Joseph J. Rakos, 77, of Edison died on September 3, 2010. He was born in Perth Amboy, NJ, on January 5, 1933, and had lived in Edison since 1963. He had also been a resident of Dublin, Ireland, and Arroyo, Puerto Rico.

Mr. Rakos graduated from Perth Amboy VO-Tech in 1951 and was Valedictorian of his class. He attended Rutgers and Seton Hall Universities. He graduated from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio in 1958 with a BS Degree in Engineering Physics. While at Heidelberg, he was a member of the Aptonalton Society and served as President during his senior year. After graduating, he attended NJIT.

He worked for over 45 years as a Project/Construction Manager for the design and construction of pharmaceutical plants for major companies in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Ireland, and Puerto Rico. He was a member of the following professional organizations: ISA, ISPE, and AICHE. He retired from Jacobs Engineering, Kavaner, Inc., and Rakos Associates, his own company.

He was a member of the following organizations: Masons, Military Lodge 728 in Dublin, Ireland; The Elks, Lodge 2116, Woodbridge, NJ; and The Fellows Organization of Heidelberg College. He was a coach in the Clara Barton Little League. He was a member of the YMCA and was President of the Y's Men's Club.

While living in Ireland for over five years, he was a member of the Howth Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir, served as an Elder, and assisted his wife Ida Mae in preparing her wonderful cooking for many church dinners.

A former member of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Perth Amboy where he served as a Deacon, sang in the choir, was a member of the Boy Scouts becoming a Life Scout. He was also the recipient of the General Eisenhower Award.

A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy, he served as Trustee, Elder, a member of the choir, actice in the Boy Scouts and coach of the church basketball team. He was a member and Project Manager of the Church Restoration Committee.

He was predeceased by his mother, Helen Sivak Rakos, his father, Joseph Rakos, his step-mother, Adele Lovi Rakos and his wife, Ida Mae Jensen Rakos "HIS FUNNY VALENTINE," whom his married on August 25, 1956.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Lawrence J. and Katie Kearns Rakos of Millington, Dr. Ronald Rakos and Dr. Judith Figlo of Neshanic Station, and Glenn and Courtney Rakos of Tampa, FL, and his daughter and son-in-law, Lynn Rakos and Jeffrey Fry of Brooklyn, NY. Also surviving are his grandchildren: Ruby Kearns Rakos, Russell Joseph Rakos, James Richard Fry, and Katherine Barbara Fry; and his sister-in-law, Edith Bulinski of Lewes, DE. He is also survived by an uncle, John Rakos, and an aunt, Helen Dudash.

Funeral service will be Thursday at 9:30 am from the FLYNN AND SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Ford Avenue, Fords, NJ 08863, followed by service at the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy at 10:00 am. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Hopelawn.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Restoration Fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy.