Joseph R. Biafora

September 8, 1920 - March 30, 2014

Event.observe(window, 'load', googleTranslateElementInit); function googleTranslateElementInit() { new google.translate.TranslateElement( {pageLanguage: 'en', multilanguagePage: true}, 'google_translate_element'); if (navigator.userAgent && navigator.userAgent.match(/Firefox/)) { // This is a terrible terrible hack, Google Translate blows away the sound on Firefox. // Calling reboot seems to bring it back. soundManager.reboot(); } } Joseph Robert Biafora September 8, 1920 - March 30, 2014 Ft. Lt. Retired Army, San Fernando Valley Attorney, CEO Valley Federal Savings and Loan, Senior Citizen's HUD Builder, World War II Purple Heart Recipient. Retired First Lt. Joseph R. Biafora was a World War II Purple Heart recipient with the U.S. Army. He was a prominent San Fernando Valley, CA, attorney; past San Fernando Valley Bar Association president; and senior citizen housing developer. "Joe" Biafora was an avid West Virginia Mountaineers, Dodgers, Pirates and Steelers fan. He was also an avid golfer. His friends called him "Flipper" because he was a great golf chipper. He graduated from West Virginia University and completed one year of law school when World War II was upon us. He enlisted in the Army and was a First Lieutenant Infantry Officer. He fought in the European Theater and was severely wounded in the Battle of Monte Cassino. In 1944, he was honorably discharged. He married his wife, Stefi Poluck, of Fairmont, whom he met at a USO dance. He came to California to deliver a fallen comrade's letter to his mother and never left. His mother encouraged Joe to finish his law school career at USC, because all of the law schools during the war were closed. He graduated from USC School of Law in 1946. He became one of the first practicing lawyers in Reseda, CA: He has a thriving practice —Biafora and Weiner — and retired in 1994. He was a CEO of Valley Federal and Saving & Loan; president of the Lion's Club; and many organizations. He was a strong suporter of the Wounded Veterans of Foreign Wars. He endowed several scholarships at WVU for sons and daughters of miners, and in the names of his parents, his grandchildren and students of political science. He had several dedicated ... READ MORE →Joseph Robert Biafora September 8, 1920 - March 30, 2014 Ft. Lt. Retired Army, San Fernando Valley Attorney, CEO Valley Federal Savings and Loan, Senior Citizen's HUD Builder, World War II Purple Heart Recipient. Retired First Lt. Joseph R. Biafora was a World War II Purple Heart recipient with the U.S. Army. He was a prominent San Fernando Valley, CA, attorney; past San Fernando Valley Bar Association president; and senior citizen housing developer. "Joe" Biafora was an avid West Virginia Mountaineers, Dodgers, Pirates and Steelers fan. He was also an avid golfer. His friends called him "Flipper" because he was a great golf chipper. He graduated from West Virginia University and completed one year of law school when World War II was upon us. He enlisted in the Army and was a First Lieutenant Infantry Officer. He fought in the European Theater and was severely wounded in the Battle of Monte Cassino. In 1944, he was honorably discharged. He married his wife, Stefi Poluck, of Fairmont, whom he met at a USO dance. He came to California to deliver a fallen comrade's letter to his mother and never left. His mother encouraged Joe to finish his law school career at USC, because all of the law schools during the war were closed. He graduated from USC School of Law in 1946. He became one of the first practicing lawyers in Reseda, CA: He has a thriving practice —Biafora and Weiner — and retired in 1994. He was a CEO of Valley Federal and Saving & Loan; president of the Lion's Club; and many organizations. He was a strong suporter of the Wounded Veterans of Foreign Wars. He endowed several scholarships at WVU for sons and daughters of miners, and in the names of his parents, his grandchildren and students of political science. He had several dedicated friends who remain for life. Joe was a remarkable husband, father, grandfather and uncle. He was a devoted Catholic who loved his parish, Our Lady of Lourdes, in Northridge, CA, and as well as a dedicated patron of his beloved parish. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A viewing and rosary service will be held at Our Lady of Lourde in Northridge, CA, at 6 p.m. Friday. Mass will be held at the parish, at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5. Interment will be at San Fernando Mission Cemetery. A luncheon will be held after at the Odyssey Restaurant, 15600 Odyssey Drive, Granada Hills, CA. BACK TO TOP