Roger S. Penske/Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame
Peritore, Joseph
Joseph Peritore
- Induction:
- 2003
- Class:
- 1967
Lehigh's “Terrific Trio” is reunited once again with Joe Peritore’s induction into the Penske Hall of Fame. Peritore helped the Engineers win over 90% of their dual meets during his time at Lehigh.
The third member of the “Terrific Trio” to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Joe Peritore joins an elite company of past Lehigh wrestlers in the Hall. A two-time NCAA runner-up and third-place finisher at 130 pounds, Peritore, along with Hall of Famers Billy Stuart ‘66 and Mike Caruso ‘67, made up the “Terrific Trio” that was featured in Sports Illustrated and Newsweek in 1965.
“I'm delighted that Joe Peritore is now in the Hall of Fame,” said former teammate Billy Stuart '66. “It's good that there’s a stabilizing influence in the trio in the Hall of Fame because we're all together in the same room forever now. (Head coach Gerry) Leeman would be driven nuts if (Peritore) weren't in here alongside us. This honor is well deserved and we are all so thrilled that he's now here with us.”
“Every mother wanted to have a son like Joe,” said Caruso, who was teammates and roommates with Peritore. “He was known as “Gentleman Joe” because he was such a great dresser, and he was so mild-mannered and soft spoken. To this day, he's a great family man.
“On the mat, he was probably the quickest wrestler on his feet,” Caruso continued. “He was one of the best takedown wrestlers I've ever seen. We had three top-10 teams, and Joe was an integral part of each one.”
Peritore was a two-time EIWA champion at 130 pounds, en route to posting a career record of 56-5-1 and an overall career-winning percentage of 91.13 percent, which still ranked eighth in school history as of the start of the 2017-18 season. In dual meets, his numbers were even more impressive, as Peritore won 31 of 33 bouts. Of his five career defeats, three came at the hands on NCAA champions.
Peritore’s individual successes were paralleled by victories posted by the Lehigh team. The Engineers won two EIWA titles and boasted third and fourth place finishes at nationals during his time. As a senior, Peritore co-captained the team along with Caruso.
Joe Peritore’s success on the mat at Lehigh should come as no surprise. At Maple Heights High School, he was a two-time Ohio state champion.
“I am so humbled and thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Peritore. “I am humbled to be among the legends of Lehigh wrestling, and thrilled to join my teammates and friends Mike Caruso and Billy Stuart.”
Peritore earned his bachelor's in industrial engineering from Lehigh in 1967, and followed that up with a masters in industrial engineering in 1969. He spent his entire 29-year business career with The Boeing Co. in Seattle. During his last 12 years at Boeing, Peritore served as an executive of the corporation holding various positions including Vice President of Human Resources and Vice President of Operations Development. He retired in 1998.
In retirement, Peritore has spent his time in Christian and community service. He has served as an elder at John Knox Presbyterian Church, a director of Pacific Association for Theological Studies, and managed a non-profit corporation, Amigos de Honduras, which provides aid to the poor in Honduras. He has also been a member of the park board in his hometown of Normandy Park, Washington.
Peritore and his wife Linda have three children, Ross, Jeffrey, and Ann.
The third member of the “Terrific Trio” to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Joe Peritore joins an elite company of past Lehigh wrestlers in the Hall. A two-time NCAA runner-up and third-place finisher at 130 pounds, Peritore, along with Hall of Famers Billy Stuart ‘66 and Mike Caruso ‘67, made up the “Terrific Trio” that was featured in Sports Illustrated and Newsweek in 1965.
“I'm delighted that Joe Peritore is now in the Hall of Fame,” said former teammate Billy Stuart '66. “It's good that there’s a stabilizing influence in the trio in the Hall of Fame because we're all together in the same room forever now. (Head coach Gerry) Leeman would be driven nuts if (Peritore) weren't in here alongside us. This honor is well deserved and we are all so thrilled that he's now here with us.”
“Every mother wanted to have a son like Joe,” said Caruso, who was teammates and roommates with Peritore. “He was known as “Gentleman Joe” because he was such a great dresser, and he was so mild-mannered and soft spoken. To this day, he's a great family man.
“On the mat, he was probably the quickest wrestler on his feet,” Caruso continued. “He was one of the best takedown wrestlers I've ever seen. We had three top-10 teams, and Joe was an integral part of each one.”
Peritore was a two-time EIWA champion at 130 pounds, en route to posting a career record of 56-5-1 and an overall career-winning percentage of 91.13 percent, which still ranked eighth in school history as of the start of the 2017-18 season. In dual meets, his numbers were even more impressive, as Peritore won 31 of 33 bouts. Of his five career defeats, three came at the hands on NCAA champions.
Peritore’s individual successes were paralleled by victories posted by the Lehigh team. The Engineers won two EIWA titles and boasted third and fourth place finishes at nationals during his time. As a senior, Peritore co-captained the team along with Caruso.
Joe Peritore’s success on the mat at Lehigh should come as no surprise. At Maple Heights High School, he was a two-time Ohio state champion.
“I am so humbled and thrilled to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” said Peritore. “I am humbled to be among the legends of Lehigh wrestling, and thrilled to join my teammates and friends Mike Caruso and Billy Stuart.”
Peritore earned his bachelor's in industrial engineering from Lehigh in 1967, and followed that up with a masters in industrial engineering in 1969. He spent his entire 29-year business career with The Boeing Co. in Seattle. During his last 12 years at Boeing, Peritore served as an executive of the corporation holding various positions including Vice President of Human Resources and Vice President of Operations Development. He retired in 1998.
In retirement, Peritore has spent his time in Christian and community service. He has served as an elder at John Knox Presbyterian Church, a director of Pacific Association for Theological Studies, and managed a non-profit corporation, Amigos de Honduras, which provides aid to the poor in Honduras. He has also been a member of the park board in his hometown of Normandy Park, Washington.
Peritore and his wife Linda have three children, Ross, Jeffrey, and Ann.
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