Joseph Anthony Bongiorno

Joseph Anthony Bongiorno, 82, of Bluffton died on September 7, 2016. He was born at home on November 23, 1933 to Joseph and Gina Bongiorno in the Bronx, NY. Growing up in the Bronx he was an altar boy and graduated from St. Agnes High School in Manhattan in 1951. He graduated from Adelphi College with a BA and MS in Speech Pathology. From 1952-1961 he was Chief Lifeguard at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. He taught for 31 years in the public schools in Wantagh, NY. He also started and coached the boys and girls High School Swim teams. The last 4 seasons his girls’ team won the Long Island High School Championships. For 35 years he was head of the swimming and diving program at the Cold Spring Harbor Beach Club where the annual Joseph A. Bongiorno Trophy was established in his honor. He loved diving and started the Huntington YMCA diving team and produced many champions. He was married to his wife Jean for 59 years. They retired in Bluffton, SC in 1990. There he volunteered for the American Red Cross teaching first aid, CPR, lifeguard training, and became an instructor-trainer. He received the American Red Cross Health and Safety Services Award for 1998-1999. In 2002 he was honored for 50 years of service to the American Red Cross and for saving more than 200 lives. He coached the Hilton Head and Bluffton Masters swim teams for 15 years. Joe was very athletic and enjoyed swimming, tennis, running and triathlon. He also volunteered as an usher at Saint Gregory the Great and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe will be most remembered for his sense of humor, love of good food and wine, great stories and devotion to his faith, family and friends. He loved sitting on his porch in Sun City with a glass of red wine. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jean Bongiorno. He leaves his brother William (Susan) Bongiorno and his sister Gina (Richard) Chiavelli. He was pre-deceased by his sister Joyce Fortunato and his brother Robert Bongiorno. He leaves 4 children: Joseph Bongiorno Jr., Lisa Bongiorno Hodges, Michael (Rosemarie) Bongiorno, and Gina (Richard) Behrens. He is survived by 11 grandchildren: Krista, Lindsey, Joey, Gregory, Thomas, Andrew, Cara, Daniel, Michael, Anna, and William. He leaves one great-granddaughter, Brooklynn. The family will receive friends at Sauls Funeral Home on Thursday September 15 from 4PM-6PM in Bluffton. The funeral mass will be on Friday September 16 at 10:30 at Saint Gregory the Great followed by interment at the Columbarium followed by a luncheon at St. Andrew’s Hall. Please send memorials to St. Vincent De Paul Society of St. Gregory the Great, 31 St. Gregory Drive, Bluffton, SC 29909 in memory of Joseph Bongiorno.