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LUCIANA JOSEPH L., JR. Age 94, of Oakmont, Pennsylvania was a man of class, grace, wisdom, professionalism, compassion generosity, responsibility, integrity and devotion to God, family and community. Joe passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Thursday, July 26, 2018, while sitting in one of his favorite chairs in the living room of the home he loved and lived in for almost 60 years. Born on April 17, 1924, he grew up on Valley Street in Oakmont, the oldest son of Joseph and Carolyn (Von Steirheim) Luciana. His father was an Italian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island in the early 1900s and became a naturalized citizen in the 1920s. Joe and his family, including his two younger sisters, Dorothy (Luciana) Slagle and Joanie (Luciana) Gorman, lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s, sometimes cooking their meals outdoors over a fire along nearby Plum Creek. Joe was an excellent student, won the American Legion Award in 1938 and graduated from Oakmont High School in 1942. Shortly after starting college at the University of Pittsburgh the call to World War II came and Joe enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Following successful completion of flight school, he completed his tour of duty in New Guinea from June 1944 to June 1945 as a pilot supporting the United States war effort in the South Pacific. Joe returned to the United States, hitch hiked across the country with his best friend and fellow veteran WWII pilot, Thomas Hill, and then resumed college at the University of Pittsburgh under the GI bill. While in college, Joe renewed his acquaintance with June (Hulings) Luciana, the fine freshman as he wrote in her Oakmont High School yearbook years earlier. They were married on December 1, 1949. Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English on February 3, 1950 followed shortly by a Bachelor of Laws degree on June 13, 1951 (later recognized by the University as a Juris Doctor degree). He served his one-year preceptorship with a large law firm in Pittsburgh, passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on April 17, 1952. Joe practiced law for the next 66 years and distinguished himself in the areas of real estate, title insurance, estate administration and general practice. In addition to his legal training and career, Joe graduated from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree on May 7, 1968 and served as interim pastor in Presbyterian and Baptist churches in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. He also frequently spoke on the Exodus tabernacle using a scale model he built himself. As a member of the Allegheny Center Christian & Missionary Alliance Church on the North Side of Pittsburgh he taught adult Sunday school and ushered for many years. Joe served on the Board of Directors of Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a Christian youth ministry on the North Side of Pittsburgh, and the Board of Directors of Jewish Evangelism. Joe loved to travel, read his Bible, play bocce, golf and backyard sports like whiffle ball and touch football with his own and neighborhood kids. He also loved to write poems and frequently composed them for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. However, he most enjoyed spending time with his wife, kids and grandkids and was a great husband, father and grandfather! Joe is survived by his wife, June (Hulings) Luciana, his children, Joseph Luciana, III (Audrey), Richard Luciana (longtime friend Patty Kasper), Jeffrey Luciana and his grandchildren, Joey IV and Jeana Luciana. Family will receive friends on Sunday, July 29, 2018, from 2-4, 6-8 p.m. and Monday, July 30, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION & ALTERNATIVE SERVICES INC., 421 Allegheny Avenue, Oakmont, PA 15139. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Everyone meet at the church on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at Riverside Community Church, 401 Allegheny Avenue, Oakmont, PA, 15139. Memorial contributions may be made to Allegheny Center Alliance Church, 250 East Ohio Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Send condolences post-gazette.com/gb
