Buffalo Soldier and former Managing Director for the City of Philadelphia, Joe Certaine has made transition

Learning of the passing of Joe Certaine is like learning of the death of a Godfather or dear Uncle. That’s how I felt about this man, Joe Certaine, who was a leader in Philadelphia in his own right; while, he was never an elected official, he was an appointed official for many years in Philadelphia Government, and, oh what an exciting and storied life he led. When I think of Joe Certaine, I think of the Buffalo Soldiers; he was a member of that historic organization of Black men.
When I think of Joe Certaine, I think of political campaigns he helped to shape for a number of elected officials, including now retired PA State Representative Rosita C. Youngblood, who represented the 198th legislative district for well over two decades.
I also think of now-retired PA State Senator Shirley M. Kitchen, Joe Certaine helped her with a couple of her past political campaigns as well.
In more recent years, all of my contact with Joe Certaine had to do with educating and motivating people in our community across the state of PA to get registered to vote and to participate in the political process.
Joe Certaine was the founder of the Octavius Valentine Catto Voter Initiative; he was all about getting people to participate in the voting process from A to Z. In more recent years, one of the organizations that Joe Certaine helped to lead was The Pennsylvania Coalition in Defense of Democracy. They regularly conducted Train the Trainers programs over the last three years in order to prepare speakers and workshop facilitators for scheduled events around the state. These speakers and trainers conducted voter education workshops.
Joe Certaine was all about the mobilization to conduct Non-partisan Voter Education workshops all over the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The goal was always to schedule and conduct workshops and seminars in neighborhoods where voters can learn Election procedures and Voting Rights, so that they feel empowered and confident when it is time to vote. Voters learned about Mail in Ballots, Voting in Person, Voting Rights, and Voter Protection Programs.
Over (at least) the last ten years, whenever Joe Certaine reached out to me to ask for me to write a press release for one of his voter initiatives, I never hesitated. The only thing I would ask Joe was, “How soon do you need the release Mr. Certaine.” He would always make fun of me when I called him “Mr. Certaine.” He would always say, “Call me Joe.” However, my respect level for him was so great it never felt right to address him by only his first name. Everything that I ever worked on with Joe Certaine was always a volunteer effort. For me, there were no dollars and cents involved. My common sense always told me anything Joe Certaine is involved with is a good thing, and I need to support his efforts.
Below is a communication that was sent to me on August 2, 2023, from the family of Joe Certaine.
It is with profound sadness that the family of Joseph (Jemadari) Certaine announces his passing on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at the age of 76 years old. He bravely faced many health challenges after the recent passing of his dear wife and the love of his life, LaTanya Certaine. Joseph, lovingly known as Joe, left behind an indelible legacy that touched the lives of countless individuals in the city of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through his work with former Governor and Mayor Edward G. Rendell.
Governor Rendell expressed his deep admiration for Joe, “Nobody knew and understood the City of Philadelphia and its neighborhoods more than Joe Certaine. His passion and dedication to this city and his efforts to protect and expand the right to vote in minority communities are unparalleled. He will be sorely missed.”
Born on December 18, 1946, Joe was raised by foster parents who instilled in him a sense of compassion and empathy that would define his character throughout his life. In 1979, he made Philadelphia his home, and from that point on, his dedication to the city and its people was unwavering.
Throughout his life, Joe remained a humble and devoted man, never seeking the spotlight but always working diligently behind the scenes to bring about positive change. As a lifelong organizer and political activist, he wielded his leadership skills to unite community leaders, elected officials, and voters, shaping a cohesive and empowered civic body.
His close association with Ed Rendell during his tenure as Governor and Mayor speaks volumes about Joe’s political acumen, and dedication to public service. From 1994 to 2000, Joe served as the Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia, overseeing vital operations and contributing to its growth and prosperity.
Joe’s strategic advice and keen organizational abilities, played a pivotal role in advancing numerous candidates for city, state, and federal offices, including; William Green, W. Wilson Goode, William Gray III, and Dwight Evans. He was a driving force behind crucial efforts to protect voting rights in Pennsylvania, exemplified by his roles as the Director of the Pennsylvania Voter ID Coalition in 2012 and as the Convener of the OV Catto Voter Empowerment Initiative, as highlighted in the Guardian Newspaper article from November 8, 2020, authored by Christopher Rhodes in the Guardian Newspaper from 2020, “‘I’m proud of the city:’ the volunteers fighting voter suppression in Philadelphia.”
Joe leaves behind a loving family, including his son Ernest ‘Todd’ Stewart, his cherished daughter-in-law Monique Ferguson Stewart, his granddaughter, Alexa, and two grandsons, Brendon and Christian, whose lives he impacted and undoubtedly enriched beyond depths yet to be realized. In honor of Joe’s remarkable life, the family will hold a private service, with plans for a memorial service at a later date, where friends, colleagues, and community members can come together to celebrate his enduring legacy.
In remembrance of Joe Certaine, let us carry forward his commitment to fairness, justice, and democracy, cherishing the values he held dear and perpetuating his vision of a united and empowered community.
Sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and comrades of Mr. Joe Certaine.