Joseph Direnzo Jr. ’56

Joseph DiRenzo Jr., of Severna Park, Md., died of a heart attack at his summer home in Sarasota, Fla., Sept. 13, 1996. He had celebrated our 40th reunion with us.

Joe came to Princeton from Union Hill H.S. in Union City, N.J., majored in sociology, and joined Cannon Club. He played varsity football for three years, freshman baseball, and was IAA manager of Cannon. Following graduation he spent two years in the Army as an artillery officer. Joe worked for Mobil for 15 years, later going into oil and real estate businesses for himself. At the time of his death he was regional sales manager for Dynasplint, Inc.

For nearly 30 years he was an NCAA football official, refereeing seven bowl games and other major college gridiron contests. Joe refereed the 1984 Miami-Boston College game in which Doug Flutie threw his "Hail Mary" pass to achieve a gigantic upset, Bear Bryant's final game as coach, and games involving eight ultimate Heisman Trophy winners.

Joe's wife of 39 years, Cathy, died Oct. 14, 1996, after a long illness. Survivors include his son, Coast Guard Lt. Joseph DiRenzo III, his daughter, Donna Lee D. Graves, two grandchildren, and his mother, Mrs. Emilia DiRenzo. The class extends its deepest sympathy to them.

The Class of 1956