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NEWARK, NJ—The New Jersey Institute of Technology Department of Athletics continues to mourn the passing this week of popular Assistant Director of Athletics Joe Caiola, who had been vacationing in Florida when he unexpectedly took ill approximately a week prior to his death on June 29 at the age of 57 in Fort Myers, FL.
 
Born in Newark on February 16, 1957, Joe earned two degrees from NJIT, a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, with a major in engineering technology in 1980, and a Master of Science in Management in 1984. He previously earned an Associate in Applied Science in 1978 from Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, NJ) in 1978.
 
While he was an undergraduate at NJIT, Caiola was a two-year member of the men's basketball team. In his final college game on February 29, 1980, Joe exploded for a career-high 40 points against Concordia (NY). In addition to being a personal career-best, that 40-point total is sixth on the all-time list for the Highlanders, who have fielded intercollegiate teams since 1922.
 
Upon graduation from NJIT, Caiola embarked on a career in marketing and management in technical staff augmentation and contract engineering services. He held that position full-time for over a decade and later began working as a developer of single-family homes.
 
However, sports were never far from his mind and he became a part-time coach in boys basketball in the mid-1990s.
 
He returned to NJIT as an assistant men's basketball coach in 1997 and soon added responsibilities as an Assistant Director of Athletics. Having spent 17 years on the staff at NJIT, he was the longest-tenured employee of the department among administrators and coaches. At the time of his passing, Joe held the title of Assistant Athletics Director for Business, Facilities, and Events Management.
 
In addition to his work for NJIT, he was active in youth basketball and baseball in Edison, NJ, his hometown for the last 29 years of his life.
 
An avid bike rider who, on more than one occasion, rode from Edison to Newark and back, a round-trip of nearly 50 miles, Joe also continued to play recreational basketball in his 50s and was always a participant in the annual NJIT Alumni basketball games, which he helped organize. He played throughout the most recent alumni game, held in February 2014.
 
Joe Caiola was universally well-liked among his NJIT co-workers and his friendliness and his kind spirit were evident almost immediately when he met new people. He enthusiastically took on new tasks on the job, no matter how difficult, and he was always the first to help others on a personal level. Many a co-worker could tell personal stories of how Joe helped them in a time of need.
 
He worked especially closely with the Highlander baseball program and often travelled to the team's away games. He was the administrator-in-charge at several away Great West Conference baseball tournaments across the country and when NJIT hosted the 2013 Great West Conference Tournament, the last one for the GWC, he was Tournament Director, a post he also held when NJIT hosted previous baseball and soccer championship tournaments.
 
He is survived by his wife Carol (Daniele) Caiola and their two sons, Joseph A. and Anthony V. Both sons followed in their father's path, attending and graduating from NJIT. Joe, the elder of the Caiola brothers earned both bachelor's and master's degrees, while Anthony earned a bachelor's degree and played as member of the Highlanders baseball team for four years, completing his playing career in 2012.
 
Joe is also survived by his parents, Nicholas and Filomena, and by his brother, Nicholas, Jr., in addition to numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Commenting on the loss, NJIT Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan said: "This is truly a sad time for NJIT. Joe was a great guy who truly loved the university. He always greeted visitors with a smile and he was a beloved fixture at our games and events. Every time I speak with someone--NJIT alumni, game officials, or adminstrators at other schools, they inevitably ask, 'How is Joe?'. He will be sorely missed by all of us."
 
Arrangements
Services will take place on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 8:45 AM from Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave. (RT 27) Metuchen.
 
--9:30 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Matthew's RC Church, entombment will take place at St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia.
 
--Visitation is Friday July 4, 2014 from 2-4 & 7-9. from Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave. (RT 27) Metuchen.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association (heart.org). To send condolences please visit costello-runyon.com.

Further, NJIT will have an on-campus memorial service at a date and time to be determined in the Fall 2014 semester.