Joseph A. Maggio, Jr.

Joseph A. Maggio, Jr., fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, passed away on December 17, 2024. He was the devoted husband of Wilma Gregory Maggio and the cherished son of Joseph A. Maggio, Sr., and Lena D’Amico Maggio, all of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Maria Maggio; his five children, Theresa Brandle (Scott), Bryan Maggio (Heidi), Eric Maggio (Ray), Andrea Powell (John), and Jennifer Blanchard (John); nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Joe was born on May 11, 1933, in Natchitoches, LA. His family moved to Monroe in 1940, where he attended Saint Matthew’s School, graduating in 1951. He earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Mississippi in 1955. During his time at Ole Miss, he served as president of the Phi Delta Chi Pharmacy Fraternity and collaborated with Dr. Milton Peacock to propose the establishment of a Louisiana School of Pharmacy at Northeast Louisiana University (now ULM). Their efforts led to the creation of what is now one of the nation’s top-ranked pharmacy schools.

Joe began his career as a staff pharmacist at St. Francis Medical Center, rising to Chief Pharmacist by 1960. After earning a master’s degree in hospital pharmacy, he was promoted to Assistant Administrator in 1967. During his tenure at St. Francis, Joe made significant contributions to the healthcare field. He was elected president of the Louisiana Hospital Association, served as president of both the North Louisiana Society of Hospital Pharmacists and the Louisiana Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, played a key role in establishing the St. Francis Credit Union, serving as its first president, and helped develop the hospital’s Poison Control and Information Center. He also was instrumental in creating the first dialysis center in Northeast Louisiana.

As chairman of the Monroe Jaycees 1963 anti-polio campaign, Joe organized over 1,000 volunteers to immunize more than 280,000 residents of northeast Louisiana, earning him the title of Monroe’s Outstanding Young Man of the Year in 1964. Over the years, he served three terms on the board of the Jaycees, contributing significantly to community service. He also served on the boards of the Newman Center at ULM and Saint Joseph’s Nursing Home, further exemplifying his dedication to improving the lives of others.

He later worked as Vice President of Professional Services at Glenwood Regional Medical Center, where he oversaw the development of numerous initiatives, including the GRMC Educational Complex, cancer treatment center, CAT scan and MRI expansions, and the Medical Mall and Wellness Center.

In retirement, Joe enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and friends, and relaxing at his home on the Bayou, where he found joy in the simple things of life, having already achieved so many of its remarkable ones. 

His Funeral Mass will be at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church at 11:00am on Saturday January 11th with Reverand Joe Martina and Deacon Scott Brandle officiating.