Captain Joseph R. Spero (USN, Retired) passed away on August 1, 2024. He is survived by his loving wife Carolyn of over 65 years, children Susan DeBuck (Don), Richard Spero (Lisa), and Steve Spero (Robyn), nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Joe was born January 25, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York. An 8th grade teacher insisted he take the competitive exam for Brooklyn Technical School which he attended for high school studying electrical technology. Joe often discussed that Brooklyn Tech paved the way for his future achievements.
Joe was appointed to the US Merchant Marine Academy, graduating in 1956 with a US Navy Reserve commission and an engineering license for commercial ships. He did two round-the-world voyages for the Isthmian Steamship Company and then joined United Fruit Company as an engineer on banana shipping boats.
Joe activated his Navy reserve commission entering active duty in 1958. Ordered to Alameda, CA, Joe and Carolyn married to begin their life adventure. Joe began his naval service as an engineering officer specializing in design, maintenance and repair, shipboard propulsion and auxiliary machinery. He served aboard several ships and at the Boston Naval Yard. Needing Electronics Engineering Officers to guide the rapidly expanding technology for naval warfare, Joe attended the Naval Postgraduate School and received an Electronics Engineering degree. He also completed an MS in Management Engineering at George Washington University and Harvard Graduate School's Program for Management Development. Joe also served on the USS Wright, a command ship, with a mission as the National Emergency Command Post Afloat.
Joe next served various tours in Washington, DC addressing submarine communications. He was CO of an engineering center devoted to cryptographic and cryptologic systems and then returned to the then named Electronic Systems Command for successive tours in submarine communications including Project Manager for Navy Communications Systems.
Retiring as a Captain in 1986, Joe joined SAIC as VP for Electronic Systems providing engineering support for Navy and other government agency systems.
When fully retired, Joe enjoyed playing golf, making clocks and furniture, building miniature ships and then painting. He developed a great love of painting over the years, creating hundreds of beautiful paintings.
Most importantly, Joe loved being married to Carolyn, brother-in-law to Carolyn's siblings Donald Schluter (deceased), Doris Schluter, and Lois (Jim) Long, and being the Dad, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather to his loving family. Joe was preceded in death by his 5 siblings, Marie Leone and brothers Pete, Jack, Charlie and Bobby.
Funeral Mass will be at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 9149 Elys Ford Road, Fredericksburg, VA at 12 noon on August 8, 2024 with viewing on August 7 from 6 to 8 pm at Laurel Hill Funeral Home, 10127 Plank Road, Spotsylvania, VA. Interment at
Arlington National Cemetery to occur at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.