Joe Pierro, a beloved football and baseball coach and teacher at Steubenville High School for 30 years, died at the age of 60 after being struck by lightning while mowing his lawn. The incident occurred just three weeks after Pierro retired from his position at the school.
The Steubenville High School community shared their grief in a Facebook statement, calling Pierro a "longtime teacher, coach, colleague and friend." The school noted his dedication to "helping young people learn, grow, compete, and believe in themselves," adding that his impact extended "far beyond the classroom and playing field."
Pierro is survived by his mother, Shirley, his son, Michael, and his daughter, Mia. Mia posted on Facebook about her father's passing, writing, "How am I going to do this life without you?! I love you so much, dad."
Steubenville High School dedicated its football game on Friday night to Pierro. Head coach Reno Saccoccia remembered Pierro as "fun to be around" and someone who "always had a few laughs." Saccoccia added that Pierro was dedicated to his work, stating, "when it was time to work, he worked, and he worked hard. He took a lot of pride in what he did."
Justin Banks, a former student athlete who became a teacher at Steubenville High and a close friend of Pierro's, shared his sentiments on Facebook. Banks described Pierro as a coach, mentor, and eventually family, noting Pierro's presence at his wedding and as he became a father and coach himself. "I was lucky enough to have you as a coach, but I was even luckier to have you as one of my best friends," Banks wrote.
