Vail Daily obituary: Joseph “JoJac” Jacaruso, 1924-2014
Joseph “JoJac” Jacaruso, age 90, 1924-2014, of Edwards, passed away peacefully from heart complications on July 31. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Joseph and Eileen Jacaruso, of Maspeth, New York; and sister Theodora Bullock, of Las Vegas. He is survived by his wife, Sandra Clay Jacaruso, of Edwards; two sons, Thomas J. Jacaruso, of Denver and Joseph R. Jacaruso, of Austin, Texas; and three granddaughters: Kathryn and Rives Jacaruso, of Denver, and Lilly Anna Jacaruso, of Austin; and by his sister, Jean Short, of Maspeth; and nephew Peter Johnson, of Socharie, New York.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Joseph served honorably in WWII as a Mustang P51 pilot of the Army Air Force serving in the European Theatre. A graduate of Syracuse University, he joined United Airlines in March of 1953. He retired as a DC-10 captain from United Airlines in 1990.
He came to make his home in Vail in 1969 through his love of skiing. He started his ski instructor career at Arapahoe Basin. Between his flying career, he worked on Vail Mountain as a ski instructor at Golden Peak from 1969 and worked for Vail Associates for more than 40 years.
Not only known as an “icon” at United Airlines as well as on Vail Mountain, we will always have loving and living memories of “Captain JoJac” for his bright smile and fun-loving “larger than life” personality. He will be dearly missed by all that knew him.
A celebration of life memorial will be held on Sunday at the Singletree Community Center from 5 to 9 p.m. in Edwards. We invite all friends and family to celebrate his life and to share their loving memories of JoJac. For more information, please call 970-376-3187.
