Joseph Anthony Rado

Joseph A. Rado, Jr. 75, of Wyomissing, died April 25, 2014 peacefully in Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He was happily married for 49 years to his wife Elaine (Fugo) Rado.

Joe was born in Bloomsburg, the son of Joseph A. Rado, Sr. and Margarite Jones. He was raised in Berwick by Joseph and Kay Rado.

Joe was a 1957 graduate of Berwick HS, and was a 1958 graduate of The Perkiomen School. His higher education includes a B.S. in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg University in 1963 and a Masters degree in Education from West Chester University in 1970.

Joe's admirable work career has spanned many successful professions, including education, coaching, insurance sales and business leadership. For all those who knew him his inspiring and positive nature brought out the best in the people.

Upon graduating from Bloomsburg, Joe became a teacher and a coach. His first position was at Upper Merion High School, where he taught special education and coached football and wrestling from 1963-1965. His next position was at Lourdes Regional High School from 1965 – 1974, there he taught health, physical education and coached football, wrestling and golf. His success as a wrestling coach at Lourdes produced 8 years of Central PA Catholic Wrestling Team Championships, 1 State Champion Wrestler, and 23 Regional Wrestling Champions.

Joe was a go-getter. In 1974, with 4 daughters at home, and another baby on the way, Joe started to sell insurance and became one of the most successful agents for Metropolitan Life from 1974-1986. He was ranked 8th in the country amongst his peers in the company in sales and received 5 President's Council Awards, 12 Leader's Council Awards and was awarded to be a member of the Million Dollar Round Table.

In 1986, Joe had the opportunity to purchase a small elevator board repair business called WORLD electronics. Joe took this small company of 8 employees then located in West Chester, PA., moved it to Morgantown and expanded into contract manufacturing. In 1998, Joe moved the company headquarters again to Muhlenburg Township in a state-of-the art, 84,000 sq ft manufacturing facility that has been recognized, over several years, as one of the Top Places to Work in Berks County. Today WORLD electronics has two locations in PA: one in Indiana, and the main headquarters in Reading with over 100 employees. Joe's motto for success was, "We do things other people don't want to do."

He figured out that WORLD could make any kind of electronic assembly and with his dedicated family of employees he grew WORLD electronics to be an international manufacturing facility.

Joe has served on many professional advisory boards over his career.

He loved to bring enjoyment into every endeavor and famously coined the phrase " Have some fun today".

One of his most heart-felt associations was his Alma Mater. Joe was on the advisory board for the College of Business at Bloomsburg University. In 2012, the lobby in Sutliff Hall at Bloomsburg University was named the Rado Lobby in dedication to the many contributions of Joe and his wife, Elaine. In addition, Joe was a charter member of the International Alumni Council at Bloomsburg University.

Joe was a former Chairman of the Board of the Agile Web, he was also on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Elevator Contractors, the National Association of Surface Mount Technology and the Board of Directors for the Manufacturers Association of Berks County.

His community affiliations are: Member of Sacred Heart Church in West Reading, former Head Wrestling Coach for the Wyomissing Grapplers, a charter member of the Pennsylvania chapter of Unico, and a Pennsylvania Ambassador from 2000-2007. He was a member of the Alexis de Tocquelville Society. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Berkshire Country Club for many years, as well as the Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America – The Hawk Mountain Council.

Joe's awards over the years include:

All-State Football Player, Berwick Senior H.S. –1956

Service Key at Bloomsburg University- 1963

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee at The Perkiomen Prep School – 1987

Entrepreneur of the Year Award – 1992

Academic Hall of Fame Inductee at Berwick Senior H.S. – 2003

National Leadership Award- Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council- 2004

Distinguished Alumni Award – Bloomsburg University – 2004

United States Army Reserve- Patriotic Support – Operations Enduring Freedom & Iraqi Freedom – 2004

Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame – Bernie Romanoski Chapter – 2005

Boys & Girls Clubs of America – Centennial Award – 2006

1st Honorary Member of Beta Gamma Sigma – Bloomsburg University 2007

Who's Who of the Heritage Registry 2006-2007

Joe loved people, golf, Tuesday night cards, football, photography and kid's sports which extended to his children and his grand children.

He is survived by his step mother, Catherine Rado of Berwick and 4 brothers; Tony Rado of Orangeville, PA,- Charles Rado Esq. of Dallas, PA, - Michael Rado of Douglassville, PA and Rick Rado of Berwick, PA. His only sister was the late Catherine Rado of Reading, PA.

Joe will be greatly missed by his 5 children and 5 grandchildren. Stephanie Rado Taormina of Wyomissing and her two daughters Allegra and Gabrielle. Lisa Rado of Manhatten Beach, CA.. Susan Rado Duddy and her husband Mike Duddy and their 3 children; Michael, Gia and Bella Duddy. Joselle Rado of Wayne, PA, and his only son Christian Rado of Manhatten Beach,CA.

A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church in West Reading on Friday May 9th at 10am. Inurnment will be in Gethsemane Mausoleum, Muhlenberg TWP

In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Joseph A. Rado Jr. to: Bloomsburg University, School of Business; Berks Catholic Scholarship Fund; The Penn State Dance Marathon and sent to the THON office: ATTN: Finance THON Office 210 HUB University Park, PA 16802 or online at https://thon.org/donors/howtodonate; Penn State Chapter of Uplifting Athletes – 112 Market Street, Suite 301, Harrisburg, PA 17101 : On-line donation: http://give.upliftingathletes.org/state-college/events/penn-state-lift-for-life-2014/e32671

Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com