Joseph Spinelli

Joseph Gregory Spinelli (12 March 1939 - 27 January 2009)

Joseph Gregory Spinelli was born in Springfield, Ohio in the US on 12th of March 1939, the second son of Michael Spinelli and Jane (nee Gallucci) (both deceased). He was preceded in death in 1986 by his older brother Louis Spinelli, born in 1937.

In June of 1957, he was graduated from Springfield Senior High School. In June of 1963, he received the degree of Bachelor of Science In Business Administration (cum laude) with a major In International Trade from The Ohio State University. From 1963 until 1966, he was enrolled in the Graduate School at The Ohio State University in the Department of Geography. He served his first two years of graduate studies as a Mershon Fellow in National Security Policy and his third year as a graduate assistant in the Department of Geography. In September of 1966, he received his degree of Master of Arts with a major in Geography.

From September of 1966, until September of 1969, he was enrolled full-time in the Graduate School of the University of Florida in the Department of Geography. He served as research assistant in the 1966-67 year and as a National Defense Education Act (Title VI) Fellow in Latin American Studies in the 1967-68 and 1968-69 years. Twice during this period he was engaged in foreign field doctoral research in the West Indies. Since September of 1969, he pursued his work toward the degree of Doctor of Philosophy while serving as Instructor In the Department of Geography at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio.

His exceptionally well researched thesis joins a special collection of Caribbean historical literature which helps describe an increasingly overlooked area and period of our world and its history - 'Land use and population in St Vincent 1763-1960' helped him gain his Ph.D. in 1973 from the Ohio State University of Florida.

A favorite and inspiring professors, always lively and emotional, he taught at Bowling Green State University for 35 years and served as Chair of the Department of Geography, Assistant Dean and then Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Joe retired in 2004 upon which the honor of associate professor emeritus was bestowed upon him. He lived his working life at 625 Rosewood Drive in Bowling Green, Ohio. His hobbies included travel, classical music,intellectual discourse with close friends, movies, and reading about philosophy, religion, war, politics, music, and cooking. An avid fan of the Internet and digital technology, he spent his last months assembling his autobiography.

He remained a member of Gamma Theta Upsiloa (National Geography Honorary), the Association of American Geographers (Southeastern Division and East Lakes Division), the American Geographical Society, and the Mid-West Association of Latin American Studies.

Joe died on 27 January of 2009 in hospice care at Blanchard Valley Hospital in Findlay, Ohio from complications related to his pancreatic cancer and a six hour memorial gathering was held four days later. He is survived by his younger brother John Michael Spinelli, 60, of Columbus, Ohio.