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Family and colleagues remember Canfield tax atty
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: March 23, 2017
A professional attorney admired and respected by colleagues and judges alike, who always made time for his family—that’s how Canfield lawyer Joseph D. DeSanto is being remembered by those closest to him.
The longtime tax and probate attorney passed away on Feb. 25 at his winter home in New Smyrna Beach, Florida at the age of 90.
“My father was the hardest working person I’ve ever known,” said his son and law partner Donald DeSanto. “He instilled a solid work ethic in me and inspired me to become an attorney.”
Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas Judge R. Scott Krichbaum, who delivered DeSanto’s eulogy, said he was “as fine a man as I’ve ever known. He was a teacher, a mentor and someone who set a great example for all of us in the legal profession.”
Born in Campbell on March 21, 1926 to Anthony and Jenny DeSanto, he was the second youngest of their seven children.
DeSanto graduated from Campbell Memorial High School. It was during high school that he met his longtime wife Esther, whom he married in 1949.
They have two children, Donald and Debbie. Their daughter is an attorney at DeSanto & McNichols in Columbus.
“My dad was my mentor, but he was much more than a lawyer,” said McNichols. “He was also my best friend. He was always generous and kind. My brother and I could go to him with any issue or problem and he was there for us.
“He never pushed us to become lawyers,” she said. “All he asked was that we work hard and give our all in whatever career we chose.”
DeSanto served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his bravery and the injuries he sustained in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
After his discharge, DeSanto enrolled in Youngstown State University, where he also played football. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting.
DeSanto, who lived in Poland for about 60 years, began working in the Youngstown office of the Internal Revenue Service right after college.
“He was part of the excise tax division for 32 years,” said his son Donald. “Part of his job entailed traveling around the country and instructing other agents.”
While working for the IRS, he also secured his juris doctor from The University of Akron School of Law.
In 1981, DeSanto and his son Donald opened the DeSanto Law Firm in Canfield, where the two worked together until his recent passing.
A member of The Mahoning County Bar Association for 49 years, DeSanto served as secretary treasurer of the organization for many years. He was also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.
In 2006, he received the Professionalism Award from The Mahoning County Bar Association.
“My father was a lawyer’s lawyer,” said the younger DeSanto. “He was a gentleman at all times, as courteous to opposing counsel as he was to clients. He was dedicated and driven and extremely fair.”
His daughter said DeSanto “truly loved the law. He liked talking about it and discussing cases. He was a student of the law until his dying day.
“Any time I had a question my first call would always be to my father.”
Judge Krichbaum said DeSanto always made himself available to any attorney who had a question about tax or probate law.
“He was very patient and generous with his time,” said Judge Krichbaum. “He and I became close personal friends. He was a member of our Tuesday lunch group. A number of us meet and go to different restaurants in the area each Tuesday.
“The Tuesday lunch group was started by Judge John Leskovyansky some 30 to 40 years ago and has been maintained after his death by Joe DeSanto, Dan Rossi, Jim Messenger, Don Leone, Gene Butch and me. I make the lunch arrangements each week.
“There is conversation and debate about current affairs at each of our luncheons, and although spirited at times, it is always congenial,” said Judge Krichbaum. “That is something Joe Desanto always insisted upon, and provided a great example for us to follow.
“We also spent a lot of time talking about family and friends. Joe was very proud of his family and his friendships.”
Judge Krichbaum said the two went through a lot over the years. “We’ve dined together, worked together, socialized and grieved over the loss of some of our mutual friends. We’ve also had some friendly political debates as he was decidedly Democratic and I am Republican.
“He was a very special man,” said Judge Krichbaum. “It was a great pleasure to have known him.”
Outside of the legal field, DeSanto was a founding member of the Southwestern Development Company, along with his wife Esther, who passed away in 1995. He also belonged to the St. Lucy Catholic Church in Campbell.
“My father maintained the residential real estate that he owned until the day he died,” said his son. “Growing up my sister and I both worked with my parents, helping with the properties.
“He spent as much time with us as he could,” he said. “I can remember a number of fishing trips and spending time together as a family at a cabin my grandparents owned in Tionesta, Pennsylvania.”
“My father and I were very close until the day he passed away,” said McNichols. “We talked several times a day, spent every single holiday together and took vacations together.
“As much as he loved the law, he was always a father first.”
DeSanto was laid to rest on March 4 at Poland Riverside Cemetery.
He’s survived by his children Donald (Jeanne) DeSanto of Canfield and Debra (David) McNichols of Columbus; grandchildren Dr. Donald J. DeSanto, Marisa J. DeSanto, Matthew R. DeSanto and Dean J. DeSanto as well as many nieces and nephews.
DeSanto was preceded in death by his parents Anthony and Jenny DeSanto; his wife Esther; brothers Nick, Michael and Anthony and sisters Antoinette, Mary and Margaret.