JOE ANZIVINO / 1921-2003
Former sports editor
dies of Alzheimer’s
Joe Anzivino, a former Star-Bulletin sportswriter and editor who went on to a career as a top executive with the Harlem Globetrotters, died Saturday of complications from Alzheimer's disease at his home in Green Valley, Nev.
Anzivino, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, was 81.
Anzivino's writing career began shortly after World War II at the Pearl Harbor Banner. He started work at the Star-Bulletin in 1948 and was quickly promoted to the sports department's top position.
"He was 26 and proud of the fact that he was the youngest sports editor of a daily metropolitan newspaper at the time," said his wife, Nita.
Anzivino left the Star-Bulletin in 1954, but not before getting an exclusive interview with one of the biggest sports stars of the era.
"Ted Williams was on his way back from the Korean War, and Joe was told to go to Barbers Point for what he expected to be a press conference," said former colleague Lyle Nelson, a retired Star-Bulletin reporter and editor. "When he got to the room he was told to go to, Williams was the only one there."
After some time in the restaurant business, Anzivino became public relations director for the Hawaii Islanders minor league baseball team.
In 1961 Anzivino met Globetrotters founder Abe Saperstein. He soon went to work for the team, serving as advance man to promote appearances.
"I didn't think he'd last long with the Globetrotters, but they fell in love with him and he with them," said Midweek columnist Eddie Sherman, who became friends with Anzivino when both worked at Pearl Harbor.
Anzivino was named vice president and general manager of the Globetrotters in 1988 and was president when he retired in 1995. He was instrumental in bringing the Globetrotters and the Ice Capades to Hawaii several times.
"I think Joe really missed Hawaii. He personified the aloha spirit," Sherman said. "I can't remember him ever being angry. That was Joe."
Anzivino is a member of the national Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame, and is a past president of the Hawaii Junior Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Lani, Gina, Susan and David Anzivino and brothers Ralph and Carmen Anzivino.
Services are June 28 at the Palm Mortuary in Las Vegas.