New York, March 10, 2016 –The DeGuardia family and Star Boxing would like to thank the boxing world and everyone else for their tremendous outpouring of support and kind words for a man who was truly special.
Joseph DeGuardia SR., (AKA DioGuardi) a lifelong resident of the Bronx and resident of Morris Park for over 50 years, died on March 8, 2016. He was 86. Mr. DeGuardia was born on February 27, 1930 in New York City to the late Dominick and Emilia (Leone) DioGuardi. He was a professional boxer who founded the Morris Park Boxing Club and BATOY (Better America Through Our Youth). Through these organizations he trained and mentored an entire generation of boxers. He was active in the Morris Park community and owned and operated ‘Clowntown’ on Morris Park Avenue.
Mr. DeGuardia, a Patriarch of the DeGuardia family and Morris Park Community, was a respected figure not just in the Bronx but throughout the country. He was a pillar in the community and hero to thousands of youth that he guided in and out of the ring. While he boxed professionally and came from the historic boxing breeding grounds with trainers such as Angelo Dundee (who trained him) and Cus D’amato, it was his unwavering huge heart to youth and the underdog that endeared him to so many.
He is survived by his wife Dorothy (nee Raven) DioGuardi; his sons, Joseph, Donald, Eric, and Dean; his daughters, Lynne, Denise, and Raven; his grandchildren, Jessica, Salvatore, Jesse, Frank, Dominique, Joseph, Andrew, Louis, Briana, Nicolette, London, Deanna, and Lorenzo; his great-grandchildren, Gabriel and Julius; and his sisters, Angela Maresca and Mary Taccetta. He is pre-deceased by his son Rick Jay DeGuardia, who died on November 25, 2015 and brothers Pete, Vito, Sal, & John.
Visiting will be Friday 2-4 pm & 7-9 pm at Joseph
A. Lucchese Funeral Home, 726 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday 10:30am at Our Lady of Solace Church.