Obituary: Joseph V. D'Ambrisi, 83

Joseph V. D'Ambrisi, 83, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, at home surrounded by family.

Born in Philadelphia, Joe was a longtime resident of Princeton and a member of the Italian American Sportsman Club and the Springdale Golf Club.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University in 1950. He joined Socony Vacuum Oil Company (now Exxon Mobil Corporation) in 1950 and held a variety of management and executive positions over a career of 40 years.

In the early 1970s, he served as the first manager of the Mobil Joliet Oil Refinery, the largest refinery built from the ground up in the United States. Prior to retiring in 1990, he was president of Mobil Research and Development Company. He was presented with the Morehouse Award, an honorary doctoral degree, from Villanova University in 1989 for his achievements in international operations.

Throughout his career, D'Ambrisi served in variety of leadership positions in community organizations such as the United Way, Boy Scouts of America, Chamber of Commerce, and several educational and environmental organizations.

Several of his assignments required extensive overseas travel, where he was often accompanied by his wife of 56 years, Frances. After retirement, they continued to enjoy frequent travel both in the U.S. and abroad.

For the past 14 years he took special pleasure in planning the annual family reunion trip to such destinations as Maui, Hawaii and Collianello, Italy - events notable for impromptu entertainment by his family at his urging.

He also enjoyed gardening, golf, and weekly poker games.

The son of the late James and Angelina D'Ambrisi, he is predeceased by his brother Anthony. He is survived by his wife, Frances; three sons, a daughter, and three daughters-in-law; Michael and Monica D'Ambrisi of Franklin, Massachutsetts, James and Karen D'Ambrisi of Brookfield, Wisconin, Joseph and Doris D'Ambrisi of Trumbull, Connecticut, and Mary Frances D'Ambrisi of Alpharetta, Georgia; eight grandchildren, Brenda, John, Stephen, Sarah, Kelly, Matthew, Jeffrey, and David; two sisters and a brother in law, Marie D'Ambrisi of Redding, Pennsylvania, Evelyn and James Buchanan of Redding, and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Kimble Funeral Home, 1 Hamilton Ave., Princeton. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 214 Nassau St., Princeton. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, 1800 Hamilton Ave., Hamilton.