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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Joseph Francesco Aceto
Joseph Francesco
Aceto
Dec 16, 1957 — Aug 11, 2026
Kennett Square, PA
Joseph Francesco Aceto's Obituary
- Joseph Francesco Aceto, 68, of Kennett Square, PA, passed away at his home on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Helen Wheeler Aceto with whom he shared 37 years of marriage. Born in Darby, PA he was the son of the late Francesco "Frank" Aceto and Maria “Mary” Amatucci Aceto.
- Joe and his family were for many years resident in Havertown, Delaware County. He attended Haverford High School where he was a keen sportsman playing both football and lacrosse. However, his greater passion was school and learning, he continued the latter lifelong beginning that journey at Bloomsburg University where, in addition to playing lacrosse, he successfully completed B.S. degrees in Biology and Mathematics.
- After Bloomsburg he returned home to Havertown where his interest in science and discovery led him to Drexel University and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering & Science. Teachers at Drexel encouraged him to enter a Ph.D. research program in the Department of Pharmacology at Temple University School of Medicine; it was at in the library at Temple that he and Helen first met in March 1986.
- After completing his Ph.D. in cardiovascular research in 1987, Joe continued in basic biomedical research for almost 15 years; first at Geisinger Clinic, Weis Center for Cardiovascular Research in Danville PA, followed by Hoffman-La Roche, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology in Nutley New Jersey, and then the University of Pennsylvania.
- In 1997, without abandoning his love for scientific research and discovery, Joe undertook a change in career direction whereby he might use his expertise to support others in research endeavors. He therefore began pursuing a law degree; attending Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, DE at night and weekends. Coincidentally, Helen had just completed a career switch of her own from basic scientist to veterinarian graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, a change wholeheartedly supported in every way by Joe.
- Joe obtained his J.D. in 2001, sitting for both the general and patent bars. In 2002 he left the lab behind and became Counsel & Director of Intellectual Property at Immunicon Corp., a publicly traded, start-up biotechnology and medical device company based in Huntingdon Valley, PA with operations in the United States and Europe.
- After spending six years with Immunicon, and many years of long commutes before that, in 2008 Joe determined to develop a solo practice. He spent the last 18 years as a self-employed Intellectual Property Attorney where his major commute was to his office upstairs; with occasional trips into Philadelphia to Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell and Hippel LLP where he was of counsel for the last 16 years, or elsewhere to meet with his clients.
- Although he continued to specialize in patent protection and research development issues for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology, Joe loved his work and as a solo practitioner willingly helped clients with all manner of patents, trademarks and
- copyrights from dog toys to church matters.
- Spending more time at home with Helen was his other love. No matter where they lived, even in an apartment early in their married life, they always had little, or sometimes not so little, projects on the go, in the pipeline, or as the kernel of an idea; whether it involved construction, sausage and cheese making, adventures in baking, or anything else, they aways did everything together. In their current home they planned and, with a great deal of wonderful help, completed many renovations looking forward to a happy retirement. In addition to home renovations or projects large and small, Joe enjoyed caring for his yard and barn, working in their gardens and helping preserve the harvest from their extensive vegetable garden. He was particularly fond of anything that involved using his tractor plus or minus its front loader and/or backhoe. His interest in learning and discovery extended beyond science to the culinary, he always had fun looking for interesting recipes and preparing them…a science experiment in the kitchen or on the barbecue. He was even more active searching for and preparing recipes over the last year or more while the house was undergoing major renovations and temporary kitchen accommodations increased the need for creative, tasty, simplicity!
- In addition to his wife, he is survived by two brothers; Michael Aceto and partner Karen Tate, Frank Aceto and wife Linda and their children; Michael and wife Erin Chance, Elyse and husband Greg Stephens and their children Rose, Luke and June; and one sister Angelina Lamparski and husband Ted and their children; Marissa and husband Pat Murphy, Teddy and wife Cabrey and their children Quinn and Maryn. He is also survived by his cousin Anne Marie Amatucci and her partner Dave Dartnell.
- A Mass Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 10:30am at the St. Malachi Chapel, 76 St. Malachi Road, Cochranville, PA, 19330, followed by an interment in the adjoining cemetery. Family and friends are also invited to attend the visitation at the Chapel from 9:30am until the time of service.
- In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association by clicking HERE or it's subsidiary organization the American Stroke Association by clicking HERE.
- Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg.
- Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com
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Funeral Services for Joseph Francesco Aceto
Visitation
August
28
Friday
St. Malachi Chapel
9:30 - 10:30 am (Eastern time)
Mass
August
28
Friday
St. Malachi Chapel
Starts at 10:30 am (Eastern time)
Interment
August
28
Friday
Saint Malachi Church Cemetery
11:30 am - 12:30 pm (Eastern time)
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