Joe E. Stabile, life long friend and manager of comedian Jerry Lewis graciously lost his four year battle with Alzheimers in his Las Vegas home.  With his wife of 25 years Claudia at his side he passed away early Saturday morning at the age of 87.

Water skiing on one ski, refusing to retire and very active at the age of 83 he always said "I'll take up golf when I get older."

Born in 1916 in Newark, NJ. In W.W.II he joined the army and entertained the troops as army band leader and sax player.

There he met and married Henrietta Hartmann who was the singer in his band. After the war they settled in Sherman Oaks California to raise a family of four.

In his early years he worked as a carpenter in the day and a musician by night. Playing in the orchestra for the Grouch Marx Show 'You Bet Your Life' along side his friends Eddie Rosa and drummer Tommy Romersa.

In the late 40's and into the 50's he played lead sax in his brother Dick Stabile's band which was the one and only orchestra for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. They played Ciro's, Slapsy Maxies, the opening night of Bugsy Segal's Flamingo Hotel on the Vegas strip as well as orchestra for most Martin and Lewis films.

When Martin and Lewis split in 1956 Stabile became Lewis' manager. He also worked as executive producer for decades on the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. He remained Lewis' manager and friend until his death.

In the late 70's he moved to Las Vegas Nevada where he met and married his second wife Claudia and raised three more children.

His gracious ways, his sense of humor, his love of life and laughter made it easy for all that knew him to love him.
His wife Claudia, four sons, two daughters, eight grandchildren and his brother William Stabile survive him.

The list of friends and family touched by his life would fill a stadium.