Joseph P. Wolf

The Joe Wolf story is one of devotion and loyalty: loyalty to church, to family and especially to St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute. A St. Joe’s graduate, Joe received his Bachelor’s Degree from Niagara University and later added a Master’s Degree from Canisius College. He joined the St. Joseph’s faculty in 1962. In 1963, he was appointed varsity baseball coach and Director of Intramurals. In 1965, he assumed the duties of freshman basketball coach. A year later, Joe accepted the position as the school’s athletic director. Under his direction, the number of varsity sports grew from seven to sixteen, and twenty-four individual teams were added across varsity, junior varsity, and freshman levels. Joe spearheaded the creation of lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, swimming, bowling, and hockey programs. He also championed the growth of freshman-only teams, recognizing the importance of belonging and participation in young men's lives.

Joe's efforts made St. Joe's athletic program one of the best in Western New York. During his tenure, the Marauders won thirty-one overall Catholic League Supremacy Cups; no other school has come even close. They also won state championships in basketball, swimming, hockey, soccer, and cross country. Hundreds of student athletes have won athletic grant-in-aid scholarships, and then distinguished themselves in collegiate athletics and professional sports.

Joe's success as a coach was a model for others. He won back-to-back Western New York Catholic League Championships in baseball in 1968 and 1969. With the St. Joe's American Legion team, he led them to five championships with an impressive overall record of 82-12. This established him as one of the finest winning coaches in St. Joe's history, with a mark of 94-7-7. Notably, he also coached unbeaten teams as junior varsity football coach, solidifying his legacy as a successful leader.

Joe's unwavering commitment and remarkable abilities garnered widespread recognition. Serving as both president and vice president of the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association, he further distinguished himself by earning a position on the executive committee of the New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association in 1995. Joe's outstanding contributions were acknowledged by esteemed organizations such as the American Legion, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Western New York Football Coaches Association, the Knights of Columbus, and the Police Athletic League. The St. Joe's Alumni Association bestowed upon him the prestigious title of "Man of the Year" in 1986, while the Western New York High School Sports Gordon J. Bukaty Award recognized his dedication and service to youth athletics in 1992. Joe's exceptional leadership as an athletic director was acknowledged by the Western New York High School Sports newspaper in 1996, labeling him the best in the region. A Certified Athletic Administrator and member of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, Joe's impact was further solidified with his induction into the St. Joe's Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Signum Fidei Society in 1999. In 2007, the New York State Athletic Administrators Association honored him as the outstanding Catholic High School athletic administrator in the state. In 2012 he was chosen for the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Three generations of St. Joe's men have benefited from Joe's teaching, coaching, and the multiple contributions he made behind the scenes that shaped St. Joe's into the institution it is today.

In addition to his significant role at St. Joe's, he loved his time spent in Canada. As a child he spent summers at his parents’ cottage in Crescent Beach and as an adult he built a house on the former site of his beloved Crystal Beach Amusement Park. Joe was a valued member of the Buffalo Canoe Club, and former member of the Buffalo Trap and Field Club and the Transit Valley Country Club.

Joe shared 60 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Judy. Together, they raised three children, Tom, Joe, and Kristin. He cherished the joy of his six grandchildren, Drew, Emily, CJ, Melissa, Ethan, and Quinn.

Buffalo News Death Notice (published January 5th and 6th, 2024):

Joseph P. Wolf, of East Amherst, NY. Entered peacefully into rest at age 84, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Beloved husband of 60 years to Judith E. (nee Bochenek) Wolf; devoted father of Thomas A. Wolf, Joseph P. (Dawn Marie) Wolf and Kristin C. (Christopher) Goss; cherished papa of Drew Goss, Emily Wolf, C.J. Goss, Melissa Wolf, Ethan Goss and Quinn Wolf; loving son of the late Jerome and Loretta Wolf. Relatives and friends may visit DENGLER, ROBERTS, PERNA FUNERAL HOME, 8630 Transit Rd., East Amherst, NY 14051 on Sunday (January 7, 2024) from 1-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church, 157 Cleveland Dr., Cheektowaga, NY 14215 on Monday (January 8, 2024) at 10am. Please assemble at church. Interment Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Flowers gratefully declined. If desired, contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to the Joe Wolf Endowment Fund to help athletes at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute.

Joe's Funeral Mass may be livestreamed at: https://youtube.com/live/LnLfMOq4KEY?feature=share