Compiled by Patrick Avenell

Industry veteran Joe Di Bartolo, retailer at Pacific Hi-Fi in Liverpool, southwestern Sydney, died on Thursday 1 August 2013. He was 50 years old.

Introduced to the Hi-Fi industry by his older brother and Miranda Hi-Fi franchisee Frank, Joe Di Bartolo started selling Hi-Fi equipment in 1986, then aged 24.

As a lover of immersive entertainment, especially video games, Joe correctly predicted a looming revolution in the home theatre business.

Wanting to start a family business, Frank left the Miranda Hi-Fi system, converting his Liverpool outlet into Pacific Hi-Fi, along with stores in Newcastle and Roselands.

He was joined in this venture by Joe and their two brothers, Vince and Stephen. The Roselands and Newcastle stores are no longer open, though the Liverpool store has continued to trade at the same location for 30 years.

Frank remembers his younger brother as both a great family man and a great businessman.

“Joe’s involvement in the Hi-Fi and Home Theatre industries was both long and proud, stretching out over 27 years,” Frank said.

“Over the years, Joe has worked with many of the best within this great industry and earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, generosity and kindness.

“Joe continued to work with his brothers and a dedicated team of young professionals at Pacific Hi-Fi Liverpool up until April 2013, and he was proud of the many awards that his fellow staff had earned.

“Outside of the Hi-Fi industry, Joe was a keen sportsman, having played rugby league for many years, along with cricket, touch footy and many other sports.”

A one-eyed Manly Sea-Eagles fan, Frank recalled how Joe would always have a football in the car and would always be looking to play a game of pick-up touch whenever possible.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony for Joe Bartolo will be held at the John The Baptist Catholic Church in Bonnyrigg, followed by burial at the Forest Lawns Cemetery in Leppington on Wednesday 7 August 2013:

Time: 10:30am
Date: Wednesday 7 August 2013
Mass: John The Baptist Catholic Church (corner Mount Street and Cowpasture Road, Bonnyrigg)
Burial: Forest Lawns Cemetery (1640 Camden Valley Way Leppington)

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to cancer research.

Joe is survived by his wife and two children.

Joe Di Bartolo.