Joseph O. “Chief” Iacono, 84, of Woodlyn, PA passed away on October 1, 2022. Joe was born in Chester to the late John and Immaculata Maiorano Iacono. He attended St. Anthony’s grade school and graduated from Chester High in 1956.
He married the love of his life, Sheila Sullivan, in 1964, and they moved to Ridley Township where they raised 2 daughters. He was a longtime member of Our Lady of Peace Parish. He worked at the Scott Paper Foam plant (later Foamex) for 40 years, retiring in 2000. He was also a U.S. Army veteran.
Joe was known throughout Delaware County for his athletic accomplishments. Joe’s athletic career began in the first Chester Little League in 1949, where he pitched his team all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport. He was one of the all-time great pitchers in the Chester Teener League; in 1953 the Daily Times called him “a happy-go-lucky kid with magic in his right arm.” The “Chief” was a three-sport star at Chester High, where he was a quarterback on the football team, a basketball star on the legendary Clipper hoops teams of the mid-1950s, and a powerful pitcher on the baseball diamond. He was a varsity pitcher for 4 years, starting almost every game as a junior and senior and being named All-Delco. He then played baseball in the Delco League for Ridley Park, El Rancho, and Fizzano Brothers. In his 2-yr stint in the U.S. Army, he traveled the country as the starting pitcher for the Ft. Devens baseball team, which won the First Army baseball championship. From the 1960s all the way into the early 1990s, he continued his athletic career by playing on many softball teams through Delaware County.
For his athletic achievements, he was inducted into the PA Athletic Hall of Fame, Delaware County Chapter in 2008. He was also inducted into the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame, and the Chester High and Ridley Old Timers Halls of Fame.
In his later years, he spent most of his time with his grandchildren, devoting himself to attending all of their activities. He was a regular attendee at Ridley High athletic events.
Joe was known for being devoted to his faith, family, and friends. He had many sayings, and his favorite was: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.” He always had a smile and a joke for everyone he met.
Joe is survived by and will be dearly missed by: his wife, Sheila; his daughters Anne Marie (David) Gioia of Swarthmore and Marianne (David) Shiber of Woodlyn; four grandchildren, Tyler, Katie and Matthew Shiber and Christina Gioia; three sisters, Antoinette Conte, Marie Grunwell, and Carmella Allman; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 11 from 9:30-11:00 AM at St. John Chrysostom Church, 617 S. Providence Rd., Wallingford, PA followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM. Burial will follow in Immaculate Heart Cemetery, Linwood.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Joseph Iacono Memorial Scholarship for a graduating senior at Ridley High School: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-joseph-iacono-memorial-scholarship
He married the love of his life, Sheila Sullivan, in 1964, and they moved to Ridley Township where they raised 2 daughters. He was a longtime member of Our Lady of Peace Parish. He worked at the Scott Paper Foam plant (later Foamex) for 40 years, retiring in 2000. He was also a U.S. Army veteran.
Joe was known throughout Delaware County for his athletic accomplishments. Joe’s athletic career began in the first Chester Little League in 1949, where he pitched his team all the way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport. He was one of the all-time great pitchers in the Chester Teener League; in 1953 the Daily Times called him “a happy-go-lucky kid with magic in his right arm.” The “Chief” was a three-sport star at Chester High, where he was a quarterback on the football team, a basketball star on the legendary Clipper hoops teams of the mid-1950s, and a powerful pitcher on the baseball diamond. He was a varsity pitcher for 4 years, starting almost every game as a junior and senior and being named All-Delco. He then played baseball in the Delco League for Ridley Park, El Rancho, and Fizzano Brothers. In his 2-yr stint in the U.S. Army, he traveled the country as the starting pitcher for the Ft. Devens baseball team, which won the First Army baseball championship. From the 1960s all the way into the early 1990s, he continued his athletic career by playing on many softball teams through Delaware County.
For his athletic achievements, he was inducted into the PA Athletic Hall of Fame, Delaware County Chapter in 2008. He was also inducted into the Delco Athletes Hall of Fame, and the Chester High and Ridley Old Timers Halls of Fame.
In his later years, he spent most of his time with his grandchildren, devoting himself to attending all of their activities. He was a regular attendee at Ridley High athletic events.
Joe was known for being devoted to his faith, family, and friends. He had many sayings, and his favorite was: “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.” He always had a smile and a joke for everyone he met.
Joe is survived by and will be dearly missed by: his wife, Sheila; his daughters Anne Marie (David) Gioia of Swarthmore and Marianne (David) Shiber of Woodlyn; four grandchildren, Tyler, Katie and Matthew Shiber and Christina Gioia; three sisters, Antoinette Conte, Marie Grunwell, and Carmella Allman; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 11 from 9:30-11:00 AM at St. John Chrysostom Church, 617 S. Providence Rd., Wallingford, PA followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 AM. Burial will follow in Immaculate Heart Cemetery, Linwood.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Joseph Iacono Memorial Scholarship for a graduating senior at Ridley High School: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-joseph-iacono-memorial-scholarship