Joseph F. DePasquale

Joseph F. DePasquale

September 25, 1932 – October 26, 2026

Joseph Felice DePasquale died on Monday, October 26, 2026, in Towson, Maryland, at the age of 94.

Joe was born in Baltimore and grew up in a beautiful home in Hamilton, surrounded by three generations of family, both Italian and German, who gathered regularly for family dinners and homemade wine. Music filled his family home, where a baby grand rarely sat idle. Joe’s dad was a clarinetist and his mother was an opera singer. So it was no surprise that after attending Polytechnic Institute for high school, Joe went on to attend Peabody Institute and to pursue a career as a professional musician, playing French horn with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Opera Company, Baltimore Municipal Summer Band, and many other groups.

At Peabody he met his future wife, Marie, and the two enjoyed a long and wonderful marriage, raising two children, Susan and Paul, in a close-knit neighborhood in Towson. Both Joe and Marie worked for more than 30 years as instrumental music teachers in the public school system — in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, teaching students at all levels. Throughout these years, Joe continued to play the French horn with ensembles large and small. He also pursued his passion for photography, which began as a teenager when his mother helped him build a darkroom in their family home.

In mid-life, Joe became an avid runner and would put in many miles before heading off to teach. Well into his 60s, Joe competed in local 10K races, crossing the finish line at or near the top of his age group. After retiring from teaching, he also became an avid cook and gardener.

Upbeat and optimistic with a great sense of humor, Joe was a loyal husband, steadfastly nursing Marie through early onset dementia until her death 2003. In the years since then, he maintained very close ties with his children, their spouses, and five grandchildren, and enjoyed travels to Amsterdam, Alaska and the Caribbean.

He is survived by Paul DePasquale (wife, Carol) and Susan DePasquale (husband, John Musachio); five grandchildren: Julie DePasquale, Jenna DePasquale, Benjamin Musachio (wife, Liva Bluma), Matthew Musachio, and Daniel Musachio; sister Jeanne Sternal and nephew Paul Sternal. His wife, Marie, predeceased him on October 4, 2003.

A memorial service to celebrate Joe DePasquale’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1609 Kurtz Ave., Lutherville MD, 21093.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Joe’s honor to: Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, or to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Lutherville) Capital Campaign.