Joseph was born in Kerala, India in 1930, the second of three brothers and one sister. His hard work and ambition led to a Fulbright Scholarship at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana where he pursued his Ph.D. in Chemistry. In 1963 he immigrated to Canada where he continued his research as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Montreal. On Feb 21, 1966, Joseph married Ann Cheruvellathu in Kerala. His son Thomas and daughter Tina were born in Montreal in 1968 and 1974, respectively. In 1970, Joseph took a position at CEGEP St-Laurent as a chemistry professor where he taught until his retirement in 1996.

Joseph loved being outdoors and travelling. Summer vacations were often at the family’s summer house in the Laurentians, where he’d be busy clearing brush, landscaping and swimming. Other fond memories include long road trips throughout most of the US and Canada.

His interests were broad. He was always curious about other countries and cultures, and his bookshelf was lined with phrase books and dictionaries of other languages beyond English, French and Malayalam. Joseph would frequently surprise new acquaintances with a few phrases in their language and his knowledge about their country. His other love was music, from Broadway to Hindi musicals, and both Indian and Western classical music. He loved to entertain children playing the flute. After his retirement, he taught himself to play piano.

Joseph was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2002. The symptoms were gradual but they increasingly limited his activities. The last few years were difficult as his ability to express his humour, curiosity and intelligence were hindered by fatigue and the side effects of the treatments. We treasured the moments his true spirit broke through physical limitations.

He passed away peacefully on February 13, 2011 but will continue to be an inspiration to his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Ann, his sister Mary, his two children, and two granddaughters. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Parkinson Society Canada, in his name.