Joseph J. Fenkel passed away peacefully at his home on December 4th, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Joe lived 88 extraordinary years shaped by grit, generosity, humor, and a deep love of people, sports, boxes, and family. His unwavering morals, work ethic, reliability, and integrity guided him throughout his life. Being a good person and living fully was always his compass, and it left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew him.
Joe was born in the Broad & Olney section of Philadelphia, and grew up the devoted son of Morris (Moishe) and Martha. He loved the simple adventures of childhood: playing stickball with friends, sneaking into movie theaters, and spending time with his younger sister, Fran, and later his brother, Bill.
Joe excelled athletically, especially in basketball. He played Varsity at Central High School and then at Penn State as a freshman, which was uncommon at the time. His toughness, quickness, and surprising ability to jump high for a short guard made him a standout. That same grit guided him as an adult. On the golf course, he was never out of a hole no matter the score. His refusal to quit earned him the nickname “Bulldog,” a name that followed him into business and every corner in his life.
In 1961, Joe founded McLean Packaging with his father and his partner, Ted Seidenberg. Together they built an industry-leading company in set-up, corrugated, and folding boxes. Joe’s passion for the business ran deep. On weekends he would walk the aisles of stores, sometimes alone and sometimes with a child in tow, obsessing over packaging. He meticulously inspected boxes, flipping them over in his hands and studying how they were made. His children and grandchildren worked summers in the factory, and Joe built McLean with the intention that it would stay in the family for generations. His generosity matched his work ethic. When a friend asked for support for a charitable cause, Joe always gave without hesitation.
Joe was a true character and made an impression wherever he went. He loved sharing the highlight of his day, telling stories about his children, or giving detailed breakdowns of the Phillies, Sixers, or Eagles. You could find him at Big 5 basketball games, cheering on his kids from the sidelines, or glued to Phillies broadcasts. He could not attend a game, eat breakfast at Hymie’s, or take a flight from PHL without running into people who knew him. He greeted everyone warmly, and made each person feel remembered.
Joe lived a full and meaningful life with his wife, Mary, his friends, and his family. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
