Obituary of Joseph M. Ridgway
Joseph M. Ridgway
Joseph M. Ridgway, 81, of Lower Makefield Township, PA, died on Thursday November 10, 2022.
Joe was a graduate of LaSalle College High School and LaSalle College. After college, he embarked on a career in market research and eventually became a partner and owner of Bruno and Ridgway Research Associates, a successful marketing research and public opinion firm in Princeton, NJ. Joe dedicated his time and resources to Catholic Charities, the Lord’s Table and many other charitable organizations over the years. He was a proud member of Piazza Nuova Lodge #2665 and the LaSalle Explorers Club.
Joe’s personal interests were wide. He loved Irish and Italian cultures, reading, music and travel. He was also a skilled cook, speaker of diverse accents (especially Irish and Italian), telling good natured jokes and balancing spoons on his nose. Besides coaching his children’s sports and some fresh water fishing, Joe was a big supporter of Philadelphia’s sports team. He loved horses and owned a stable of Arabians as well as active partnerships with local thoroughbreds that raced at Delaware Park. Joe loved every aspect of the Sport of Kings from training, being in the paddock on race day and handicapping the big race cards. He tried not to miss the Kentucky Derby and made an annual summer pilgrimage to the Saratoga Race Track where the best of the current crop of race horses competed at a once a year six week meet. Joe thought the track had the gift of running major league races in a beautiful upstate New York “country fair” setting.
Son of the late Joseph M. and Agnes (Hogan) Ridgway, he is survived by his loving wife Mary (D’Elia) Ridgway, his daughters Dana Ridgway and her partner Gerald Brady of Wilmington, DE, Joanna Ridgway-Riley and her husband Kenneth of Ewing, NJ, his son Joseph M. Ridgway and his wife Jeanne of Southampton, PA, his grandchildren Kaitlyn, William, and Jack Schury, Owen Joseph and Maria Riley, and Mary Kate, Megan, and Grace Ridgway, his sisters Agnes Smart ( the late John Smart ), Mary Ellen Sivel ( the late Joe Sivel ), and Theresa Biansco and her husband Ralph, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Words of remembrance will begin at 10:45am followed by the funeral Mass which will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 11:00am at St. Ignatius Church 999 Reading Ave. Yardley, PA 19067. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, from 4:00pm to 7:30pm at the church, and again on Thursday morning from 10:00am to 10:45am at the church. Entombment of cremains will follow the Mass at St. Ignatius Cemetery, River Road, Yardley, PA. Arrangements are under the care of the FitzGerald-Sommer Funeral Home 17 S. Delaware Ave. Yardley, PA 19067.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America www.alzfdn.org orto Parkinson’s Foundation www.parkinson’s.org.
