Joseph A. Chinnici's Obituary
[Westlake, OH] – Joseph A. Chinnici, Jr., 81, passed away quietly in his home on December 4, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with ALS. Joe was born on December 3, 1942, in Cleveland, OH, to Joseph and Leona Chinnici (née Rupert).
In 1960, he graduated from Parma Senior High School, and he was an incredibly proud alumni of the Ohio State University. Joe excelled in his career in commercial printing sales before retiring at the age of 76. Outside of work, Joe was a loving husband to Karen Chinnici (née Kunz). They cherished spending time with family and friends, creating lasting memories through his active engagement with his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, volunteering with the Cleveland Museum of Art, and attending many local sporting events, including the Cleveland Browns, the Cleveland Guardians, and his beloved Ohio State Buckeyes. Joe left a lasting impact as an involved and caring member of his fraternity, where he served as an Advisor to his alma mater chapter for over 50 years. His legacy as a Beta is succeeded by both his son, Joseph (Beta Nu, Class of Fall 1988), and his grandson, Jackson (Theta Delta, Class of 2025). Joe acted as an alumni Board Member, Financial Advisor and as Housing Corporation President to Ohio State’s Theta Delta chapter, where he helped with the rebuilding of the Beta Chapter House after a house fire in the early 1990’s. He also spearheaded the reorganization of the Theta Delta chapter in the early 2000’s. To commemorate Joe’s robust legacy as a Beta Theta Pi, the chapter hall within the Theta Delta house was named after him in the Spring of 2023. Joe also assisted the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity as the District Chief to five other Ohio Collegiate Chapters: Bowling Green, University of Toledo, John Carroll University, Case Western Reserve University, and Kenyon College. He was awarded both District Chief of the Year and Advisor of the Year for his service. As many close to him would know, Joe’s love for Ohio State cannot be understated. Ever since his graduation from the Ohio State University in 1964, Joe passionately supported Buckeye athletics, namely football. Prior to his diagnosis, he did not miss a single Ohio State Buckeyes football game in 52 years, and he is remembered for his spirited tailgates every gameday. These early mornings were a huge part of his legacy, with many cherished loved ones, including the Minkin’s, the Buckingham’s, and his Beta son, John Dilley (Theta Delta, Class of 1965), fostering friendships that continue to this day. These Buckeye football experiences also allowed Joe to connect with multiple generations of Beta men, solidifying his sense of brotherhood and Buckeye spirit. We hope these memories serve as a testament to just how firm thy friendship can be, whether the Buckeyes brought home a win or not. Outside of his Ohio State and Beta commitments, Joe and Karen avidly volunteered and supported the Cleveland Museum of Art, especially during the Art Museum’s annual Parade the Circle event.
Additionally, Joe was passionate about boating and water skiing at the family cottage on Pleasant Hill Lake, and he also loved to ski with his family in Colorado and Jackson Hole. In his role as a father and grandfather, Joe always attended all athletic, musical, or educational commitments, even if it meant leaving work early and working late into the night. Following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joe still managed to stream all of his grandchildren’s events, and despite his illness, he was able to attend his eldest granddaughter’s graduation from The Ohio State University in May of 2023.
Joe is survived by his wife, Karen, his children, Joe III and Jill Chinnici Anamasi, and his grandchildren, Joely, Jackson and Alex Chinnici and Jordan, Giavanna, and Alessandro Anamasi. He is also remembered by his sister, Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher of Dublin, OH, and his brother, James Chinnici of Philadelphia, PA.
Despite such a debilitating diagnosis, Joe was able to maintain his dignity and sense of humor until the very end. He will forever be remembered as an exceptional example of how to gracefully coexist with such a tragic and unforgiving disease. His family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the medical personnel, caregivers, friends and neighbors that provided care and support to he and Karen over the course of Joe’s illness.
A visitation to celebrate the life of Joe Chinnici will be held on January 3rd, 2024, from 4-7 PM at Sunset Memorial Chapel, 6245 Columbia Rd, North Olmsted, OH. The family also is hosting a celebration of life in Columbus on January 4th, 2024, from 2-5 PM at the Ohio State Chapter of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 165 E 15th Ave, Columbus, OH.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Joe Chinnici Beta Theta Pi Scholarship, which can be found at https://beta.org/chinnici.
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