Nominated by: Tim Obukowicz, fellow volunteer & Melissa Nieman, friend
We nominate 63-year-old Joseph “Ironman Joe” Pettorini for his dedication to his love
of sports, Mother Nature, and his volunteer work for our local YMCA.
Locally, his endurance activities are legendary. He has participated in 238 triathlons, 6 Ironman-length triathlons and over 37 running marathons. He has also completed the Ice Age 50-mile trail run and the 4-day Minnesota Border to Border competition. Joe is an avid snowshoe racer, having competed in the 2011 National Snowshoe Racing Championships, and is on the planning board for the Treehaven Snowshoe Race. In May, 2008 he kayaked the entire 430-mile length of the Wisconsin River. Joe bicycled around Lake Superior in 2010 with a friend and their journey was featured in several magazines. His current dream is to compete in the New Zealand International Ironman Distance Triathlon before turning 65.
His work as a YMCA of the Northwoods volunteer is just as impressive. Joe is at the Y at least 20 hours a week, and willing to do anything – from picking up a paint brush to handing out candy on Halloween to dressing up as an elf for Christmas. Joe’s most memorable volunteer moment was riding a spinning bike for 6 hours in our lobby to raise funds for our Strong Kids Campaign. The Strong Kids Campaign ensures no child is turned away from the Y due to financial circumstances. The Strong Kids Campaign also applies to adults seeking financial assistance to participate in or be a member of the YMCA. In 2011 he was named Volunteer of the Year.
We never have to ask him to help, he is always there saying, “When do you need me?” When asked why he loves to help us so much (especially why he dressed up as an elf) he said, “I was never blessed with children, and I loved seeing them smiling, happy, and having fun.”
We could go on all day about Ironman Joe. You truly have not met someone like him, he is family to everyone he meets and we are beyond blessed to have him in our lives. He is truly worthy of the title “Stormy Kromer Living Legend.”
Charity: YMCA of the Northwoods
Hometown: Rhinelander, WI
