Joseph Arico

Joseph Arico, age 74 of Farragut, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Saturday June 12, 2010 after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was a founding member of Saint John Neumann Catholic Church. Joe was born December 8, 1935 in Rome, Italy. Fleeing the troubles of war-torn Europe, he immigrated to the United States with his mother Virginia in 1949 initially living in New York then moving to Chicago where he grew up, went to school, and joined the United States Army. While serving his country he met the love of his life, Mabel Nevon Bishop, in Baltimore, Maryland. They married in Baltimore on December 21, 1957 and settled in the West side of Chicago after Joe completed his tour of duty. While in the army Joe learned engineering drafting, and he entered the engineering workforce in Chicago with the Navy Department and the firm of HW Lochner. Joe always loved the restaurant business and while in Chicago he formed a partnership with friends and opened Italia Pizzeria on the South Side of Chicago. The 1960s saw Chicago torn by civil unrest and Joe sought a better life for his family once again and moved to Tennessee. The family initially settled in Newport where Mabel had family. Once again Joe invested in a restaurant and for two years operated the Holiday Inn restaurant in downtown Newport. During this time Joe continued his engineering career joining Barge Wagner Sumner & Cannon in Knoxville and then TVA. In 1973 Joe moved the family to Farragut to be closer to work. He again sought out a restaurant to invest in. This time he bought his own business, Dender’s Drive In at Dixie Lee Junction. He quickly went about changing the business to a Chicago Style Pizzeria. It was here in 1974 that his business legacy was founded. Little Joe’s Pizza has been a part of the Farragut community for over 37 years. Joe not only introduced pizza to much of West Knoxville, he used Little Joe’s as a platform to help young people pointing many of them toward a career in engineering. All four of his children earned Civil Engineering degrees from the University of Tennessee while working for the family business. Several other employees worked their way through engineering school at Little Joe’s including son-in-law, Travis Presley. Joe also supported the community as a regular participant in such events as A Taste of Farragut and too many school, church, scouting and community fundraisers to mention. His life revolved around his family and he will always be remembered by his grandchildren for the great beach vacations hosted by Grandpa and Grandma. Preceded in death by his mother Virginia Arico and son Joseph Anthony Arico. Survived by his wife of fifty two years, Mabel Bishop Arico; son Richard Joseph Arico; daughters Gina Marie Inklebarger and Laura Lynn Presley; their spouses Randy Inklebarger, Travis Presley, and Andrea Brumante; grandchildren Christopher Inklebarger and his wife Bridget Guerin Inklebarger, Anthony Inklebarger, Aleena Arico, Jacob Presley, and Anna Presley; sister-in-laws, Norma McAlister and husband Gerald, Della Ingrando, Ella Irvine, Meg Chaillow; brother-in-laws, George Bishop and Kenny Bishop; several nieces and nephews. The family would like to express appreciation to Covenant Health Hospice and their kind staff, especially Pat. Memorial donations may be made to the St. John Neumann Catholic Church Building Fund, 645 St. John Court, Farragut, TN 37934.

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Joseph Arico

December 8, 1935 - June 12, 2010