Dr. Joseph Charles Menendez
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 20 Sep 1894 - New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Christening:
Death: 28 Oct 1985 - New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Burial: 30 Oct 1985 - Lake Lawn Mausoleum, Metairie, Jefferson, LA, USA
Cause of Death:
Spouses and Children
1. *Lena Marie Vaccaro
Marriage: Oct 1919 - Sacred Heart Church, New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Children:
1. Charles Vaccaro Menendez
Notes
General:
Per 1920 US Census: 1/3/1920 117 Clark St, 4th Ward, New Orleans, Orleans, LouisianaMarriage Notes (Lena Marie Vaccaro)
Stephen Vaccaro is the 41 year old white male head of household, who rents his home. Born in Louisiana, his parents in Italy, Stephen works as a fruit merchant. His wife is 39 year old Lena Vaccaro, also born in Louisiana to Italian parents. Living with them is 20 year old daughter, Lena Menendez, and her husband, 25 year old Joseph Menendez. Lena was born in Louisiana. Her husband was born in Louisiana, his father in Spain and his mother in Louisiana. Joseph is employed as a doctor.
Per Article in the Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) October 24, 1939 Page 2
MENENDEZ WILL SEEK OFFICE AS SECOND TO CHIEF
Veterans' National Leader Announces for Lieutenant -Governorship
Dr. Joseph C. Menendez, senior vice-commander-in-chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and honorary president of Unione Italiana, announced Monday his candidacy for lieutenant -governor of Louisiana.
Dr. Menendez will run on the ticket of State Senator James A. Noe, gubernatorial candidate. Senator Noe announced Monday that he and Dr. Menendez will be the only two running for state offices on his ticket, although candidacy of Eugene Stanley for attorney- general has been endorsed.
Dr. Menendez was born in New Orleans on September 20, 1894. He is an honor graduate of Tulane university and holds membership in the Stars and Bars, honorary scholastic medical society.
Shortly after his graduation from Tulane in 1917, he entered the United States Army Medical Corps, in which he was commissioned as a first lieutenant. He saw active service during the World war as surgeon in charge of the Italian field hospital at Velaggio, Italy.
His military honors include the victory medal, two bars; the Italian war cross of merit, the Vittorio Veneto cross of a Chevalier of the Royal Crown of Italy, and the Italian campaign medal.
After being demobilized, Dr. Menendez married Lena Marie Vaccaro on October 11, 1919. He is the father of Charles, Marie Antoinette, Mary Elizabeth, and Chalita Menendez.
Dr. Menendez has been especially active in the affairs of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was instrumental in the creation by legislative act of the Veterans of Foreign Wars service commission in 1938. He was elected junior vice -commander last month.
He also holds membership in the Young Men's Business Club, the New Orleans Association of Commerce, the Lions' Club, the Orleans Parish Medical Society and the Louisiana State Medical Society. He was named honorary president of Unione Italiana for life.
Per Article in the Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA) August 22, 1941 Page 6
DR J. C. MENENDEZ CHOSEN DEFENSE DIRECTOR IN AREA
Will Take Over Post When He retires as Head of V. F. W.
Dr. Joseph C. Menendez, New Orleans retiring commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be director of civilian defense in the Fourth Corps area. Mayor H. La Guardia of New York, national director of civilian defense, announced Thursday in Washington.
The appointment was approved by President Roosevelt.
Dr. Menendez is scheduled to assume his duties with headquarters at Atlanta, after retiring on August 28 from his Veterans of Foreign Wars post at the Philadelphia convention.
He conferred with Mayor La Guardia Thursday afternoon, and the appointment was announced shortly afterwards.
A native of New Orleans, he was born September 20, 1894, and attended the Farrell Boys' school, later being graduated in medicine from Tulane university in 1917.
He enlisted in the army in 1918, and was commissioned as first lieutenant in the Medical Corps and as surgeon with the Fourth Battalion, Second Regiment at Camp Jackson, S. C.
Dr. Menendez was attached to the Italian field hospital at Vicenza, Italy, during the war, and served as medical officer at Velaggio. After the armistice, he was named welfare officer, and was decorated by the Italian government.
His honors include the cross of chevalier of the royal crown of Italy, the Italian war cross for merit, the Vittorio Veneto cross, and the Italian Campagne medal for war zone service.
He and Mrs. Menendez, the former Miss Lena Marie Vaccaro, have four children, Charles, Marie Antoinette, Mary Elizabeth and Chalita. They reside at 6878 Canal Boulevard.
Per Times-Picayune October 19, 1941 Page 1
Dr Joseph C. Menendez Puts Name in Candidacy for Commission Council
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Aside from being a physician and surgeon, Dr. Menendez is a registered pharmacist. As a young man he worked in a drug store as porter, errand boy and clerk. After four years he had acquired suffcient knowledge of pharmacy to pass the examination of the Louisiana state board of pharmacy examiners.
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In 1920, Dr. Menendez and another physician organized the St. Rita's Surgical Infirmary here, which was responsible for the Sisters of Mercy working in New Orleans and operating the Mercy hospital.
He was instructor in surgery in the Loyola university post-graduate school of medicine from 1919 to 1924 and served as visiting surgeon at Charity hospital from 1921 to 1933. He is senior visiting surgeon at Hotel Dieu and associate visiting surgeon at Touro Infirmary.
He is the medical director of the Standard Fruit & Steamship Company, house physician and surgeon for The Roosevelt and the Hotel New Orleans, and also operates a private diagnostic and surgical clinic.
Per Obituary in the Times-Picayune October 29, 1985 Page 78
MENENDEZ
Dr. Joseph C. Menendez, on Monday, October 28, 1985 at 2:50 o'clock a.m. Beloved husband of Marie Cushman Menendez and the late Lena Vaccaro Menendez. Father of Mrs. Charles C. Armbruster, Mrs. Arthur W. Hursey, Mrs. John J. Baehr, Jr. and the late Dr Charles V. Menendez. Stepfather of Mrs. Howard Byrne and John Crusoe. Son of the late Marie Louise Menendez and Antonio A. Menendez. Brother of Mrs. Pauline M. Salzer, Mrs. Velma M. Haydel, Alice M. Menendez and the late Dr. Anthony M. and Louis R. Menendez and Mrs. Anita M. Sierra, also survived by 19 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Age 91 years. A native of New Orleans, La.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the chapel of Jacob Schoen & Son, Inc., 3827 Canal Street at North Scott, on Wednesday, October 30, 1985 at 11:15 o'clock a.m. Interment in Lake Lawn Mausoleum. A parishioner of St. Pius X Catholic Church.
Friends may call between 7 and 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
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Per New Orleans States October 18, 1919 Page 7
Dr. Joseph C. Menendez and Miss Lena Marie Vaccaro were quietly married Saturday morning, October 11, at the Sacred Heart Church in Canal street. Rev. Father J. J. O'Rourke officiating.
Per New Orleans marriage index:
October 1919
Bride: VACCARO, LENA MARIE
Groom: MENENDEZ, JOSEPH CHARLES
Orleans parish Page: 270 Volume: 43