Joseph Miceli, 89, a former Marine Corps Band member who went on to be a band instructor for the U.S. Navy School of Music in Washington, D.C., died Monday, Oct. 9, of cancer in his Lake Forest home. Born in Lawrence, Mass., to recent Italian immigrants, Mr. Miceli and his parents returned to Sicily a few years later. When he was about 15, Mr. Miceli made a solo voyage back to America, coming through Ellis Island with about $14 in his pocket, said his daughter Anne Trombino. A musician adept on instruments from the string bass to the tuba, Mr. Miceli joined the U.S. Marines about 1931, becoming a member of the band in Quantico, Va. Mr. Miceli’s musical talents brought him to the U.S. Navy about 1934 as an instructor for a band that traveled the world. Mr. Miceli’s last assignment was at Great Lakes Naval Training Center where he retired in 1953, settling with his family in North Chicago. There he began a business, Joseph Miceli and Sons, that constructed scores of apartment buildings in the area. Mr. Miceli also served for a time as president of the Midwest Contractors Association. Mr. Miceli stayed with his music as choir director at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in North Chicago. Mr. Miceli is survived by his wife, Doris; two sons, Steve and Michael; one brother, Nunzio; and several grandchildren. Services have been held.
