97-year old Joseph Pasquenza of Brooklyn, known as "Father Joe" to his friends, saw the world change dramatically during his life.

He landed on Omaha Beach during the turning point of World War II, the D-Day offensive of June 1944.

After he was discharged a year later, he joined the McBurney YMCA in Manhattan.

At a memorial service for him there on Friday, he was remembered as Mr. Bright Side.

“It's such a wonder that there are so many West Side liberals here to honor this man who - whistles - was a registered Republican!” said Donald Korsun, one of Pasquenza’s friends.

Some say his faith had a lot to do with it.

Father Joe belonged to the Order of Secular Franciscans. Although he was not ordained, the church was his life. He often participated in services at St. Francis of Asissi Church in Manhattan, and volunteered to help the homebound.

Father Joe lived his entire life in Williamsburg, and worked for the Veterans Administration.

He was one of the longest-living Y members, easily surpassing the four decades of membership needed to receive a lifetime pass.

For his friends and family and his fellow Y members, Joe Pasquenza was a light, often described as someone who interestingly did not talk about his wartime experience, but lived in a way that was informed by it.

Pasquenza, who never married, was devoted to his mother, sister and extended family.

His nephew Vince Delio says he noticed when you were down. And he loved New York.

“[He] introduced me to the city, used to take me here all the time to see the movies, and so i had a good time with him,” said Vincent Delio, Father Joe’s nephew. “He was a good man.”