Joseph A. Cannizzaro, Jr., PhD, 45 of Longwood, Florida passed away January 20, 2017. Dr. Cannizzarro was born on September 30, 1971 in Bologna, Italy to Joseph and Carol Ann Cannizzaro.
Joseph perfectly bi-lingual by age 4.
Joseph came back to America at age 5 and refused to speak Italian, we were informed on the plane, now I will speak like them and not like them, pointing over his shoulder…no bribe or threat could get him to speak Italian.
Joseph was healthy, happy and full of life.
He totally respected Father Baumann, the teacher but gave him some of the stories he tells us in his homilies. He kept many of his St Mary Magdalen friends, even special Lorianne. who is now the principal there .
He became Eagle Scout in the troop Father Baumann was a scout master in.
Joseph loved the Bishop Moore experience, the friends, the football, the academics.
He was voted Most Popular, Most Mischievous.
Joseph attended Spring Hill, and made life long friends.
He attended school in Australia, made lifelong friends, almost a wife and lifelong partner.
Graduated UCF, only person with name Buchannan written on his hat.
His new interest was the Far East and was doing a dissertation third world countries with abundant resources had leaders that didn't share the wealth with countrymen
He taught school in Northwest China for a year and traveled into Kazakhstan, and other Stans, and Mongolia. He had an old couple & their dog that he would visit monthly and sit with in Kazakhstan and couldn't talk to each other.
One day after teaching a month, he called home and in a serious voice asked us to call ALLLLL his teachers he ever had and tell them he was soooooo sorry for how he acted in school.
He Lived with an uncle and cousin in China doing international commerce and traveled to Hong Kong weekly on business.
He had master's degrees in Computer Systems and International Business Administration.
He motorcycled through Laos, visited Easter Island, tried to interview a dissident in Burma that was under house arrest.
On a Ski doo once, he crossed the Thailand boarder and was chased out by a gun boat.
Joseph visited all the other countries of South East Asia, if he was allowed in, he went there.
Joseph modeled the Good Samaritan, equal to the story in the bible.
His friends nicknamed him, " The Connector ".
Joseph loved everyone.
He Said the Our Father every day.
Now at 45 ,he is going on his greatest adventure ever, meeting his Holy Father in Heaven.