Joseph Rottino - February 25, 1937 - May 20, 2022 Beloved husband of Tamara Cooper - “Kel.” Beloved father of Matthew Rottino, Christina Wahlig, and Michael Rottino. Beloved Grandfather of Michael Rottino, Nicholas Rottino, Daniel Rottino, Julian Rottino, and Gianna Rottino. Beloved brother of Lynn Crowley and Gail Piazza. Brother-in-law of Jerome Piazza. Father-in-law of Michele Rottino, Robert Wahlig, and Stephanie Rottino.

Joe was a high school English teacher in New York City for 30 years. He spent the last 23 years of his career at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Bayside where he was loved and respected in the classroom, on the soccer field as head coach, and throughout the school as the Coordinator of Student Affairs in the 1970s and 1980s. He retired in 1992 from teaching and went on to coach high school Cross Country at Plainview Old-Bethpage School District. Joe was an avid runner–having competed in over 40 marathon or ultramarathon events in his life. He completed the NYC Marathon seven times. He also completed a 100 kilometer (62 miles) ultramarathon which spanned from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, NJ.

He was a member of the Greater Long Island Running Club for many years. As an English teacher he loved reading–especially mystery novels–and quoting Shakespeare. He and his beloved wife, Kel, played thousands of games of Scrabble. Together, they were impossible to beat. A cool cat fan of classic Jazz, Joe was also a musician: from childhood he played piano. Later in life, he took up the saxophone to perform his own jazz. Joe will be sincerely missed by his family, friends and former students and athletes. “Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!” – William Shakespeare Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2