Joseph Steven Recchi

Joseph Steven Recchi, 80, of Lancaster, Ohio passed away Thursday, July 3rd, 2014. Born on the 11th of March, 1934 in Cleveland, OH to his Italian born parents the late Sylvio and Anna (Cortelli) Recchi. Growing up in "depression era" Cleveland, Joe went through the school of hard-knocks to learn creativity and self-reliance. Taking a year off between high school and college, Joe worked in the local Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Cleveland- as a promising young clerk he gained the attention of J. Edgar Hoover. Showing athletic skill as well as scholarly promise in those early days led to Joe attending Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. Joe thrived in this new experience, and while he was obtaining his Bachelors in Science degree; he pledged and became a loyal member of Alpha Tau Omega, as well as set a Mount Union "Purple Raider" record (that still stands!) for runbacks of kickoffs-95 yards in 1955 against Muskingum. It was during his freshman year at Mount Union that Joe met and fell in love with- Blanche "Bea" Greaves, the "love of his life" and wife for over 50 years.

During the Atomic Age, Joe served his country in the US Army with a tour of duty in post-W.W.II Germany. As a jeep commander of a scout platoon and "recreational officer", he had many memorable experiences to share with his family and friends. After his Honorable Discharge from the Army, Joe returned to Ohio and embarked on a professional career in the personnel and industrial relations field. As a director of human resources, Joe had a particular talent for labor mediation, working for such notable companies as Borden, Diamond Power, and in 1977 became the director of personnel relations for Anchor Hocking Corp. Raising their family in Lancaster, Joe and Bea became involved in many school and civic related organizations. Having a life-long love of football, Joe applied his particular talents toward helping to establish the "pee-wee" youth football program in Lancaster. Many former Lancaster Gale football players (Go Gales!) will remember Joe as Coach Recchi, the kicking coach of the Gales for over 20 years.

He is survived by his sons, Mark (Jodi) Recchi; Sean (Stephanie) Recchi; daughter Wendy (Chris) Matheney; grandchildren, Jennifer Recchi, Maria (Parris) English, Dianna (Chris) Galadyk, David Griffin, Alana Matheney, Trevor Recchi, Ryleigh and Isabella Recchi; great grandchildren, Maci, Nico, Indiana, and Justin; as well as many nieces and nephews; including his loyal and beloved canine companion "Millhouse." Preceded in death by his beloved wife Bea and son Todd Recchi; brother Sylvio Recchi, and sister Marion Tamburro.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12th, 2014 at Halteman-Fett & Dyer Funeral Home with Chaplin Linda Ward officiating. Friends may call 12-3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lancaster Touchdown Club, c/o Lancaster Athletic Dept., 1312 Granville Pike, Lancaster, Ohio 43130.