Joseph Floreano

Rochester, NY: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at age 67. Predeceased by his parents Achille and Josephine Floreano. Joe is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Carol, sons, Anthony (Kimberly) and Jason (Lisa), and six grandchildren, Alexandra, Brynn, Lucas, Madison, Anna and Brayden. He also leaves two sisters, Nadine Srdar and Gloria (Elliott) Johnson, mother-in-law Ruth Hanson, brother-in-law Scott (Nancy) Hanson, nieces and nephew and his extended beloved family at the Convention Center.



Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Joe came to Rochester 30 years ago from Rapid City, South Dakota to oversee the construction and opening of the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, which now bears his name. He actively contributed to numerous boards including The Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, Rochester Broadway Theatre League, Italian Heritage Foundation, The New York State Restaurant Association and The Ronald McDonald House. He was Past President of the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) as well as Honorary Chairman of its board of trustees and in 2008 was awarded its distinguished Charles A. McElravy Award. He was also Past President of the Italian Heritage Foundation of Rochester and an active member of the Rochester Rotary Club, serving as President in 2009-2010.



In recent months, Joe received several honors including a flagpole, dedicated in his name at the Rotary Sunshine Campus, the naming of the kitchen at the Ronald McDonald House for he and Carol, and a scholarship in Joe and Carol's name from the Rochester Chapter of the New York Restaurant Association. He was also the 2014 recipient of the Foundation Legacy Award from IAVM. Joe received many other honors during his lifetime including a scholarship in his name from the Italian Heritage Foundation of Rochester and the Rochester Broadway Theatre League has recently named the "Joe Floreano Entertainment and Education Room" at the Auditorium Theatre.



In addition to all Joe's great professional accomplishments, Joe was very much a family man. He loved to spend time in his garden, cook for his family and friends, and most importantly kick his feet up in his "Papa Joe Joe" chair on the beautiful shores of Cape Cod while watching his grandchildren play.



The Floreano Family would like to thank Timothy Nolan, M.D., Gregory Connolly, M.D., Jonathan Huang, D.O. and Robert Horowitz, M.D. for their loving compassionate care and Rev. Susan Shafer, Rev. Dr. Stephen Cady and Rev. Lawrence Hargrave at Asbury First United Methodist Church for their loving spiritual support through a most difficult time.



Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 3, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Asbury First United Methodist Church with interment at White Haven Memorial Park. To honor Joe's life, and in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Golisano Children's Hospital at URMC or Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus .