Joe Andruzzi
Encyclopedia
Joseph Dominick Andruzzi (born August 23, 1975 in Brooklyn
, New York and raised in Staten Island
, New York) is a former American football
offensive guard. In May 2007 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
in New Haven, Connecticut
, where he majored in special education. He played every position on the offensive line and started all four years. Joe was a Division II All-America
n his junior and senior years as well as an offensive team captain
during his senior season.
Andruzzi played high school football at Tottenville High School in his hometown of Staten Island, New York City, New York. He was a classmate of Major League baseball All Star starting pitcher Jason Marquis and a teammate of Adewale Ogunleye, defensive end for the Miami Dolphins and then the Chicago Bears during the 2006 Super Bowl XLI vs his former Miami team.
by the Green Bay Packers
. He was allocated by the Packers in February 1998 to play football in Scotland for NFL Europe
. Joe was released from the Packers after three seasons. He was then signed by the New England Patriots
in 2000, where he played five seasons and earned three Super Bowl
rings. In recognition of his contributions, Joe received the Ed Block Courage Award
in 2002 and the first Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2003. Joe became a free agent in February 2005 and was signed by the Cleveland Browns
. He played with them for two seasons.
On May 30, 2007, Joe was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Burkitt's lymphoma
, predicted to double in size in just 24 hours. The family relocated back to New England where Joe had an aggressive form of chemotherapy treatment over three months at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He admirably fought the disease with strength and courage. Joe's last treatment was on August 6, 2007. He then spent a year at home in recovery.
Joe has been in remission since then and lives a healthy life with Jen, their five children, and their two dogs. The Andruzzis clearly recognized their new goal and on May 22, 2008 founded the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. They are committed to tackling cancer's impact by providing financial assistance for patients and their families as well as funding pediatric brain cancer research.
, and responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center
on September 11, 2001. None of his brothers were injured.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York and raised in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, New York) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive guard. In May 2007 he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
College career
Joe played college football at Southern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, where he majored in special education. He played every position on the offensive line and started all four years. Joe was a Division II All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n his junior and senior years as well as an offensive team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
during his senior season.
Andruzzi played high school football at Tottenville High School in his hometown of Staten Island, New York City, New York. He was a classmate of Major League baseball All Star starting pitcher Jason Marquis and a teammate of Adewale Ogunleye, defensive end for the Miami Dolphins and then the Chicago Bears during the 2006 Super Bowl XLI vs his former Miami team.
Professional career
In 1997, Joe was picked up as an undrafted rookie free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He was allocated by the Packers in February 1998 to play football in Scotland for NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
. Joe was released from the Packers after three seasons. He was then signed by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in 2000, where he played five seasons and earned three Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
rings. In recognition of his contributions, Joe received the Ed Block Courage Award
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
in 2002 and the first Ron Burton Community Service Award in 2003. Joe became a free agent in February 2005 and was signed by the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played with them for two seasons.
Cancer experience and charitable mission
In 2001, Joe and his wife, Jen, were introduced to C.J. Buckley, who had an inoperable brain tumor. The families became very close and, therefore, it was devastating when C.J. died late in 2002. Always driven to help others in need, Joe and Jen launched the C.J. Buckley Brain Cancer Research Fund at Children's Hospital.On May 30, 2007, Joe was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Burkitt's lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma
Burkitt's lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system...
, predicted to double in size in just 24 hours. The family relocated back to New England where Joe had an aggressive form of chemotherapy treatment over three months at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He admirably fought the disease with strength and courage. Joe's last treatment was on August 6, 2007. He then spent a year at home in recovery.
Joe has been in remission since then and lives a healthy life with Jen, their five children, and their two dogs. The Andruzzis clearly recognized their new goal and on May 22, 2008 founded the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. They are committed to tackling cancer's impact by providing financial assistance for patients and their families as well as funding pediatric brain cancer research.
Personal Life
Andruzzi has three brothers. All three are members of the New York City Fire DepartmentNew York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
, and responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
on September 11, 2001. None of his brothers were injured.