Joseph A. “Cowboy Joe” Cesarini, 91, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of June 22, 2016. He was born in Boston, Mass., on Jan. 3, 1925, the son of Galileo “Leo” Joseph and Elizabeth Marie (Petitpas) Pitts Cesarini.

Joseph spent his whole life on the racetrack, starting at an early age stealing away to the fairs in Massachusetts, near his home, learning and honing the craft of a thoroughbred race horse trainer. Joseph had a brief stint in the Army, and then he resumed his love of horses, which took him all over the country. He quickly was nicknamed "Cowboy Joe" by the racing community, a title that stayed with him his entire life. He was well-known as a respected horseman, having won many leading trainer titles throughout the country.

Joseph was a very active person: if not racing, his spare time was spent fishing. He loved fishing in his boat in the Gulf off the coast of Florida. Although he was a much better trainer than fisherman, his love for fishing never wavered.

He trained up until about 10 years ago, when age and health issues prevented him from carrying on. After that, he spent his days living with his son, Mike, and summers visiting with his daughters, Joanne, in West Virginia, and Shannon, in Maine, where he would eat his favorite meal, lobster.

He was predeceased by his mother in 1955; and his father in 1950; and two sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” Beauvais and Mary Ellen Erickson.

Joseph is survived by his sisters, Dorothy McKelvey of Jacksonville, Fla., and Patricia Wingle of Athol Mass., his brother, Leo Cesarini and wife, Betty, of Marshfield, Mass.; his children, Dorry Hummer of Germany, J. Michael Cesarini and his wife, Cathy, of Tennessee, Gerald “Jerry” Cesarini, of West Virginia, Joanne Dillow of West Virginia, Shannon Butler and her husband, Rick, of Warren, and Joel J. Cesarini of Thomaston; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Cesarini of Pennsylvania, Mary Catherine Benavides of Texas, Nicole Johnson of West Virginia, Thomas Dillow of West Virginia, Cheyenne Cesarini of Warren, Logan Butler of Warren, Sirenna Butler of Warren,Coleby Ridgley of Warren, Xoe Cesarini of Tarpon Springs, Fla., Amber Cesarini of Tarpon Springs, Fla., and Tyler Cesarini of St. Petersburg, Fla.; his great-grandchildren, Justice Kennedy, Lyricq Johnson and Cameron Dillow; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 16, at 10 a.m. at Riposta Funeral Home at 182 Waldo Ave. in Belfast.