Joseph Zargo was a 27 year old nephew, cousin and son. He lived with his aunt and uncle and was working towards earning an asbestos removal certification. His aunt, Denise Cruz, talks about Joseph’s life, his personality, and the role he played in the life of their family.
Joseph was born December 21, 1984, in Bridgeport, CT. As a child he had lived with his father Stephen in New Hampshire, where they enjoyed hunting together. Though Joseph struggled with ADHD, his father provided the discipline and guidance needed to keep him in school, so that he would later graduate. Stephen suffered from heart problems, and in the course of his illness, Joseph held his dying father as he passed away.
Joseph later came to live with his aunt Denise and her family. They had always been close. As Denise says, “I was like his second mother, he used to always call me “Mommy Number 2.” He would babysit for his cousins and enjoyed playing XBox with J.J, Denise’s son. Joseph was a practical joker, and Denise enjoyed the pranks they would play on each other. He worked with his uncle Bobby as a laborer on demolition jobs, and looked forward to the money that asbestos removal would allow him to earn. He believed that he would soon be able to move out, get a car and his own apartment, and one day have his own family.
Joseph was killed December 23, 2011. He was the 33rd victim in a string of homicides that year which were widely covered by the local media. He left behind his aunt’s family as well as his mother and 3 brothers.
Memorial Site:
Thank you this is truely heartfelt ,I hope this can help other kids to make the right decision in there life.
Honestly I really don’t know what to say other than my deepest condolences go out to you and Joey’s entire family. I wish I would have found out sooner, but it would’t have changed anything I guess. I went on-line to actually look Joey up cuz I had heard he went to prison and would be out by now. When I googled his name and saw the headline from the newspaper I thought I was seeing things. Until I saw his picture… I am deeply sorry, Joey was a wonderful person and even though him and I had our ups and downs we did create a gorgeous little girl who to this day looks just like him! MacKenzie will be 8 on August 31st and she is doing beautifully. Joey will forever be in my heart and I will always see him thru his daughter.
Respectfully, Trese Chapman
i miss you joey cant believe this still. i miss calling u late night and our talks and walks bro r.i.p
i miss you joey more than you no i wish you were still around to talk too! you were my cup cake!!! i miss our talks and how you were always there for me! you had a great heart you always wanted to have a good time and to make everybody happy i may have moved a lil while befor god had to come for you but we always talked and we never forgot eachother! i look back at old messages we shared and i wonder how anybody could have ever taken your life you ment so much to so many people! its like a dream when i think i will never hear your vioce again i hate it! it hurts so bad!you were one of the best people i ever new and ill never forget you joey!!!