11/08/2025
Joseph Patrick Acri, 77, passed away unexpectedly on November 3, 2025, at his home in Enola, PA. He was born on September 27, 1948, at Harrisburg Hospital, Harrisburg, PA and was the son of the late Ovidio Acri of Enola and Edith Sullivan Acri formerly of Camden, NJ. Joe was the loving husband of Rita Passalacqua Acri formerly of Hershey, PA. Together they shared 50 years of marriage and celebrated their Golden Anniversary on January 11, 2025.
Joe attended St. Lawrence Elementary School, K-8 in Harrisburg, PA and graduated from Trinity High School, Camp Hill, PA in their first graduating Class of 1966. After graduation, he entered the United States Air Force and served from 1967-1970. He was assigned to the 303 Munitions Maintenance Squadron in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, 1969-1970, achieving the rank of Sergeant, and was honorably discharged from the service in September of 1970. In Bien Hoa, Joe worked on the Cessna A-37 “Dragonfly” Fighter Support Jet as a weapons specialist/bomb loader on the A-37 B Model which supported ground forces during the Vietnam War.
Upon his return from Military Service, Joe attended Harrisburg Area Community College receiving an Associate in Arts degree, and Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Campus, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. From 1971-1974, he took part-time employment at the Tractor Supply Company and the Camp Hill School District.
From 1974-1979, Joe was a manager responsible for General Operations at the IBM Pennsylvania Employees Federal Credit Union. In 1978, he began attending Saint Francis College in Loretto, PA and graduated in 1981 with his Master of Arts degree in Industrial/Labor Relations and Personnel Administration. In 1978-1980 at Automatic Data Processing, Valley Forge, PA Joe assisted customers in the areas of personnel and unemployment compensation issues.
Joe worked at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, PSBA in New Cumberland, PA from 1980-1997 as Senior Consultant, Management Services. He designed management compensation plans, assisted with personnel related issues, served as chief spokesperson for labor negotiations and advised on contract administration. Joe also designed and implemented compensation programs for administrators that continued to be a major source of non-dues income for PSBA.
In 1997 until his retirement in 2013, Joe was Assistant Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and Secondary School Principals, referred to as the Pennsylvania Principals Association. Joe supervised membership, provided assistance to the members on a variety of legal and operational problems involving school buildings and school districts. He prepared the budget for the Executive Director and Board of Directors, served as their registered lobbyist, and coordinated marketing efforts and membership conferences/functions for the association. Through mail, a web page, broadcast fax and magazines, Joe and his dedicated staff increased member communication.
During his career, Joe was a member of the American Compensation Association, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Society of Association Executives. He was a Certified Compensation Professional from the American Compensation Association and a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) from the Society for Human Resource Management.
After retirement, Joe became an active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 542 at 8000 Derry Street, Harrisburg, PA. As a retired Air Force Vietnam Veteran, he and his fellow veterans kept the Vietnam Veteran History alive as they shared with one another, but most importantly, as they spoke about their experiences in local high schools throughout Central Pennsylvania. Joe was an active member of the Bien Hoa Vietnam Veterans, Bien Hoa Air Base Reunion Group, and traveled across the country to attend reunions yearly. He also was an active member of the Cessna A-37 “Dragonfly” Association composed of members who had any affiliation with the Cessna A-37 Fighter Support Jet. These two groups were instrumental in helping Joe navigate the paperwork to obtain his Veteran Administration, VA Benefits.
Joe was a lifelong member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Enola, PA. He led a life of Service Leadership, improving the lives of others and was devoted to his Family, Friends, State and Country.
Joe was a member of the Enola Sportsman’s Association since 1999 and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Post 7415 in New Cumberland, PA since 1995.
He was an avid Street Rod enthusiast, rebuilding and driving Street Rods which were modified cars and trucks manufactured before 1949. This gave Joe a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Joe is survived by his loving wife, Rita P. Acri of Enola; daughters Joanna M. (Gregory) Burrows of Dillsburg and Jeannine T. (Timothy) Czekaj of Shermans Dale; Grandchildren, Jeffrey J. Czekaj, Joseph W. Burrows, Evan L. Czekaj, Catherine D. Czekaj and Leo J. Burrows; a Sister, Janice (John) Sherer of State College, PA; Brother, James A. Acri of Palm Springs, California; Niece, Anneliese Alexandre of Longmont, CO; and Nephew, John A. Sherer of San Antonio, Texas.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday Evening, November 12, 2025, in the Social Hall of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 225 Salt Road, Enola, PA 17025 from 6 PM to 8:30 PM with Rosary at 5:30 PM beforehand.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. A live stream of the Mass can be viewed on youtube.com at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Enola, PA. Breakfast will be served immediately following the Mass in the Fr. John Acri Parish Center from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
At 1 PM, Family and Friends proceed to Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA 17003 with a 2 PM Burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 542, 8000 Derry Street, Harrisburg, PA 17111.
You may send condolences via the Online Guest Book at: www.sullivanfuneralservices.com
At the family’s request, please provide favorite written memories of Joe for a future Memory Book. You may email them to family members or place your sheet in a marked tray at the breakfast.
The Sullivan Funeral Home is honored to serve the Acri family.
