Tottenville Football​​ Alumni Association

Joe Wainwright

 

Joe Wainwright was a two sport Tottenville Pirate athlete who was named Staten Island Advance A;l Star twice for football and twice for wrestling. The consummate defensive player, Joe led stingy Pirate defenses in the 70's that became a trademark to Tottenville defenses for decades to come.

 

In his Senior year at Tottenville, Joe was selected as a Daily News Football All Star and was named the Defensive Lineman Most Valuable Player on the 1975 team. Joe was also bestowed as the Bruce Hansen Award winner for the Pirates in his Senior year. Joe accomplished the title as New York City Wrestling Champion at the 190 pound class in 1975 and 1976.

 

After his graduation from Tottenville, Joe attended Wagner College on a scholarship to play football. In 1980, Joe became the interim Wrestlng Coack at Wagner and was later the head Wresting Coach at Monsignor Farrell High School from 1982-1990.

 

Like many of his Tottenville teammates in the early to mid-1970's, Joe was deeply influenced by the character and leadership of Tottenville HS Hall of Fame Coach John Drennan and followed Coach Drennan's career path into the New York City FIre Department where he served from 1982-1990. Joe ackowledges Coach Drennan's influence on his generation of Firefighters stating, "He was what I wanted to be like." After his FDNY career concluded, Joe continued his professional career as a Property Manager for the Benneton family managing several buildings in NYC though the 1990s.