Joseph Peter Martori was born on August 19, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph and Teresa Martori. He has two brothers Frank and Jerry as well as one sister named Catherine. Joe attended New York University and received his Bachelors of Science degree in 1963, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He also received an M.B.A degree in Finance from New York University in 1968. Later, Joe attended Notre Dame Law School earning his law degree and graduating first in class in 1967. Joe was a prestigious Attorney in Arizona practicing at various law firms and even serving as a founding member of Martori, Meyer, Hendricks and Victor. In addition to his career as a Lawyer, Joe was the founder and director of First Metropolitan Bank and served for ten years as Vice Consul of the Republic of Italy for the State of Arizona. Joe was also the Chairman, President and CEO of ILX Incorporated, an international travel and leisure company on the American Stock Exchange. Joe’s passion was giving to others and he took pride participating in various charities including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix where he served as a member of the Corporate Board of Directors. Joe authored the Novel Street Fights which was published in 1987. To know Joe was to love him and he left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His smile and presence will be missed by many. Joe is survived by his wife Mia, son Joseph, two daughters Christina and Arianne, sister Catherine, brother Frank as well as his four grandchildren Joseph, Dominick, Albert and Tiernan. Joe passed away surrounded by loved ones on December 9, 2018. There will be a celebration of life scheduled for Joe in January. In lieu of flowers, Joe would love a donation be made in his honor to Best Friends Animal Society at bestfriends.org or Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix. Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com.
David G. Kamm
I hadn’t seen Joe since law school but I remember him to be a driven yet pleasant man…a rare combination. My sympathy to you, his family.
Joseph John Gownaris
The world will miss you Joe. You gave me so much and I will honor you. I wish I had given you more.
You were a great man among men.
Sympathy and wishes to your family
Joe Gownaris
Dr. Robert K. O'Leary
I will always remember Joe and his good friend Brendan McCrane who were two of the bright lights in my 1958 -1960’s years at Notre Dame. Now is the time for all who knew them to remember that we do not have deceased love ones but that they have only been drawn away from us by the infinite attractiveness of God who is to be loved above all things – and even more than ourselves.
PEACE BE WITH YOU JOE AND TO YOUR FAMILY.
John Schirano
Joe was a dear friend to my father and our entire family. They met on the train to South Bend from New York and were lifelong buddies. I will always remember dinners at Yesterday’s with Joe. A great Notre Dame man, he will be missed.
Richard J. Trujillo
I met Joe freshman year ; i thought he had a strange accent and he thought i was from Hawaii . Fast forward 8-9 years and i am interviewing for a job at THE Snell & Wilmer law firm in Phoenix Az (my home town) and as i am being introduced to associates , coming down the hall is Joe Martori .
Mia , Little Joe and Martori family , that chance meeting was one of the luckiest in my life . Aside from being a scholar, he was a true gentleman and one of the most generous to all who knew him . He loved his family and NOTRE DAME . Que Dios te Bendiga Amigo mio !
Sharon Seivert
So sorry to hear of Joe’s passing. God bless you all.
The Danny T Seivert family
Deno R Marino
Joe was one of my closest friends in freshman year and we kept up our relationship life long. I truly admire and love Joe. My condolences to all the family. He will be truly missed by many of us. God Bless Joe.
Joe Leonetti
My good friend and mentor, I will always remember you and treasure the years I spent with you – you were truly a great man – my sincere condolences to Mia, Joe, and the entire family.
Mary Mal
My heart breaks to hear of Joe’s passing. I worked for ILX (Los Abrigados) for 20 years and know Joe as a man who always would stop by the shop to say hello and always had time to listen to his employees. He loved people and cared deeply. A community minded gentleman who helped make Sedona AZ the thriving vacation town that it is today. His vision of Red Rock Fantasy opened op the slow winter times for vacationers.
Mia, know that I am here, as always, for you if you need anything. Know that he will be greatly missed.
Gordie Wren
My condolences to the Martori family. I loved Joe’s passion for the Notre Dame football team and had the pleasure of attending a game in South Bend with him. May you be comforted by all the wonderful memories.
Carol Peters
To the Family of Joe Martori, my sincere condolences. Joe was a gentleman, a brilliant man, a visionary and a friend. He had charisma, charm and CLASS! You knew it when Joe entered a room. I am forever thankful and feel truly blessed that I had the opportunity to know Joe Martori. He was always moving forward and his ideas were creative and truly fasinating and always made me think. I learned something everytime I got the chance to talk to him. What a great man!
May he rest in peace. He will truly be missed.
Shirley Willard
For the Joe Martori Family. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity about 15 or so years ago to meet Joe in Sedona through his friends. He was a delight- respectful, so intelligent, witty, giving, caring. People gravitated to him and always learned something if they listened. Mia, I so enjoyed meeting and visiting with you a few times. Joe adored you. I know you must be missing him so much. He was always thinking ahead and visualizing great things. He had such great environmental ideas for development in Sedona. And he was so kind to include so many friends in so many fun things. He successfully created so many good things. He was my friend and I honor him for a life well lived. Rest in peace Joe.
Joseph Assante
Love ya grandpa