Obituary of Joseph F. Racine

Joseph “Joe” Francis Michael Racine passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the age of 84.

Born in Portchester, NY to Joseph Anton and Dorothy (Belfiore) Racine, he grew up in Yonkers and attended St. Barnabas K-12. 

He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan University where he served in the ROTC.  Joe served in the U.S. Air Force from 1962 – 1965 at Wright Paterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.  During that time he married Cecelia Nobrega on August 1, 1964.  In 1965, they moved to NJ where Joe worked at Bendix as an aerospace engineer for 35 years.  NJ is where they established their roots and raised their family.

Joseph loved being a part of the Air Force and loved airplanes.  He also enjoyed reading and traveling the U.S. and Europe, but what he enjoyed most was going to see his grandchildren’s sporting events.

He was predeceased by his son in-law Edward Walsh in 2020.

Joseph is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Cecelia Mary (Nobrega) Racine of Denville, and by his loving children Joseph and his wife Ann Racine of Denville, Jannine Walsh of Cedar Knolls, and Keith and his wife Kristin Racine of Oradell, NJ.  He is also survived by his grandchildren Jennifer Racine, Matthew Racine and his fiancé Kate Swope, William and his wife Olivia Walsh, Katherine Walsh, Jack Racine and Charles Racine.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834 www.normandean.com.  A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, November 21, at 10:00AM at St. Mary’s Church, 15 Myers Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834.  Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery Mausoleum in East Hanover, NJ.

Memorial donations can be made in Joe’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation, www.apdaparkinson.org , or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital www.stjude.org\donate .