Obituary: Joseph "Joe" Piemonte, Former Reserve Officer of the Salem Police Department

Obituary from O’Donnell Funeral Home.

Joseph “Joe” Piemonte died peacefully in Salem at his residence on January 29th, 2015 at the age of 91. He was the beloved husband of the late Catherine “Kay” (Kirchmier) Piemonte.

Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Teofilo and Angela (D’Angela) Piemonte. He was raised and educated in Salem and was a graduate of Salem High School.

An honorably discharged veteran, Joe was part of the Eighth Air Force 384th bombardment wing based in England during World War II.

Upon his return from service, he attended Northeastern University and earned a Master’s degree in History from Boston University, graduating in 1952.

Joe was a member of the City of Salem Police Department as a Reserve Officer from 1949 until 1954.

He began his career as an educator in Nokesville, Virginia and Harwinton, Connecticut before joining the faculty at Salem State University, Salem, MA in 1956 where he taught World History until the time of his retirement in 1986. He was an extraordinary teacher who was beloved by generations of students for his ability to make history come to life.

A dedicated educator beyond the traditional classroom, Joe was a founding member of the Explorers Lifelong Learning Institute, initially affiliated with Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel), and today part of Salem State University.

Joe was committed to civic causes for the City of Salem and served on the City’s Board of Appeals. He was active in several mayoral campaigns and was a member of the Salem Witch Trials Tercentenary Committee. His degree of commitment and vast knowledge on history made him a truly valuable member of all the committees that asked him to serve.

Joe is survived by six children and eight grandchildren.

ARRANGEMENTS: A Memorial Celebration of Joe’s life will be held in Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut St., Salem, on Saturday, Feb. 21st at 2 P.M. Relatives and friends invited. Assisting the family with the arrangements is The O’Donnell Funeral Home 46 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Explorers LLI, 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com