held Friday, October 21, 2016 at 2 p.m. at the Syracuse Whisperwood Ward, 1000 W. 2679 S., Syracuse.  Friends may visit family Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road and Friday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the church.  Interment, Syracuse City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Huntsman Cancer Research.

Joe and family would like to thank the Huntsman BMT Clinic for their love and care for Joe.
Also, a special thanks to his sister, Sharon Denning, for giving him and us extra time together.