Joseph Michael Gangi Sr.'s Obituary
Joseph Michael Gangi - Born November 6, 1942, died May 25, 2022 in Miami FL. Beloved husband, father and grandfather. He will always be remembered for his devotion to his family, his quick wit, and his ability to make one hell of a sandwich.
Born in Rochester, NY to Angelo Gangi and Katherine Luciano, Joe relocated to Homestead, FL in 1958. He graduated from South Dade high school in 1961 and went on study mortuary sciences at Miami-Dade College. He served in the National Guard, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1970. Upon completion of his studies at Miami-Dade, Joe began his career as a Funeral Director at Ahern-Plummer Funeral Home, where he would meet the love of his life, his future-wife Denise Schafer.
Joe and Denise married in 1967 and began their family in 1972, with the birth of their daughter Katheryn. Daughter Christine would follow in 1973 and son Joseph would round out the Gangi family in 1981.
Joe changed careers in the 1970’s opening and operating a number of sandwich shops around the Miami area, including Joe’s Sandwich Factory Bird Road and Joe’s Sandwich Factory Tamiami Airport. Joe was perhaps most well-known as the owner and operator of Metro Deli Sandwich shop. From 1992 to 2010, Joe could always be found manning the line at Metro - cracking jokes, pressing Reubens and providing the downtown Miami lunch crowd with the best sandwiches in town.
Joe and Denise retired in the mid-2010’s. He spent his remaining days completing various home improvement project, spending time with family and keeping up with current events. Joe passed away peacefully and surrounded by the people he loved most on May 25, 2022.
Joe is survived by his wife of nearly 55 years, Denise Schafer Gangi; his children Katie Capodiferro, Christine Salazar and Joe Gangi; his sons-in-law Andy Capodiferro and Marco Salazar and his daughter-in-law Natalia Dominguez-Gangi; his grandchildren AJ Capodiferro, Marco Salazar III, Alexandra Salazar, and Daniel Capodiferro; his sisters Kathy Chrycy and Andrea Busher; and his two cats, Pico and Ginger.
Joe Gangi was one of a kind and will never be forgotten.
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