Joseph H. Blass Jr., 94, award-winning Ferko String Band captain

AT JOSEPH BLASS' funeral, the family got into a discussion about the ranking of his passions.

All agreed that family came first. But after that? There was some disagreement about what was second. The Ferko String Band, of which he was past captain, had to be up there.

But what about his country? Joe was devoted to the country he had served in fire and death on a bombed ship in the South Pacific in World War II.

OK. A compromise was reached. After family, second place in Joe's hierarchy would be divided equally between Ferko and his country,

Joseph H. Blass Jr., award-winning captain of the Ferko String Band, whose idea of a great time was to march with the band on Broad Street in the Mummers Parade, blasting away on his saxophone, General Electric toolmaker for 42 years, Navy veteran of World War II, and devoted family man, died May 13. He was 94 and was living in Havertown, but had lived most of his life in South Philadelphia.

Joe was an aviation machinist mate second-class aboard the USS Ommaney Bay, an escort aircraft carrier that was sunk in the South Pacific by a Japanese suicide bomber on Jan. 4, 1945, with the loss of 92 men and 164 wounded. He was in the water for hours, clinging to a raft, before he and other survivors were picked up by other ships.

The story had to be coaxed out of Joe by family over the years, because, like many World War II combat veterans, he was reluctant to talk about his experiences.

Joe's passion for the Mummers went back to his childhood growing up in South Philadelphia. He would watch the Mummers Parade with a mixture of joy and longing. Someday, he vowed, he would be among the colorful marchers prancing to the stirring music of banjos, saxophones and xylophones.

He marched in his first parade in 1939 with the Woodland String Band, playing banjo. He later switched to the sax.

He married the former Anne M. Pastor on Feb. 24, 1943.

In 1947, Joe and some friends formed their own band, Delaware County String Band, and he served as its captain for four years.

In 1951, he joined Ferko "as a lively young saxophone player, full of life, who enjoyed one of Philadelphia's most cherished traditions," as his family put it.

Joe was elected captain of Ferko in 1968, and won captains' prizes in the parade in 1972, 1974 and 1975. He was the band's captain for 11 years. Even after he was no longer able to march in the parade, Joe remained a band member and attended meetings.

On Jan. 1, 2011, Philadelphia City Council honored Joe with a citation commemorating his 60th anniversary with Ferko.

"This honor was for his outstanding contributions to the great Philadelphia tradition of Mummery, one that enhances the image and uniqueness of Philadelphia, its citizens and its visitors," his family wrote in a tribute.

Joe was born in Philadelphia to Joseph H. Blass Sr. and the former Marian Brendlinger. He attended Overbrook High School.

For years, Joe and his family owned boats on the Chesapeake Bay, and they would spend weekends there, fishing or just cruising around the bay.

"He was a gentleman," said his son, Joseph H. Blass III. "He was the nicest man you would ever want to meet, kind and sweet."

Joe was predeceased by his wife. Besides his son, he is survived by two other sons, Paul and Richard Blass; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services: Were Monday. Burial was in West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd.

Donations in his name may be made to the Mummers Museum, 1100 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia 19147, or Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Sanctuary Guild, 401 Brookline Road, Havertown, Pa., 19083.