Dr. Joseph V. Discipio

Dr. Joseph V. Discipio, age 93, passed away peacefully at his home in Oak Brook on December 20th following a short illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Darlene (Mrnka), the beloved son of the late Joseph and Rose (Lamont) Discipio and beloved brother of the late Olympia (Walter) Rempert, Frank (Mary) Discipio, Anthony (Mary) Discipio, and Beatrice (Roy) DeNeault. Dr. Discipio is survived by his children, Joseph Laddie (Lori) Discipio, Dr. James (Nancy) Discipio, the late Jeffrey (Nancy) Discipio and his loving sister, Annette (Ben) Palmieri. He will be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Jacquie Discipio and (Eric Coppersmith), Joseph Vito II, Monica (Keith) Kopperud, Nicholas (Amanda) Discipio, Jake (Meredith) Discipio, Jenna Darlene (Tanner) Ellis, David (Carly) Discipio, Michael Discipio, great grandchildren Franklynn Jo, Otis James, Sadie, Jack, Remi, many nieces and nephews, and dear friends Dr. Sam Cascio and Anita Cosenza. Dr. Joe loved and was very much loved by his dental family of Mary Adduci, Kathy Turner, Karla Larios, and Cecilia Garcia.

Born in Chicago in 1927, Dr. Discipio was the son of Joseph Discipio of Bari, Italy, who immigrated to this country at age 17, and Rose Lamont, a native of Chicago. He grew up with his family on Marshfield Avenue in Chicago and moved to Stickney in 1932 where his family ran a 40-acre truck farm. Dr. Joseph, along with older brother, Frank, went to the market every day before sunrise to purchase fruits and vegetables to sell on their farm. With directive from their mother, who was loving but strict, both boys brought their books to study while awaiting the market to open. In his younger years, donned with white gloves and a bow tie, Dr. Discipio worked as an usher at the Broadway Strand Theater in Chicago, often taking younger sister, Annette, who sat in the back of the theater while Joseph worked.

The Discipio family moved to Berwyn around 1943, where Joseph attended J. Sterling Morton High School in Cicero, and moved to Westchester ten years later where the family had purchased a tract of land for farming.

They opened a farm stand on Wolf Road which was run by the family for 50 years. Drafted in 1946, Dr. Discipio served one year as medical technician in Korea for the U.S. Army. He then returned home and graduated from Morton Jr. College in 1948 and Loyola University Dental School in 1952. During high school and college Dr. Discipio became interested in music; he mastered the accordion which led him to win first place in the Morris B. Sachs amateur hour and to play with a tour group on train club cars headed to New Orleans and the Kentucky Derby. Young Discipio almost decided to study music in college, but after receiving his acceptance letter into dental school, he conferred with his parish priest who said, "you can always study music, but getting into dental school is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity". Dr. Discipio's love for music grew, and he formed a small band called the Downbeaters, performing for weddings and legions to help pay for his education. It was a Berwyn Lodge function where Dr. Discipio met his lovely wife, Darlene, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Laddie Mrnka, who owned a local dry cleaner. Darlene asked Joseph to her high school prom, and the rest is history; they courted, as young lovers do, and the couple wed at St. Leonard Church in Berwyn in April of 1953.

From 1952-1954 Dr. Discipio served again in the military as an Air Force dental officer in Spokane, Washington, receiving an honorable discharge as Captain in the U.S. Air Force in 1954. Upon returning home, Dr. Discipio opened his Berwyn dental practice where he treated patients for the next 56 years. He couldn't have been prouder than when his son, Jim, graduated from Loyola Dental School, his alma mater, and practiced together with him for the next 32 years, building a bond that few have had the privilege of experiencing.

From his simple beginnings growing up on a farm, Dr. Discipio was a continual learner, always striving to improve himself, not only as a dental professional but as a human being as well. As an employer, he had very high standards for his staff, but no greater than the standards he set for himself. Respected by both his colleagues and contemporaries alike, Dr. Discipio was a member of the Columbian Club, Assistant Professor of Loyola University Dental School and Director of the Morton College Dental Assisting Program. He also served as chairman of the MacNeal Hospital Dental Staff and Illinois State Dental Society, president of the

West Suburban Dental Society and Chicago Dental Society, examiner and consultant examiner for the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners, and received the "Man of the Year" award from both the Arcolian Dental Arts Society and IAET (Italian American Executives of Transportation). Dr. Discipio enjoyed spending time with family, gardening, bowling, golfing, music, dancing, and life. After his wife passed away in 1988, he continued their love for and commitment to family, taking the entire family on several cruises and a trip to Italy. Words cannot justify the special person that Dr. Discipio was. He was always so grateful for everything in life, often saying that he had been truly blessed for being healthy for so many years and living such a good life. He will be remembered by family, friends, colleagues, co-workers and patients for his kindness, compassion, generosity, and overall 'love of life'. Without question, the world was a better place for having had Dr. Discipio in it as he touched the lives of so many people. Gone but not forgotten, his memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

Funeral services have been entrusted to Russo’s Hillside Chapels.

All Funeral Services for Dr. Joseph V. Discipio will remain private.

If you wish to send a sympathy card or Mass card to the Discipio family, please send it to Russo’s Hillside Chapels/in care of Dr. Joseph V. Discipio, 4500 Roosevelt Road, Hillside, Illinois 60162. For more information please call (708) 449-5300. Please visit Joseph’s personal tribute website at www.russohillsidechapels.com and sign his guestbook.