Joel Thomas DeLessio, 69, of Portsmouth died Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, at home.  Born November 24, 1943, in Alexandria, Va., he was the son of the late Carmine and Grace (Pellicano) DeLessio.

He was the beloved husband of Dorothy (VanCourt) DeLessio.

Joel worked as a physicist and engineer for most of his life. He was a graduate of the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School in New York with a specialty in aeronautics and received his bachelor of science in physics from Long Island University.

He served in the Peace Corps developing the department of math and science at the secondary school in Serdang, Malaysia. He developed submarine combat systems and acoustic monitoring systems, first for IBM and later for ASC. Joel was a keen marksman and instructor at the Newport Rifle Club and had an avid interest in both photography and astronomy. He was a loving and doting grandfather (Grumpa) and a kind and generous friend who will be missed by all who knew him.

Besides his wife, Joel is survived by his two sons, Michael T. DeLessio and his wife Alison of Jamestown, and Paul V. DeLessio and his wife, Sandra, of San Diego, Calif.; his brother, Noel X. DeLessio and his wife Juyne of Naperville, Ill.; his four grandchildren, Parker, Ryan, Caitlin and Dylan DeLessio, all of Jamestown; and his nephew, Stephen, and niece, Jennifer.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, Jan. 4, from 4-7 p.m. in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan., 5, at 10 a.m. in St. Matthew’s Church, 87 Narragansett Avenue, Jamestown. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

For condolences, or additional information, visit www.memorialfuneralhome.com