Joseph Carson
May 11, 1940 - November 21, 2022
Judge Joseph J Carson passed away November 21, 2022, joining his parents Robert James and Leona Blodgett Carson, brother John Carson and many close friends in heaven.
Joe was born, raised, and resided in San Leandro his entire life. At the age of six his father passed away. Joe and his siblings, John and Roberta, grew up in the loving care of their single mother Leona, who opened her home to foster children for several years. Joe’s interest in gardening started with his mother and would become one his life-long passions. Joe also developed a strong work ethic in his youth, working his way through high school, college, and law school in a wide assortment of jobs, including maintenance and custodial services at the City of San Leandro, service worker at the Post Office during the holiday season, and paper carrier for the Oakland Tribune.
Joe attended St Louis Bertrand School and Bishop O’Dowd High School before pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco. His social life seemed limited until he attended dances at Cal Berkeley during his senior year and met a beautiful young woman, Antoinette Stallone, his future wife. Joe received a BA in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco in 1962 and graduated Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 1965. In between USF and Hastings, Joe and Antoinette were married on January 19, 1963.
At the start of his career, Joe was a Deputy District Attorney for Alameda County between 1966 and 1972 where he was assigned as a felony trial deputy. He was appointed Judge to the former Municipal Court, San Leandro-Hayward Judicial District, Alameda County, by Governor Ronald Reagan in June 1972. In 1984, Judge Carson was appointed to the Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, by Governor George Deukmejian. During his judicial career he was elected to the office of Presiding Judge in both courts.
A former colleague once said the Judge Carson had “a distinguished career in public service from janitor to prosecutor to Municipal Court Judge to Superior Court Judge. He was an outstanding jurist with a unique ability to settle complex cases and resolve contentious issues.” He was named Judge of the Year in 1990 by the AlamedaContra Costa County Trial Lawyers Association, and Judge of the Year in 1986 by the Southern Alameda County Bar Association. He was awarded the Above and Beyond Award in 1993 by the Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association, and Judge of the year in 1994 by the Alameda County Lawyers Club. As a teacher in judicial seminars he humored, entertained, and delighted.
In addition to his passion for gardening, Joe loved spending time with Antoinette and sons, Joe and Jeff, in Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes, fishing and enjoying the great outdoors. Joe’s children have continued the outdoor adventure tradition with their families. His other hobbies included photography, picture framing and matting, and gourmet cooking (and eating).
Joe is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years Antionette Carson, his sister Roberta Carson (SNJM), sister-in-law Christine Carson, sons Joe (and wife Ada Woo) and Jeff (and wife Anabela Henriques), grandchildren Luke, Mick, and Paul, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be on Friday, December 23, 2022, at 11 AM at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 1051 Harder Road, Hayward CA 94542. Burial will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club or other charities.