Joe Famellette served Rockland Community College with distinction for 50 years and made an indelible impression on RCC’s athletics program.
Joe was hired part-time in the fall of 1960, RCC’s second year, to coach the first soccer team, and he became full-time in the spring. He first coached soccer and wrestling, and later added men’s tennis, bowling, golf, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball. He also started the women’s tennis program and designed a personal fitness course. Appropriately, the college’s fitness lab is named in his honor.
Joe attained the title of professor of physical education and was one of the longest-serving faculty members in RCC history, retiring in 2010 after a half-century with the college. His teams won more than 10 Mid-Hudson Conference and Region XV championships. The first regional championship was in men’s bowling. Thereafter, Joe had exceptional success coaching the Hawks’ tennis teams. The men’s tennis team won five conference titles and two regional crowns while posting undefeated seasons in 1968, 1973 and 1976. The women’s team won the regionals and was undefeated in 1981. Spanning 20-plus years, RCC individuals or teams qualified for and played in eight NJCAA national tennis tournaments. Joe also coached nine All-America athletes, five in soccer and four in wrestling.
Joe and his wife, Judy, who is deceased, started three scholarship funds for RCC students: the Heinz Ahlmeyer USMC Scholarship, the Jerry Donnellan Veterans Scholarship, and the Joseph and Judith Dryer Famellette Scholarship. The latter scholarship is awarded to incoming students who maintain a high academic standing and participate on an RCC athletic team.
Joe was involved in charity work for the RCC Foundation and was inducted into the RCC Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. After his retirement he continued to maintain relationships with many of the students and faculty he worked with during his tenure. He lived his motto, “fitness for life,” until his passing on June 30, 2026