Joseph L. Pangrazio, Sr.

Joseph L. Pangrazio, Sr., 89, of Dennison, passed away peacefully in the home where he was born on Sunday, August 24, 2014. Born April 11, 1925 to the late Dominic and Pauline “Nunno” (Senna) Kastre Pangrazio, Joe was a lifelong resident of Dennison and was proud to be a “Southsider”. Joe was a 1944 graduate of Dennison St. Mary’s High School and a devoted member of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Dennison.


On June 11, 1945, Joe married the love of his life, Hazel M. (Fox) Pangrazio, and the two shared over 66 years together until her passing on October 13, 2011. Joe’s loving family includes a son, Joseph L. (Lillian) Pangrazio, Jr. of New Philadelphia; two grandsons, Nino (Traci) Pangrazio and Dino (Angela) Pangrazio, all of Dennison; and four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Nadia, Isaac, and Anthony Pangrazio. Joe is also survived by numerous special nieces, nephews, and cousins, including Dee Dee Fox, Vicki Gambs, Chuck Fox, Jimmy Presutti, Wayne Hiles, Sharon Fickle, Pam Lahr, Joey Hiles, Bobby Hill, Chrissy Hill, Michael Kastre, and Pauline Hubig. In addition to his parents and wife, Joe was preceded in death by siblings, Dominic Kastre, Grace Boston, Peter Paul Pangrazio, Louise Hill, and Frances Hiles.

Following his graduation from St. Mary’s, Joe began working for the Pennsylvania Railroad and embarked on what would be a lifelong affiliation with the railroad. Shortly thereafter, he became a basketball coach for Bowerston High School and then St. Mary’s school. Embracing the connection with sports, Joe decided to get his officiating license and began another vocation to which he was dedicated for over 50 years. In 1953, Joe, his wife, and his mother started Pangrazio’s Pizza and Spaghetti House which the family operated until 1980. In 1999, the family restaurant tradition continued when Joe’s grandson, Dino and his wife Angela, opened the Denison Yard with Joe proudly continuing in his role as patriarch and pillar of the business. Many in the area will fondly remember Joe for the 15 cent pizzas with extra peperoni. In 1968, Joe and his brother Peter started the railroad transportation company, Pancab, serving the Penn Central Railroad, and presently serving Wheeling Lake Erie and Genesee and Wyoming railroads, which he operated until his passing. In addition to operating the family businesses, Joe became heavily involved in officiating high school basketball and football, and was chosen to work 12 state basketball championships in a 24 year span, the maximum allowed for an official. An official at the first girls Class AAA tournament in 1976, he also worked the state football playoffs for 15 years and officiated for the Ohio Conference, the President’s Conference, the Hoosier Conference, the West Virginia Intercollegiate Conference, and was a referee observer for the Big 10 at Ohio State University for over 25 years.

Joe’s list of awards and recognitions is vast. The following are some of those accomplishments: Catholic Elementary School Distinguished Graduate Award by the National Catholic Education Assoc., Pillars Club Man of the Year Award, Knights of Columbus Ohio State Council Knight of the Year, Tuscarawas Co. Football Officials Hall of Fame, Tuscarawas Co. NAACP Minority Relationships Award, St. Mary’s Blue Waves Athletic Hall of Fame, Gene Tolloty Citizen of the Year, charter group of the OHSAA Hall of Fame, OABO Jack R. McClain Award, Eastern District Basketball Assoc. 50 year award, Claymont Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, a lifetime free admission to all Claymont High School sporting events, the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, and a recent nomination to the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

Joe was passionate about his Italian heritage, his community, his county, and the St. Mary’s Blue Waves.

In keeping with Joe’s adamant wishes, no public visitation is planned. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Father Anthony Lonzo on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11:00 am in Immaculate Conception Church in Dennison. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery near Dennison. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Elementary School or Immaculate Conception Parish, 206 N. First St., Dennison, OH 44621.