Joseph Edward Gilson, Jr.

Some called him Joe, some called him Mr. Gilson, some called him Mr Joe, some called him Chief, and some called him Chair. We called him Vati. How can we explain 92 years of a life well-lived in just a few short paragraphs?

Joe Gilson embodied the American success story. Born on March 29, 1934 in Camden, NJ, during the Great Depression, he rose from humble beginnings through determination and initiative, and became one of the first in his family to pursue higher education at - and graduate from - St. Francis College (Loretto, PA).  In 1957, Joe answered a call to serve and joined the U.S. Army, where he was selected for intelligence work and sent to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California to study Italian. Life, however, had other plans. Stationed in Germany instead of Italy (!), he met the love of his life—Erika, a Turkish student studying international relations at the University of Heidelberg. Their chance meeting began a remarkable 64-year partnership.

Marriage to a non-U.S. citizen altered Joe’s security clearance and redirected his professional path, but he met that change with characteristic ingenuity. Beginning in the early 1960s, Joe built a career centered on innovation in recycling and resource recovery—transforming pulp into new paper products and furniture, advancing scrap metal recycling, and contributing to early waste-to-energy efforts. One of his proudest professional achievements came in 1987, when, as Co-Board Chair, he oversaw the development of a Wastewater Treatment Plant for Camden County. Joe dedicated decades of service to his community serving on the Cherry Hill Zoning Board, Cherry Hill Ethics Board, the Solid Waste Advisory Council for Camden County. He also served as an elected Fire Commissioner in Cherry Hill, NJ, and he carried this role with pride (and a “FIRE CHIEF” license plate to match). He had a successful real estate career at the Jersey Shore.  He also dedicated many years to the Little Servant Sisters of Immaculate Conception, St Mary’s Nursing Home and St Thomas More Catholic Church in Cherry Hill.

Above all, Joe was a genuinely good person —curious, generous, spiritual and endlessly friendly. He made connections wherever he went, sharing his love of music, offering thoughtful advice, and bringing people together over crab cakes and “Efes Time.”

He leaves behind a large and loving family: his five children—Minka (John), Kurt (May-Britt), Danielle, Joseph (Jeanine), and Mark (Casey); ten grandchildren—Anya, Nica, Spencer, Nhya, Xavi, Roberto, Max, Emma, Rebecca, and Kyleigh; and five great-grandchildren—Judah, Bijan, Elisha, Erik, and Kaes. His legacy lives on in each of them.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be held this summer at the Jersey Shore, a place he loved. “We’ll save a crab cake for you.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Association of Teachers of Turkic Languages in honor of Joe and Erika’s shared commitment to the teaching of Turkish in the United States. https://www.aatturkic.org/donate