For thirty-five years a resident of the United States and during the latter half of that time the proprietor of a confectionary store in Lodi, Joseph Focarino is one of the successful men of this community, and commands the esteem and confidence of the people. Mr. Focarino is a son of Vincent Focarino, who was born in Godrano, Italy, and was a barber in his home town throughout his active life. He retired from business at the age of forty years, living for many years thereafter, his death ocurring in 1899, at the age of eighty-three years. The mother died in Lodi, December 15, 1908. Her name was Francesca.
Joseph Focarino was born in Godrano, Italy, December 2, 1861. Acquiring a thorough education in his native land, he entered the Italian army at the age of twenty years, but the required thirty-six months of service was in his case reduced to twenty-one months on account of his rarely fine marksmanship. In 1887 Mr. Focarino came to the United States, bringing his young bride, and landing in Louisiana, where he remained for a period of five years, during which time he was employed as a gardener. He then went to Chicago, and for a time was proprietor of an inn in that city, then he went to New York City, and purchasing a barber shop conducted it for about two years. In 1904 Mr. Focarino came to Lodi, and opened a confectionary store at No. 485 Passaic avenue. He was very successful and the growth of the business later compelled him to seek larger quarters. No desirable location offering, he erected a large building next to the one he then occupied, fitting out the ground floor especially to suit the requirements of his business. Here he has remained until the present time, and his place is one of the most popular in the city.
A Republican by political affiliaton, Mr. Focarino has long taken an interest in public affairs of the borough, and although he cares little for political honors, he has served for the past six years as a member of the Board of Education. He is a member of St. Joseph's Church.
Mr. Focarino married, in Italy, shortly before sailing for America, Pasqua Pumara, who died in 1899. On a subsequent visit to Italy before the end of the same year, he married, in that country, Carmela Viscardi, and they are the parents of nine children: Vincent, a reporter on the Passaic "News"; Frances, Josephine, Rosaley, Conchita or Ada, Jennie, Minna and the twins, Marie and Angelina.
From: History of Passaic and its environs : historical, biographical, by Scott, William W. Published 1922.
