Joseph Jacob Alexander, 94 years old, passed away quietly in Collingswood , New Jersey on March 18, 2018.  Survived by his sister Alice A. Northam, daughter Joan A. Kurtzman, nephew Mark A. Northam, and niece Dale Gray.

Son, big brother, friend, sailor, husband, artist, photographer and musician.  My Dad (everyone called him Joe, except for Alice who called him Josie) was born in Philadelphia, Pa on March 14, 1924 to Yugoslavian immigrant parents, Joseph and Elsie Alexander. When Dad was six years old, his parents asked him if he'd like a sister or a radio and he chose a sister and never regretted that choice. He and Alice were inseparable. They played school and he taught her so much that when she began her formal schooling she skipped the first grade.

At 18, Joe enlisted in the Navy and spent 3 years as a sonar technician on the destroyer escort USS Decker doing convoy duty on the Atlantic. When he came home he used the GI bill to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Delaware, graduating with honors. During this time, Dad met Alice's good friend who turned out to be the love of his life. Jeralyn Asby Moss (deceased 2015) and my Dad were married on Valentine's Day in 1947. In addition to me, they had Julie (deceased 2012) and John (deceased 1989).

Joe's first job was with General Electric where he worked for 2 years before taking a position with the DuPont Company where he worked for 34 years as a project engineer. He also continued to pursue his lifelong passion of watercolor painting, selling originals and limited edition prints of local scenes and historic Williamsburg, a favorite vacation spot. Joe and Jerry traveled extensively throughout Europe and Joe created photographic travel logs of their journeys that they showed at meetings of local organizations. Joe served as a judge for the Delaware Camera Club.

Joe and Jerry were long time members of the DuPont Country Club where they took ballroom dancing for 12 years.  The Club held dances most Saturday nights and they would go, meet their friends and spend the night dancing together.

Joe was a talented musician, started playing the accordion at 8 and continued until he could no longer manage the weight of the instrument. He helped start the Delaware Accordion Club and would frequently get together with friends and 'jam'. Dad loved jazz and arranged and transcribed music for the accordion.  Jerry loved opera and always remarked when Dad played jazz that there were just "too many notes."

Joe and Jerry spent their final years together at Maris Grove Retirement Community in Glen Mills, Pa where they joined Alice and her husband Dick (deceased 2012) and many retired DuPonters who lived there. Joe and Jerry had a fabulous social life, especially enjoying the before dinner meet-up in the Pub for a cocktail and a chat.

My Dad, was an incredibly gifted and talented man. Everything he took on he excelled at. He was a kind, generous person with a sweetness that endeared him to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed.

Joe spent many years as editor of the Slater Signals, a newsletter of The USS Slater Destroyer Escort Historical Museum.  The Slater is a destroyer escort sister ship to the Decker that has been restored and is docked in Syracuse, NY.  He and Jerry attended the yearly reunions of DE sailors. In lieu of flowers or other tributes, please consider making a donation to the museum – it would please him greatly. (518) 431-1943 at www.USSSLater.org (518) 431-1943

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to Joseph's Episcopal Graveside Service and U.S. Navy Military Honors on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11 am Gracelawn Memorial Park: 2220 North Dupont Highway, New Castle, Delaware 19720.

Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com under the obituary of Joseph Jacob Alexander. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through:

McCann-Healey Funeral Home: 851 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ  Ph: 856-456-1142