Background
He was born in Taree, New South Wales and was sent to school in Sydney in 1955 at Saint Joseph"s College, Hunters Hill following the death of his father when Joe was nine years of age.
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Joe Fazio
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Career
In his senior year in 1960 he stroked the College"s first VIII, was elected Captain of Boats, played in the Championship winning 1st XV and was selected in the combined Global Positioning System 2nd XV. The explosion left pieces of shrapnel in Fazio"s body and some shrapnel was too close to the spine to be removed. Following school Fazio started a career with the Royal Australian Navy Experimental Laboratories as a research assistant. He played club rugby with Sydney"s, Eastern Suburbs RUFC and was persuaded by team mate Jake Howard to take up rowing at the senior level with the Sydney Rowing Club.
He had success at the Sydney club, stroking a junior eight to a New South Wales state championship in 1964-1965, a coxless four to a state championship victory in 1966 and stroking the club"s senior VIII from 1966.
Back pain caused by the shrapnel still lodged close to his spine forced Fazio to undergo a spinal fusion operation in 1967 but within six months he was again rowing at the highest level He made another state representative appearance for New South Wales in the Kings Cup crew at the 1969 Interstate Championships.
Later in life he returned to Street Joseph"s as a voluntary coach and was involved with IVs and the school"s 1st VIII between 1993 and 1997. In business he worked in senior management positions for Qantas and the Hilton Hotel Group.
He died following the effects of Alzheimer"s disease.
