APCO member Joseph Robert Gately of Hampton Roads, Virginia, passed away April 24.
Born in 1950, he graduated from Peninsula Catholic High School in Newport News and then spent more than 54 years in the communications and technology industry, starting with Gately Communications as president then later as chairman of the Board. Gately Recently worked with Mobile Communications America handing federal sales, engineering, design and implementation of naval ship communications systems and as business development manager and VA federal government director.
“Joe served as the Commercial Chapter Advisor Member with APCO-VA. He participated in the APCO-Virginia events with such generosity,” said Virginia APCO President Sonny Saxton. “A quintessential giant teddy bear is best to describe him with the biggest heart and that signature contagious smile. He made an impact on many of our lives with APCO. He will be forever missed.”
The family will receive visitors at Peninsula Baptist Church, 2605 Cunningham Dr. in Hampton on May 5 from 5-7 p.m. followed by a funeral mass at St. Joseph’s Church on May 6 at 2 p.m. He is survived by his wife Eileen Agud Gately and children Katie Gately and Joseph David Gately. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Peninsula Catholic High School. A full obituary can be found here.
