Joe Gregorio was born in 1929, on the cusp of the Great Depression. His father abandoned their small family before Joe was born, and his mother passed away due to tuberculosis not long after his birth. Gregorio and his brother then became charges of the State of New York and spent their childhood and adolescence in a series of foster homes, which brought Gregorio life-changing experiences, to say the least. In his autobiography, "My Life," Joe Gregorio presents his times of overwhelming difficulty as well as his victories, his darkest despair as well as the guiding lights who led him into a plentiful life.
Gregorio's path took him from orphanages to service in the Korean War-resulting in severe panic attacks. After his time in the military, he continued to lead a life that valued hard work as well as deep connections to family and friends. Tortuous as it seemed at times, his path was aided by a number of people who shared with him mutual appreciation, love, and spirit.
Our present days of strained economic times bear great similarity to the early 1930s, and Gregorio's story of hope and faith can, in turn, be a guiding light for all of us as we move into the future.