The Canastota Alumni Association has chosen Joseph DiGeorgio to receive the Special Recognition Award for his many contributions to the Canastota community.
Joseph (Joe) is a 1959 graduate of Utica’s T.R. Proctor High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from LeMoyne College in 1963 and a Master’s Degree from SUNY Albany in 1965. Joe continued his graduate work during the summer at Fenimore House, Cooperstown.
Joe retired as head of the Social Studies Department at Eagle Hill Middle School after thirty-five years of teaching in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District. While there, he coached boy’s and girl’s modified track teams and was an instructor of NYS Bureau of In-service Credit. Following his retirement in 1999, Joe was employed as a substitute teacher until 2013. He also supervised student teachers for LeMoyne College from 2002-07.
Upon moving to Canastota in 1968, Joe became an active Jaycee officer and a committee chairman for the local scout troop. Joe was a member of the Village Architectural Review Board, the Planning Board, the industrial Park Committee and the Advisory Committee to the Mayor. He also served as Village Historian for a five-year period.
Other volunteer activities include serving on the doctor search committee, participating as an EMT for the Greater Lenox Ambulance Service and was elected as president for a two year term. As a member of the Board of Directors of Canal town Corporation, Joe assisted in opening the museum and setting up exhibits. He initiated community workshops related to documenting community history.
In 2000 to the present, Joe has continued his interest and involvement in the community, once again joining the Canastota Canal Town Board of Directors, serving as President for most of the past 16 years. His extreme interest in researching, documenting, displaying and teaching Canastota history has assisted in enriching and adding exhibits, as well as an Archive room and an Educational center.
Joe has been instrumental in acquiring a Canastota manufactured Watson Wagon and erecting a building for its display. He was also involved in obtaining grants from the Erie Canalway National Corridor, which resulted in displays of wayside signs, and the painting of murals on the Farr Building and the Main Street bridge; his research also assisting the village in obtaining a grant for the signage of the former Bruce Opera House site.
Joe co-chaired the Canastota Day for the Madison County Bicentennial celebration in 2006 and chaired the Canastota Bicentennial celebration in 2010.
At present, Joe continues with Canal Town activities with the assistance of his wife of 50 years, Joan.
He accepts requests for speaking to groups in local and neighboring communities regarding various topics of local history and represents Canastota on the Erie Canal Community Working Group. He sits on the Canastota Rotary Club Board.
The award will be presented at the 135th annual Canastota Alumni Banquet to be held at the Rusty Rail Party House Saturday, June 25. Friends of Joe and any Canastota Alumni may attend by making reservations with Joyce at 315 762-9144 by June 20. Tickets are $25.