Joe Cirruzzo Sr. (1938-2013)
It’s with a heavy heart that we share the passing of A Elegant/ELS International founder Joe Cirruzzo Sr., who succumbed to liver cancer on November 27, 2013. He was 75. He is survived by his daughter, Julia Cirruzzo Rosenthal, and son, Joe Cirruzzo Jr., in addition to a large extended family. He is also survived by his longtime companion, Kathy Bradley.
Known for his trademark gravelly voice and instant smile, Joey made everyone feel like they were an immediate friend. He was an industry crusader, never one to shy away from giving his opinion, and a dear friend to those who knew and loved him. He was a member of the NLA, serving many years on the board, and was honored earlier this year with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Friends who knew him for decades might remember him as Joe Black, a winning race car driver whose signature Green Hornet was well known on the racing circuit in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Although his racing days came to an end after a serious transmission fire in 1972, Joey was reliving nostalgia through a Green Hornet restoration project on a 1965 Plymouth Belvedere. He was recently honored at Raceway Park in Englishtown, N.J., where he was joined by other racing greats who have since made it a family tradition.
A viewing is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday (11.30 and 12.1) at Colonial Funeral Home (2819 Hyland Blvd., Staten Island, N.Y.). The family will receive visitors between the hours of 2 pm and 4 pm and 7 pm and 9 pm both days. A memorial mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (90 Third St., Staten Island, N.Y.) will commence at 9:30 am on Monday (12.2) followed by a burial at Oceanview Cemetery (3315 Amboy Rd., Staten Island, N.Y.).
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