Joseph Curato, Jr. Joseph Curato, Jr. died peacefully Friday surrounded by his family. Joe was born on February 11, 1931 in Rumford to Italian immigrants Guiseppe Corrado, originally of Avella, Avellino, Italy and Maria Concezia Peperato Corrado originally of Pacentro, LAquila, Italy. Joe was forever proud of his Italian heritage and the extended Curato family. His death marks the end of his generation of 12 Curato children, which started with the birth of his oldest sibling, Vincenzo, in 1909. Joe was born, raised and educated in Rumford. Upon completing his secondary education, Joe served in the United States Navy, including duty aboard the USS Northampton as a Navy cook. He was proud to be a Korean war-era veteran. Returning from the Navy, he married his cherished wife of 60 years, Marguerite. Joe and Mickey started a family while Joe earned his teaching degree from The University of Maine at Farmington. Joe furthered his own education by continuing at the University of Maine at Orono earning a Masters Degree and a Certificate of Advanced Studies. Joe spent 30 years in the MSAD 11 school system as a teacher, grade school Principal, Junior High School Principal and Assistant Superintendent. Many Gardiner area students of that era have been heard to say Mr. Curato was my Principal forever. Upon his retirement, Joe dedicated his life to his many interests. Most faithfully to his religion, most lovingly to his family, most ferociously to golf. Joe was a life-long communicant at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Gardiner and served as a lecturer, known for his clear, commanding readings. Of the many lessons Joe taught those around him was that family is everything. He so loved his parents, each and every brother and sister, and his dozens and dozens of Curato family cousins and nieces and nephews. He saved his greatest love for his wife, his sons and their spouses, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joe was an excellent golfer. He taught another life lesson to us all who joined him on the golf course through his fervent adherence to the rules of golf - what is right is right. He and Mickey were members at Meadowhill, the Augusta Country Club where Joe served a term as President, Springbrook, and finally Cobbossee. Joe shared his love of golf with Mickey, his sons, his brothers, and his many, many friends. In his life in education and in his pursuit of his many interests, Joe taught us right from wrong, he taught us to never forget where we came from, and he modelled a life for us to emulate committed to family and to making life better for our children, as he and Mickey surely did. Joe is predeceased by his parents and all 11 of his siblings. Joe, Dad, Mr. Curato, Uncle Joe is survived by his beloved wife Mickey, their sons Michael and Peter, Michaels wife Susan and their daughter Jennifer, her husband Jason and their children Gabriella and Michael, their son Nicholas, his wife Christina and their son Paul, and their daughter Emily, and Peters family, Barbara Redmond, their daughter Rebecca, her husband Ricky and their children Olivia and Matthew, as well as hundreds of Curato family cousins, nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, January 5th from 6 to 8pm at Staples Funeral Home 53 Brunswick Ave Gardiner. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday January 6th at 10am at St Joseph Church in Gardiner. Burial with military honors will be held at the New Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery Mt Vernon Rd in Augusta. In lieu of Flowers donations may be made to St Joseph Church c/o St Michaels Parish 24 Washington St Augusta, Me 04330