Joseph Moretto, 76, owned Pipe Shop

ROBERT MORETTO can't stop talking about what a great dad he had.

Get him started and he can go on and on about his father, Joseph P. Moretto Sr. Both his parents, in fact, whom he obviously idolized.

"I feel so blessed at having such awesome parents," he said. "I tell my friends that I was so fortunate.

"He was the best dad. He was always there for you, whatever you needed, anything you wanted. I feel so fortunate that I come from the background I did."

Joseph Moretto, longtime owner of the Pipe Shop, popular tobacco and magazine business at 23 Garrett Road, Upper Darby, and devoted husband, father and grandfather, died Thursday. He was 76 and lived in Havertown.

Joe and his wife, the former Loretta R. Bellino, were high school sweethearts and married shortly after graduating from the former St. Thomas More High School.

"They were bound together," Robert said. "They were devoted to each other the whole 54 years they were married."

The family had a summer home on Mystic Island, N.J., for 30 years. They had a 27-foot pleasure boat, and Joe enjoyed boating and fishing with family members.

He also liked to trek off to the woods of Columbia County, Pa., to go deer hunting every season.

"He got a deer every year," his son said.

His prize was an 8-point buck, which is mounted in the house.

Joe was born in Philadelphia to the late Domenic Moretto and the former Scholista Virgilli. He grew up in the 64th and Race streets neighborhood of West Philadelphia and attended St. Donato Parochial School. He graduated from St. Thomas More in 1950.

He worked at the old Baldwin Locomotive Works, then drove for Amoroso Bakery until 1969. After working several years for the James V. Bellino furniture store, started by his father-in-law at 62nd and Market streets, he purchased the Pipe Shop. He ran it until 2004.

Joe was an avid Eagles fan and often took the family to games.

Besides his wife and son, he is survived by two other sons, Joseph P. and Michael A.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services: Funeral Mass noon tomorrow at St. Dorothy Church, Township Line and Burmont roads, Drexel Hill. Friends may call at 7 tonight at the Robert L. D'Anjolell Memorial Home of Broomall, 2811 West Chester Pike, Broomall, and at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church. *