Atty Joseph "Joe" Farid Rafidi

Boardman – There will be funeral services held on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, Boardman, with Chorbishop Michael Kail officiating, for Joseph F. Rafidi, 64, who passed peacefully at his Boardman home on December 30, 2017.

Joe was born on April 12, 1953, in Youngstown, a son of Farid J. and Karimeh Rafidi, and was a life-long area resident.  

Joe attended South High School and later Boardman High School where he graduated from in 1971.  He was a lifelong entrepreneur having operated several businesses in the area and was active in politics.  In 1975, Joe became the youngest member elected to the Youngstown Board of Education.  He was also elected as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1976.  Joe returned to school to further his education later in life earning his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Youngstown State University and his Juris Doctorate from Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan.  After law school, Joe returned to home to practice law and operated the Rafidi Law Firm in Youngstown until his retirement in 2009.

 Joe had a clever sense of humor and enjoyed making others laugh.  In his free time, Joe enjoyed reading motivational books and watching epic movies such as the Rocky and Godfather series.  He liked being inspired to do great things. Joe’s life was sound-tracked by feel-good rock n’ roll like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who.  Joe also enjoyed traveling to any place where he could soak up the sun and be near an ocean.  

Joe leaves behind his mother, Karimeh, of Youngstown; his brother Sami Farid Sr. (Rita) of Youngstown; his sisters Joanne (Sami) Halaweh of Orlando, Florida; Nancy (James) King of Orlando, Florida, and Diane Psaras of Jacksonville, Florida. and his four sons, Farid “Fred” J. (Chantal) of Youngstown, Joseph (Katie) of Cleveland, Robert (Elizabeth) of Portland, Oregon, and Michael of Washington, D.C.; his two granddaughters, Emmaline and Savannah, and he was expecting a third grandchild later this month. Joe is also survived by his former spouse, Johanna Macauley, along with many beloved nieces and nephews, and friends who were like family to Joe.  

Joe was predeceased by his father, Farid J. Rafidi.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Monday, January 8, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:55 p.m. at the at the Rossi Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market Street, Boardman (new location).

Burial will take place at Belmont Park Cemetery, Youngstown.

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to view this obituary, sign the guest book or send condolences to the Rafidi family.

 Service Information