SHARON, Pa. — On Sept. 13, the Shenango golf team hosted its inaugural Officer Joe Izzo Invitational at Yankee Run Golf Course in Brookfield, Ohio.
Before the start of any academic year or athletic competition schedule, there are certain milestone dates that stand out as significant. Whether it’s the date of graduation, or the day a team competes against its rival, these events generate excitement and bring campus communities together to celebrate and cheer each other on. For the Penn State Shenango Athletics co-ed golf team, Saturday, Sept. 13, was the date circled on the calendar.
Officer Joe Izzo served the Penn State Shenango campus as a member of Penn State’s University Police from 2012 to 2023, until complications from a medical condition forced him to leave the force. He passed away on Sept. 17, 2023.
"Joe truly led by example, and his love and generosity for the campus and its students was ever present,” said Jim Castelli, a Penn State University police officer who worked with Joe at the Shenango campus.
The love and generosity that Izzo showed to Penn State Shenango students became more evident to his family following his passing.
“My mom was overwhelmed by how many students showed up at the calling hours and they said, 'your dad and your husband bought me lunch, or he always made sure I was fed and had this or that,’” said Ali (Izzo) Linton, Joe’s daughter and Penn State Shenango alumna. “Whatever people needed, if he heard you ask for something and he just happened to be there, he'd do it.”
Izzo was a staple at on-campus events and was a regular at the Buhl Club as Shenango Athletics expanded and held competitions there in 2018. According to Linton, Izzo memorized academic schedules, especially in the evenings, so he could be available to assist faculty and students who were on campus or walking to their vehicles.
As members of the campus community sought an appropriate way to recognize Izzo’s commitment to the campus and its students, it was his passion for the game of golf that led organizers to name the Penn State Shenango golf team’s home invitational event in his honor.
“When people think of Joe, they think of golf,” Linton said.
Izzo would set the tee times for his friend group to golf at the Avalon Country Club every Monday through Thursday and on Sunday’s. Linton mentions that he would adjust the group’s tee time depending on his work shift.
“He was the youngest in the group, and the only one that still worked. If he was on an afternoon shift, he'd make the tee time early, bring his uniform for work, then drive to Shenango and work the rest of the evening,” Linton said.
“Joe's love for golf was tremendous,” recalled Castelli. “Every day with decent weather, when I relieved him, he was changing clothes to go golfing. If he relieved me, he was changing out of his golf clothes and into his uniform.”
Seven teams from the PSUAC and one team from Ohio competed at the Officer Joe Izzo Invitational, on what turned out to be a perfect day for golf. The event started with a ceremonial first drive from Izzo’s grandson, Henry Gibb, and members of Izzo’s family were in attendance to welcome patrons and competitors alike. But it was the support from the campus community that stood out to Linton.
“All of the people that were there were close with him (Izzo) at the campus,” said Linton. “It was overwhelming. It was the perfect tribute.”