Joseph Palak

Joseph (Joe) Palak, age 71, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2017 at his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was born on December 13, 1945 in Czechoslovakia to Abraham and Ida Polak (Holocaust survivors). Joe grew up in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Riverside High School. After high school he joined the Army and was part of the 101st Airborne Division. Joe worked as an artist for many years in the state of Florida. He hand painted murals around the state both for local businesses and in private residences. Some of his latest work can be seen at "A Touch of Brooklyn Pizzeria", in Ft. Pierce, Florida where he was thought of by the owners and employees as one of the family. Joe was preceded in death by his parents Abraham and Ida Polak, and his uncle Bernard Meizlik. Joe is survived by his ex-wife Andrea Borel of St. Petersburg, Florida; son, Jason Palak of Alexandria, Virginia and daughter Rebecca (Ryan) Sobel of Herndon, Virginia; sister Nancy Polak Macoff of Fairfax, Virginia; aunt Eva Meizlik of Buffalo, New York; grandchildren Kaitlyn and Kylie Sobel; step-children Gerard Lima Borel, Emmanuelle Xaysombath and Michelle Hont; and his nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. The family will hold a private celebration of Joe's life in both St. Petersburg, Florida and in Herndon, Virginia. Arrangements are being handled by, A Life Tribute Funeral Care, in Tampa Florida. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to Little Hearts P.O. Box 171,Cromwell, CT 06416, www.littlehearts.org or to the American Heart Association https://donatenow.heart.org/