Guest Commentary: Tribute scholarship marks All-American life
His way with people, his belief in a community he dearly embraced, and a love of family gave Mayor Joe Coviello a full and rewarding life.
Although his family and the Cape Coral community lost him much too soon, the former mayor of the state’s eighth largest city, his legacy, set by his accomplishments and character, will always remain.
Coviello unexpectedly passed away in January 2021 at the age of 65. As a tribute to his time building relationships in the community and working with the city council to set policies that focused on improving the quality of life for the community, the Cape Coral Mayor’s Scholarship Committee has named one of its scholarships for him. For the second year, a deserving high school graduate will receive the Joe Coviello Memorial Scholarship. The annual scholarship will provide $1,000 for each year the recipient attends a four-year university or two-year technical school.
Prior to being elected mayor, Coviello led an “All-American” life. He was a star football player at Franklin & Marshall College, setting school and conference records. He was named his team’s and the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s most valuable player twice and named All-American in 1974. He was inducted into the F&M Hall of Fame in 1988.
His impressive college career was a continuation of what occurred at Locust Valley High School, where he was a three-time all-county athlete in football and baseball. He also played basketball at the school. His accomplishments were recognized in 2013 when he was named to the school’s Hall of Fame.
Another love of his was the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He served as president of the USMMA Florida Parents Association and was Academic Liaison for many congressmen in District 19. Coviello also played a vital role in construction of the Merchant Marine Memorial at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Both of his sons, Ross and Alex, are currently Merchant Marines.
After relocating from New York to Cape Coral in 2000, Coviello immersed himself in the community. He helped many local businesses overcome financial challenges as a consultant. He also found time to coach football in the Pop Warner youth league and at Cape Coral High School. Elected mayor in 2017, Coviello built on his passions for people and community. His leadership led to an aggressive plan to build new parks, embraced by the community when it voted to pass a $60 million general obligation bond to pay for them. He helped push through the city’s first animal shelter and was pursuing a plan to have athletic fields built at the city’s charter schools. He worked on a new electric utility agreement with LCEC, was instrumental in creating a new ordinance protecting eagles and help pass new land development codes in the city.
The true loves of his life were Diane, his wife of 38 years, as well as his sons. He enjoyed not only spending time with them, but also fishing, boating and cooking.
Coviello always had time for the youth of the city. “He also made sure to personally read each application for the annual Mayor’s Scholarship with the intention that each student in need would be supported by their city,” Oasis Superintendent Jacquelin Collins said in a tribute to Coviello. “On a personal level, Joe was always approachable and good spirited.”
— Guest commentary submitted on behalf of the Mayor’s Scholarship Committee.